1 Samuel 28

Achis intending to march forth against Isrrael, relieth on David, vers. 1, & c. Samuel was dead and buried, and Saul had destroyed the wizards ad conjurers, 3. But now being afraid of the Philistines, and forsaken of God, he goeth to a witch for counsel, 5. Who being assured of Saul, that she should not be punished for it causeth a Samuel to come up, 9. Of whom Saul having understood his approaching destruction, fainteth, 16. Is by the advice and service of the witch, and his own servants cheared and revived with meat, 21.

1. And it came to pass in those days, when the Philistines gathered their camps [Here mention is made of camps in the plural number, as also below chapter 29. 1. Whence may be gathered that the Philistines brought divers camps together into the field] together to battle, to fight against Israel: that Achis said unto David, Thou shalt surely know, [Heb. Knowing thou shall know] that thou shalt march forth with me into the camp, thou and thy men.

2. Then David said unto Achis, Thus [Or, hereby,] thou shalt know what thy servant will do [This is again an ambiguous Phrase, as above chapter 27. 10.] and Achis said unto David, Therefore will I make thee a keeper of mine head all days. [As if he had said, Because I trust to thee, that thou wilt behave thy self valiantly in my service, therefore I will make thee a keeper of mine head, that is, of my body and life, as long as I shall live.]

3. Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel had mourned for him, and had buried him at Rama, [This is mentioned here, to shew, why Saul did not ask counsel of Samuel, but gave order to seek out a witch] to wit, in his City: [viz. In the City where he was born and bred, and had lived the most part of his time] and Saul had put away the sooth-sayers [See Levit. 19. On vers. 31.] and the wizards [Or, black artists] out of the Land. [Understand the Land of Israel. See Levit. 19. 31.]

4. And the Philistines came, and gathered themselves together, and they camped themselves at Sunem: [See the annotate. Joshua 19:18.] and Saul gathered all Israel together, and they camped themselves upon Giboa. [This is a mountain lying not far from the valley of Jizreel, where the battle happened, in which Saul & his sons perished : See below chapter 31. 1. And 2 Sam. 1. 21.]

5. When Saul saw the Philistines camp: then he feared, and his heart trembled greatly.

6. And Saul required of the LORD, [viz. By some Prophet, for Abiathar was at this time with David, with the Ephod, wherein were the Urim and Thummim, whereby they enquired of the Lord: See above chapter 23. Vers. 6. And below chapter 30. Vers. 7.] but the LORD answered him not: neither [In the Hebrew, for neither, or nor is the word also thrice mentioned, whereby must also be understood, out of the foregoing words, the particle not, which together is as much as neither or not] by dreams , [See Numb. 12. 6.] nor by Urim, [See numb. 27. Vers. 21.] nor by Prophets. [i.e. nor by neither ordinary, or extraordinary means.]

7. Then said Saul to his Servants, seek me a woman, that hath a sooth saying spirit, that I may go to her, and enquire by her: now his servants said unto him, Behold, (there) is a woman at Endor, [A City lying in the tribe Manasseh, on this side of Jordan. See the annotate. On Jos. 17. Vers. 11.] that hath a sooth saying spirit.

8. And Saul disguised himself, [Or changed himself, made himself unknown, put on other apparel. Compare 1 King 22. On vers. 30. Viz. That this woman might not know him] and put on other apparel, and went his way, and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night: and he said, I pray thee, foretell unto me by the sooth saying spirit, and cause him to come up, [viz. Out of the grave, or selpuchre. This Saul asketh counsel of the dead for the living, which the Prophet Isaias reproveth chapter 8. Vers. 19.] unto me, whom I shall name unto thee.

9. Then said the woman unto him, Behold, thou knowest what Saul hath done, [viz. As being an Israelitish woman, she might perceive by his speech and apparel: but when she spake this, she knew not yet that she communed with Saul himself] how he hath cut off the sooth-sayers and the wizards out of this Land: wherefore then layest thou a snare for my soul, to put me to death? [As if she would say, to give Saul occasion, when he shall come to hear of it, to put me to death]

10. Now Saul sware unto her by the LORD, saying, (As true as) the LORD liveth, if a punishment [Heb. Iniquity, or, trespass: i.e. punishment of iniquity. See Levit. 5. On vers. 1.] shall happen to thee for this thing? [Understand withal, then let God punish me, or some thing like to it. See the annotate. On Genes. 14. 23.]

