1 Samuel 28 explained: Saul Seeks Samuel Through a Medium

David's awkward position (vv. 1-2)

David is living among the Philistines, Israel's enemies, and their king Achish expects him to march against Israel. David's reply sounds eager but is carefully vague, and Achish takes it as a promise and names him his personal bodyguard.

Saul afraid and unanswered (vv. 3-7)

Samuel, the prophet who had guided Saul, is dead, and Saul had banned people who claimed to contact the dead, as Israel's law required. Facing a huge Philistine army, Saul asks God through dreams, prophets and the Urim (sacred lots priests used for yes or no answers), hears nothing, and turns to the very practice he outlawed.

The medium at Endor (vv. 8-14)

Saul disguises himself and goes at night, crossing near the enemy camp, to a woman who fears he is trying to trap her. The text says that when she saw Samuel she cried out and recognized her visitor as Saul, then described an old man in a robe, the kind of garment Samuel was known for.

Samuel's final message (vv. 15-19)

Samuel gives no help: God has done what he warned and handed the kingdom to David, because Saul did not carry out the harsh command to destroy the Amalekites (chapter 15). He says Israel will be defeated and that tomorrow Saul and his sons will be with him among the dead.

A meal before the end (vv. 20-25)

Saul collapses, weak from terror and from having gone a day and a night without food. The woman he came to use in secret kills her fattened calf and bakes bread for him, a generous act of hospitality, and he eats and walks back into the night toward the battle.

Key verse: 1 Samuel 28:15

Where Christians differ

Christians have long differed over whether Samuel truly appeared by God's allowance, whether an evil spirit impersonated him, or whether the woman staged the whole thing, though many note that her own shock suggests something happened she did not expect.

Something to think about

Why do you think people sometimes turn to the very things they once condemned when they are afraid and out of options?