1 Samuel 28
DOYLY— the Lord answered him not.] In such cases, as this of Saul, God very justly turns away His ear, and will vouchsafe no answer in the ordinary way, to such grievous offenders. There is a certain degree of long-suffering and forbearance, beyond which even the Divine goodness will not extend. Provoctions may proceed to such a height as to leave no room for further mercy. Patience long abused will at last give way to vengeance. God will then withdraw His grace, and lock up his favours, deserting the impenitent hardened wretch, and abandoning him to the wild pursuit of his own inventions. This is a matter of dreadful consideration to all inveterate impenitent offenders; and yet it should not be a discouragement to any man against repenting: because the very disposition or inclination to repentance is a hopeful symptom and a promising argument in his favour, that his day of grace is not past, and that it is not too late to return. Dr. Waterland.
— En-dor.] A place in the tribe of Manasseh, west of Jordan, Josh. xvii. 11. Dr. Wells.
Chap. XXIX. ver. 1.—to Aphek:] There were three places of this name: that in the tribe of Judah seems here meant. Dr. Wells.
— pitched by a fountain] It is related by William of Tyre, that the Christian kings of Jerusalem used to assemble their forces at a fountain between Nazareth and Sephoris, which was greatly celebrated on that account. He mentions also another fountain, near a town called Little Gerinum, which he says was the ancient Jezreel. Near this fountain Saladine pitched his camp, for the benefit of its waters; while Baldwin king of Jerusalem had, as usual, assembled his army at the first mentioned place. This solicitude in the princes of these sultry climates to encamp near fountains, and particularly the mention of one near Jezreel, serve to give an excellent illustration of the passage before us. Harmer.
1 Samuel 28:3
3.—put away those that had familiar spirits.] This was according to the Divine command, Levit. xx. 27; Deut. xviii. 10, 11: it was probably done by Saul, in ruin, fainteth. 21 The woman with his servants refresh him with meat. Before CHRIST about 1056. AND it came to pass in those days, that the Philistines gathered their armies together for warfare, to fight with Israel. And Achish said unto David, Know thou assuredly, that thou shalt go out with me to battle, thou and thy men.
1 Samuel 28:4
4.—in Shunem.] A city in the tribe of Issachar. —Gilboa.] A ridge of mountains, according to Eusebius and St. Jerome, about six miles from Bethshan, chap. xxxi. 10; among them was a city of the same name. Dr. Wells.
1 Samuel 28:6
6.—when Saul enquired of the Lord.] Observe how careless and unthinking men are apt to be in their prosperity, and till the hour of distress comes on. Saul was a man of as much coldness and indifference in religion as any man could be; swayed, for the most part, by his own humour and vanity. He never thought of consulting God, or asking directions from Him, all the time that he was persecuting righteous David from city to city, hunting him through every quarter of the kingdom, and driving him out into a strange land. He never thought of consulting God, when he barbarously undertook to murder the Lord’s priests, innocent men, who had deserved no evil at his hands. But now, at last, when he perceived his own life to be in danger, as if that alone were precious in God’s sight, or that alone worthy of the Divine care and notice; then he began to apply to God, and pretended a respect and reverence for Him, although, all the time, his heart was far from Him. Danger and distress will sometimes frighten and diamy a hardened sinner; but that is all; for it is not a real sorrow for his sins that troubles him, but the Saul, forsaken of God, seaketh a witch; Before CHRIST about 1656. neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets.
1 Samuel 28:7
- — Seek me a woman &c.] Saul, when he was now reduced to extremities, instead of humbling himself before God, fell into another sin, in having recourse to a person that practised forbidden arts, which he himself, agreeably to the law of God, had forbidden under pain of death. This proceeding of Saul proves that he had not consulted God with sentiments of true repentance. This is the true character of sinners, who fill up gradually the measure of their iniquities, committing new and greater abominations, at the very time that the severest judgments are about to fall upon them. Ostervald.
— a woman that hath a familiar spirit.] A woman famed for raising up ghosts (as the world believed) by her sorceries and enchantments. It is not material here to inquire into the mysteries of that art to which she pretended. It is sufficient that fame reported this woman to have this power, and Saul believed it; and the woman, trusting to her art, undertook the thing, but God Himself, as it seems, interposed, and both conducted and governed the whole transaction. Dr. Waterland.