11. The said the woman, whom shall I cause to come up unto thee? And he said, and he said , make Samuel come up unto me.

12. Now when the Woman saw Samuel, [i.e. an evil spirit in the shape and form of Samuel, whom she had raised by her Devilish art. Jesus Syrach is in a great error when he writeth, that Samuel after he was fallen asleep prophesied, and foretold Saul his end, chapter 46. 23.] then she cried with a loud voice: [viz. For fear of being imprisoned and put to death by Saul: for by the Devils instinct or otherwise she came to know that it was Saul himself: Or, she cried, when she saw Samuel come up] and the woman spake unto Saul, saying, Why hast thou deceived me? For thou art Saul:

13. And the King said unto her, Be not afraid [viz. That I will put thee to death, or cause the to be put to death] but what seest thou? [viz. That thou art thus afraid and affrighted.] then said the woman unto Saul, I see Gods ascending out of the earth. [i.e. stately honourable person in the shape & form of Samuel. She speaketh thus, Elohim in the plural number, in a heathernish manner, and as a witch. Some understand here by Gods, the counterfeit Samuel, with a company of evil spirits waiting upon him]

14. He then said unto her, how is his shape, and she said: There cometh up an old ma, and he is clothed with a mantle: when Saul perceived [viz. According to the judgement of his distracted senses, and the witches words: for he himself saw not this Samuel] that it was Samuel, then he bowed himself . [Saul being cozened by the Devil by this witches means, did honour the Devil in stead of Samuel]

15. And Samuel [As above vers. 12.] said unto Saul, why hast thou disquieted me, causing me to come up [It was neither in the Devils nor in the witches power to raise up the true Samuel, and to make him appear there; ‘twas nothing but meer deceit and collusion of the devil, whom God sometimes permitteth to do some actions for the ruin ad destruction of those that give credit thereunto] then said Saul, I am greatly distressed, [Heb. Distress is greatly to me, that is, great distress] for the philistines war against me, and God is departed from me, and answereth me no more, neither by the ministry of the Prophets, [Heb. By the hand of the Prophets : i.e. by means of any Prophet. See further on ver. 6.] nor by dreams, therefore have I called thee, that thou mayest make known to me what I shall do.

16. Then said Samuel, Wherefore doest thou now ask of me? Seeing the LORD is departed from thee, and is become thine enemy.

17. For the LORD hath done for himself, [viz. To his glory, according to his good pleasure. Oth. Him; viz. David. Or, simply, he hath done it] as he spake by my ministry: [Heb. By my hand. God had not spoken this by the evil spirit, but by the true Samuel, above chapter 15. 28.] and hath rent the Kingdom out of thine hand, and he hath given that to thy neighbours, to David.

18. According as thou hast not hearkened to the voice of the LORD, and hast not executed [Heb. Done] the heat of his wrath against Amalek: therefore hath the LORD done this thing unto thee this day. [i.e. at this time]

19. And the LORD will also deliver Israel [i.e. the camp of the Israelites] with thee, into the hand of Philistines, [The Devil might guess this in part, because he knew that the Lord was departed from Saul and that Saul was now thus dismayed and fearful, and also because there was but little courage and order among the Israelites to oppose and resist the Philistines] and tomorrow shalt thou, and thy sons be with me: [viz. Among the dead; i.e. thou shalt be dead. See the like phrase, 2 Sam 12. 23. For that this should be understood of being in hell, where the Devils are, cannot be applied to Jonathan , and to many of the Israelites, who indeed died in the battle, but went not (in respect of the soul) to the place of the damned] the LORD also shall deliver the camp of Israel into the hand of the Philistines.

20. Then Saul fell hastily on the ground, [Heb. Then Saul hasted and fell on the ground] as long as he was, [Heb. (with) the fullness of his stature, or, length] and he was sore afraid, because of the words of Samuel, there was also no strength in him; for he had eaten no bread [i.e. take no food] all the day, nor all the night.

21. Now the Woman came to Saul, and saw that he was sore amazed: and she said unto him, Behold, thine handmaid hath hearkened to thy voice, [i.e. I have hearkened to thy voice] and I have put my soul in mine hand, [Heb. Palm. As if she would say, I have ventured my life: for she had to please Saul, done that which ought to have been punished with death, If Saul had persisted in his former intent whereof mention is made, vers.9. See the annotate. On Judges 12:3.] and I have hearkened unto thy words, which thou spakest unto me.

22. Now therefore, I pray thee, hearken thou also unto the voice of thine hand maid, and let me set a morsel of bread before thee, and eat: so shall there be strength in thee, that thou mayest go on (thy) way.

23. But he refused it, and said, I will not eat: but his servants, and also the woman were instant with him: then hearkened he to their voice: and he arose from the ground, and set himself on the bed,

24. And the Woman had fatted Calf in the house, and she hasted, and killed it, and she took meal, and kneaded it, and baked thereof unleavened (cakes)

25. And she brought them before Saul, and before his servants, and they did eat: after that they rose up, and went away the same night.