Saul And The Witch Of Endor Biblical Account
The biblical account of Saul and the Witch of Endor, found in 1 Samuel 28, describes King Saul's desperate attempt to consult the deceased prophet Samuel before a battle with the Philistines. Facing an impending conflict and having received no divine guidance through dreams, Urim, or prophets, Saul instructed his servants to find a woman with a familiar spirit [3, 4]. His servants informed him of such a woman in Endor [3, 4].
Endor, meaning "fountain of Dor," was a place in the territory of Issachar, near the site of Deborah and Barak's victory over Sisera and Jabin [1, 5]. It is identified with the modern village of Endur, located on the northern slope of Little Hermon [1]. Saul, disguised and accompanied by two servants, traveled to Endor by night to meet this woman [2, 9].
Saul requested that the woman "bring up" Samuel for him [2]. Initially, the woman was hesitant, reminding Saul that the king himself had banished those who practiced such arts [2]. Saul had indeed taken energetic measures to eliminate those who dealt in magical arts, making it a capital offense [7]. However, Saul swore an oath that no harm would come to her [2].
When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out, realizing Saul's identity [2]. Samuel then appeared, and a conversation ensued between Samuel and Saul. Samuel confirmed Saul's rejection by God and foretold his defeat and death, along with his sons, at the hands of the Philistines [8]. This encounter provided no comfort to Saul but rather confirmed his impending doom [8].
The events of this chapter, including Saul's journey to Endor, his consultation with the woman, the appearance of Samuel, and the subsequent meal, all transpired within a single night [9]. After hearing the heavy tidings, Saul was overcome, and the woman prepared food for him and his servants before they departed that same night [9]. Commentators like Matthew Henry suggest that Saul, having failed to receive answers from God, turned to "the gates of hell" for advice [6]. John Gill notes that the woman was believed to be a ventriloquist or one who conversed with the devil to pretend to bring up the dead and foretell the future [10]. Josephus also describes the woman as a "fortune-teller" [2].
Sources
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Endor — Fountain of Dor; i.e., "of the age", a place in the territory of Issachar (Josh. 17:11) near the scene of the great victory which was gained by Deborah and Barak over Sisera and Jabin (comp. Ps. 83:9, 10). To Endor, Saul resorted to consult one reputed to be a witch on the eve of his last engagement with the Philistines (1 Sam. 28:7). It is identified with the modern village of Endur, "a dirty hamlet of some twenty houses, or rather huts, most of them falling to ruin," on the northern slope of Little Hermon, about 7 miles from Jezreel.”
- Project Gutenberg “Flavius Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, CHAPTER 14, section 2: them. And one of his servants told him that there was such a woman in the city Endor, but was known to nobody in the camp; hereupon Saul put off his royal apparel, and took two of those his servants with him, whom he knew to be most faithful to him, and came to Endor to the woman, and entreated her to act the part of a fortune-teller, and to bring up such a soul to him as he should name to her. But when the woman opposed his motion, and said she did not despise the king, who had banished this sort of fortune- tellers, and that h”
- 1 Samuel “Then Saul said to his servants, “Seek me a woman who has a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and inquire of her.” His servants said to him, “Behold, there is a woman who has a familiar spirit at Endor.” -- 1 Samuel 28:7”
- I Samuel “I Samuel 28:7 (BBE) — Then Saul said to his servants, Get me a woman who has control of a spirit so that I may go to her and get directions. And his servants said to him, There is such a woman at En-dor.”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Endor — (fountain of Dor), a place in the territory of Issachar, and yet possessed by Manasseh. (Joshua 17:11) Endor was the scene of the great victory over Sisera and Jabin. It was here that the witch dwelt whom Saul consulted. (1 Samuel 28:7) it was known to Eusebius, who describes it was a large village four miles south of Tabor. Here to the north of Jebel Duhy the name still lingers. The distance from the slopes of Gilboa to Endor is seven or eight miles, over difficult ground.”
- 1 Samuel (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on 1 Samuel 28:7: Here, I. Saul seeks for a witch, Sa1 28:7. When God answered him not, if he had humbled himself by repentance and persevered in seeking God, who knows but that at length he might have been entreated for him? but, since he can discern no comfort either from heaven or earth (Isa 8:21, Isa 8:22), he resolves to knock at the gates of hell, and to see if any there will befriend him and give him advice: Seek me a woman that has a familiar spirit, Sa1 28:7. And his servants were too officious to serve him in this evil affair; they presently recommended one to him at En”
- 1 Samuel (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Samuel 28:7: SAUL SEEKS A WITCH, WHO, BEING ENCOURAGED BY HIM, RAISES UP SAMUEL. (1Sa. 28:7-25) Then said Saul unto his servants, Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit--From the energetic measures which he himself had taken for extirpating the dealers in magical arts (the profession having been declared a capital offense), his most attached courtiers might have had reason to doubt the possibility of gratifying their master's wish. Anxious inquiries, however, led to the discovery of a woman living very secluded in the neighborhood, who had the credit of pos”
- 1 Samuel (Lutheran) “Keil & Delitzsch on 1 Samuel 29:1: Whilst Saul derived no comfort from his visit to the witch at Endor, but simply heard from the mouth of Samuel the confirmation of his rejection on the part of God, and an announcement of his approaching fate, David was delivered, through the interposition of God, from the danger of having to fight against his own people. Sa1 29:1 The account of this is introduced by a fuller description of the position of the hostile army. "The Philistines gathered all their armies together towards Aphek, but Israel encamped at the fountain in (at) Jezreel." This fountain is”
- 1 Samuel (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on 1 Samuel 28:25: They rose up, and went away that night - The transactions of this chapter occupy one night only. 1. Saul came by night to En-dor, Sa1 28:8. 2. He consulted the woman, and had his conference with Samuel the same night; for no time whatever appears to have been lost after his arrival at En-dor. 3. He was overcome by the heavy tidings which he heard; and which for a time appear to have deprived him of all power. 4. The woman kills a calf; dresses a part; makes and bakes bread; and Saul and his servants eat. And, 5. They rose and went away that night, Sa1 28:25. The ”
- 1 Samuel (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 1 Samuel 28:7: Then said Saul unto his servants,.... That waited upon him, to some of them, to such as he could place most confidence in to keep a secret; perhaps only the two after mentioned: seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and inquire of her; that was mistress of the bottle, a ventriloquist, that spoke out of her belly, or seemed to do; who had the spirit of Python or divination, conversed with the devil, and by his assistance pretended to bring up a dead person, and thereby foretell things to come; See Gill on Deu 18:11; a woman is pitched u”