1 Samuel 28
1 Achish puts confidence in David.
3 Saul having destroyed the witches,
4 and now in his fear forsaken of God,
7 has recourse to a witch;
8 who, encouraged by Saul, raises up Samuel.
15 Saul hearing his ruin, faints.
21 The woman and his servants refresh him with meat.
Philistines <06430> [that the.]
Philistines <06430> [Philistines.]
go <03318> [thou shalt go.]
being .................. Then <03651> [Surely.]
Samuel <08050> [Samuel.]
removed <05493> [put away.]
Shunem <07766> [Shunem.]
Gilboa <01533> [Gilboa.]
was absolutely <03372> [he was afraid.]
inquired <07592> [enquired.]
dreams <02472> [by dreams.]
Urim <0224> [by Urim.]
prophets <05030> [by prophets.]
Find .... woman ......................... woman <01245 0802> [Seek me.]
medium ......................... medium <0178> [a familiar spirit.]
<03212> [that I may.]
Endor <05874> [En-dor.]
En-dor, a city of Manasseh, was situated in the plain of Jezreel; and Eusebius and Jerome inform us, that it was a great town in their days, four miles south from Mount Tabor, near Nain, towards Scythopolis. This agrees with Maundrell, who says, that not many miles eastward of Tabor, you see mount Hermon, at the foot of which is seated Nain and Endor; and Burckhardt says, that in two hours and a half from Nazareth, towards Scythopolis or Bisan, they came to the village of Denouny, near which are the ruins of Endor; where the witch's grotto is shewn.
disguised <02664> [disguised.]
Use ... ritual <07080> [I pray thee.]
up <05927> [bring me.]
<03772> [how he hath.]
trapping <05367> [wherefore.]
swore <07650> [sware.]
Saul ......... Saul <07586> [thou art Saul.]
god ... up <0430 05927> [gods ascending.]
appearance <08389> [What form is he of? Heb. What is his form? a mantle.]
disturbed <07264> [Why hast.]
troubled <03966> [I am sore.]
Philistines <06430> [the Philistines.]
God <0430> [God.]
answer <06030> [answereth.]
prophets <05030> [prophets. Heb. the hand of prophets. therefore.]
asking <07592> [Wherefore.]
enemy <06145> [and is become.]
has ...... prophesied <01696> [to him. or, for himself.]
The LXX. read [soi,] and the Vulgate {tibi,} to thee; which is the reading of five of Dr. Kennicott's and De Rossi's MSS., as well as both the Bibles printed at Venice in 1518, where we read {lecha,} "to thee," for {lo,} "to him;" and as the words are spoken to Saul, this seems to be evidently the correct reading.
has ...... prophesied <01696> [as he spake.]
hand <03027> [me. Heb. mine hand. thy neighbour.]
obey <08085> [obeyedst.]
Lord .............. Lord <03068> [hath the Lord.]
Lord ...................... Lord <03068> [the Lord.]
Tomorrow <04279> [and to-morrow.]
There is considerable diversity of opinion, both among learned and pious men, relative to this appearance to Saul. But the most probable opinion seems to be, that Samuel himself did actually appear to Saul, not by the power of enchantment, but by the appointment and especial mercy of God, to warn this infatuated monarch of his approaching end, that he might be reconciled with his Maker. There is not the smallest intimation of chicanery or Satanic influence given in the text; but on the contrary, from the plain and obvious meaning of the language employed, it is perfectly evident that it was Samuel himself, {Shemooel hoo,} as it is expressed in ver. 14. Indeed the very soul of Samuel seems to breathe in his expressions of displeasure against the disobedience and wickedness of Saul; while the awful prophetic denunciations which accordingly came to pass, were such as neither human nor diabolical wisdom could foresee, and which could only be known to God himself, and to those to whom he chose to reveal them.
quickly fell <05307 04116> [fell straightway. Heb. made haste and fell with the fullness of his stature. sore afraid.]
took <07760> [I have put.]
eat <0398> [I will.]
urged ....... gave in <06555 08085> [compelled him.]
well-fed calf <05695 04770> [a fat calf.]
