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Text -- 1 Samuel 28:1-25 (NET)
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Strongs On/Off
Context
The Witch of Endor
28:1 In those days the Philistines gathered their troops for war in order to fight Israel . Achish said to David , “You should fully understand that you and your men must go with me into the battle .”
28:2 David replied to Achish , “That being the case , you will come to know what your servant can do !” Achish said to David , “Then I will make you my bodyguard from now on .”
28:3 Now Samuel had died , and all Israel had lamented over him and had buried him in Ramah , his hometown . In the meantime Saul had removed the mediums and magicians from the land .
28:4 The Philistines assembled ; they came and camped at Shunem . Saul mustered all Israel and camped at Gilboa .
28:5 When Saul saw the camp of the Philistines , he was absolutely terrified .
28:6 So Saul inquired of the Lord , but the Lord did not answer him– not by dreams nor by Urim nor by the prophets .
28:7 So Saul instructed his servants , “Find me a woman who is a medium , so that I may go to her and inquire of her.” His servants replied to him, “There is a woman who is a medium in Endor .”
28:8 So Saul disguised himself and put on other clothing and left , accompanied by two of his men . They came to the woman at night and said , “Use your ritual pit to conjure up for me the one I tell you.”
28:9 But the woman said to him, “Look , you are aware of what Saul has done ; he has removed the mediums and magicians from the land ! Why are you trapping me so you can put me to death ?”
28:10 But Saul swore an oath to her by the Lord , “As surely as the Lord lives , you will not incur guilt in this matter !”
28:11 The woman replied , “Who is it that I should bring up for you?” He said , “Bring up for me Samuel .”
28:12 When the woman saw Samuel , she cried out loudly . The woman said to Saul , “Why have you deceived me? You are Saul !”
28:13 The king said to her, “Don’t be afraid ! What have you seen ?” The woman replied to Saul , “I have seen one like a god coming up from the ground !”
28:14 He said to her, “What about his appearance ?” She said , “An old man is coming up ! He is wrapped in a robe !” Then Saul realized it was Samuel , and he bowed his face toward the ground and kneeled down .
28:15 Samuel said to Saul , “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up ?” Saul replied , “I am terribly troubled ! The Philistines are fighting against me and God has turned away from me. He does not answer me– not by the prophets nor by dreams . So I have called on you to tell me what I should do .”
28:16 Samuel said , “Why are you asking me, now that the Lord has turned away from you and has become your enemy ?
28:17 The Lord has done exactly as I prophesied ! The Lord has torn the kingdom from your hand and has given it to your neighbor David !
28:18 Since you did not obey the Lord and did not carry out his fierce anger against the Amalekites , the Lord has done this thing to you today .
28:19 The Lord will hand you and Israel over to the Philistines ! Tomorrow both you and your sons will be with me. The Lord will also hand the army of Israel over to the Philistines !”
28:20 Saul quickly fell full length on the ground and was very afraid because of Samuel’s words . He was completely drained of energy , not having eaten anything all that day and night .
28:21 When the woman came to Saul and saw how terrified he was, she said to him, “Your servant has done what you asked . I took my life into my own hands and did what you told me.
28:22 Now it’s your turn to listen to your servant ! Let me set before you a bit of bread so that you can eat . When you regain your strength , you can go on your way .”
28:23 But he refused , saying , “I won’t eat !” Both his servants and the woman urged him to eat, so he gave in . He got up from the ground and sat down on the bed .
28:24 Now the woman had a well-fed calf at her home that she quickly slaughtered . Taking some flour , she kneaded bread and baked it without leaven .
28:25 She brought it to Saul and his servants , and they ate . Then they arose and left that same night .
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Names, People and Places, Dictionary Themes and Topics
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Names, People and Places:
Dictionary Themes and Topics:
Witchcraft |
Saul |
Samuel |
DIVINATION |
David |
ASTROLOGY |
BETH-SHEMITE |
WITCH; WITCHCRAFT |
CHRONICLES, BOOKS OF |
SAMUEL, BOOKS OF |
EN-DOR, WITCH OF |
COMMUNION WITH DEMONS; DEVILS |
Familiar Spirits |
En-Dor |
Sorcery |
Magic |
INTERCESSION |
Necromancy |
WOMAN |
Miracles |
more
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expand allCommentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes
NET Notes -> 1Sa 28:1; 1Sa 28:1; 1Sa 28:2; 1Sa 28:2; 1Sa 28:3; 1Sa 28:3; 1Sa 28:3; 1Sa 28:5; 1Sa 28:6; 1Sa 28:7; 1Sa 28:8; 1Sa 28:9; 1Sa 28:9; 1Sa 28:9; 1Sa 28:12; 1Sa 28:13; 1Sa 28:17; 1Sa 28:18; 1Sa 28:19; 1Sa 28:19; 1Sa 28:19; 1Sa 28:20; 1Sa 28:20; 1Sa 28:21; 1Sa 28:21; 1Sa 28:23; 1Sa 28:23; 1Sa 28:24; 1Sa 28:24
NET Notes: 1Sa 28:1 The translation follows the LXX (εἰς πόλεμον, eis polemon) and a Qumran ms מלח...
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NET Notes: 1Sa 28:3 See Isa 8:19 for another reference to magicians who attempted to conjure up underworld spirits.
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NET Notes: 1Sa 28:8 Heb “Use divination for me with the ritual pit and bring up for me the one whom I say to you.”
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NET Notes: 1Sa 28:13 Heb “gods.” The modifying participle (translated “coming up”) is plural, suggesting that underworld spirits are the referent. ...
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