— there is a woman &c.] It hence appears, that although this sort of divination was not publickly practised, yet it was known there were some who privately continued the practice of professing to have familiar spirits. In having recourse to such a person, Saul acted like a distracted person. He had banished all wizards and sorcerers out of his kingdom, as a dangerous sort of people, who made profession of a wicked and unwarrantable art; yet now he puts his whole con-
1 Samuel 28:8
8.—But what have I done? &c.] David’s answer was a prudent one, and such as became the circumstances in which he was placed; for he promised nothing, and laid himself under no sort of engagement: he neither denied what the Philistines suspected, that he would fall off to Saul in the battle, nor made the least mention of his readiness to fight with the Philistines against the Hebrews. He merely asked why he should be refused to fight against the enemies of the king. Dr. Chandler.
1 Samuel 28:9
9.—as an angel of God.] Meaning, that he looked upon David as a man sent down to him from heaven. Bp. Patrick.
1 Samuel 28:11
- So David and his men] We may easily apprehend to what straits David was reduced, on Achish insisting that he must go with him against Saul. He was now under the necessity of warring against his country,
1 Samuel 28:12
- And when the woman saw Samuel, &c.] Respecting this history of the raising of Samuel, there have been three different opinions: 1st, It has been supposed that there was no real apparition, but that a delusion was practised on Saul by some person acting in concert with the woman, and making responses to him in a feigned voice; in support of which opinion it is observed, that the history does not say, Saul actually saw Samuel, but “Saul perceived that it was Samuel,” ver. 14; that is, knew him by the description which the woman gave. 2d, It has been conjectured, that some evil spirit appeared with the body and mantle of Samuel, spake articulately, and held this conversation with Saul, being enabled, by some knowledge of future events, to make those predictions which are contained in his answer. 3d, It is thought that the appearance of Samuel was real; God permitting it to take place for wise purposes of His providence; the woman herself crying in alarm “with a loud voice” at the sight of Samuel, as she only intended a delusion. Stockhouse. That God should permit evil spirits, employed by a wretched woman, to summon at pleasure His departed servants from the other world, is not to be imagined. It remains, therefore, either that the whole affair of Samuel’s appearance was a contrivance; or that, by the interposition of God, there was a real appearance, which the enchantment did not expect, and could not have effected. The surprise and alarm occasioned in her seem to favour the latter supposition. Thus it is probable, that when Saul was hoping to receive some kind answer from Samuel, and would have received a favourable one from some pretended Samuel; God was pleased to disappoint both the sorcerers and him, by sending the true Samuel, with a true and faithful message, quite contrary to what the woman and Saul had expected; which so confounded and disordered him, that he instantly fell into a swoon, and could no longer bear up against the bitter agonies of his mind. Bp. Horne. The most probable, and best supported opinion is, that God suffered Samuel’s departed spirit, or a miraculous representation of his person, to appear to Saul, and, as a punishment for his presumptuous impiety, to disclose his impending fate. The text positively calls him Samuel, (Samuel “himself” in the original,) and what he prophesied proved true: for “on the morrow,” that is, soon after, Saul and his sons were slain, and the host of Israel de-
Before CHRIST about 1656. who raiseth up Samuel. Saul, hearing his ruin, fainteth.
and the woman spake to Saul, saying, Why hast thou deceived me? for thou art Saul.
1 Samuel 28:13
13.—I saw gods ascending] The Hebrew word Elohim (here translated gods) is often taken in the singular a god, or a great person; and so it should have been rendered here. Dr. Wall. Others translate the words, I saw a judge. Bp. Patrick, Locke. A person like a judge. Dr. Wells. Or, if the plural be retained, we must suppose that, in order to raise Saul’s attention, and his opinion of her art and power, she pretends that she saw “gods” rising out of the earth, as if she had brought up several ghosts by her enchantments. Dr. Chandler.
1 Samuel 28:15
15.—and God is departed from me.] We should well observe, from the history now before us, how miserable, how melancholy a thing it is, for a man to have sinned
thine hand, and given it to thy neighbour, even to David:
1 Samuel 28:19
19.—to morrow shalt thou &c.] “To morrow,” that is, not the next day, but very shortly, shalt thou and thy sons be as I am, or amongst the dead. Bp. Patrick.
1 Samuel 28:21
21.—I have put my life in my hand,] I have exposed my life to hazard, by letting thee know I practise arts of divination. Dr. Wells.
The Philistines are jealous of David. I. SAMUEL. Achish commends and dismisses him.
Before CHRIST about 1666. that thou mayest have strength, when thou goest on thy way.