1Sa 28:7-20 | TSK | STEP | Seek me. a familiar spirit. that I may. 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.

1 Samuel 28:7-20

Seek me.

2Ki 1:2,3; 6:33; Isa 8:19,20; La 3:25,26; Hab 2:3

a familiar spirit.

that I may.

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.

Jos 17:11; Ps 83:10

disguised.

1Ki 14:2,3; 22:30,34; Job 24:13-15; Jer 23:24; Joh 3:19

I pray thee.

De 18:11; 1Ch 10:13; Isa 8:19

bring me.

how he hath.

wherefore.

2Sa 18:13; 2Ki 5:7

sware.

14:39; 19:6; Ge 3:5; Ex 20:7; De 18:10-12; 2Sa 14:11; Mt 26:72

Mr 6:23

thou art Saul.

3; 1Ki 14:5

gods ascending.

Ex 4:16; 22:28; Ps 82:6,7; Joh 10:34,35

What form is he of? Heb. What is his form? a mantle.

15:27; 2Ki 2:8,13,14

Why hast.

8,11

I am sore.

Pr 5:11-13; 14:14; Jer 2:17,18

the Philistines.

God.

16:13,14; 18:12; Jud 16:20; Ps 51:11; Ho 9:12; Mt 25:41

answereth.

6; 23:2,4,9,10

prophets. Heb. the hand of prophets. therefore.

Lu 16:23-26

Wherefore.

Jud 5:31; 2Ki 6:27; Ps 68:1-3; Re 18:20,24; 19:1-6

and is become.

La 2:5

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.

Pr 16:4

as he spake.

13:13,14; 15:27-29

me. Heb. mine hand. thy neighbour.

15:28; 16:13; 24:20

obeyedst.

13:9; 15:9,23-26; 1Ki 20:42; 1Ch 10:13; Jer 48:10

hath the Lord.

Ps 50:21,22

the Lord.

12:25; 31:1-6; 1Ki 22:20,28

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.

Ex 9:18; Jer 28:16,17; Da 5:25-28; Mt 26:24; Ac 5:5,9,10

fell straightway. Heb. made haste and fell with the fullnessof his stature. sore afraid.

5; 25:37; Job 15:20-24; 26:2; Ps 50:21,22