I Samuel 28 · The Lantern

The Philistines Gather against Israel

And it was in those days that the Philistines gathered their camps for war, to fight against Israel. And Achish said to David, “Know surely that you shall go out with me in the camp, you and your men.”

And David said to Achish, “Very well — you shall know what your servant can do.” And Achish said to David, “Very well — I will make you keeper of my head all the days.”

Now Samuel had died, and all Israel had lamented for him and buried him in Ramah, in his own city. And Saul had removed the mediums and the spiritists from the land.

And the Philistines gathered, and came and camped at Shunem; and Saul gathered all Israel, and they camped at Gilboa.

And Saul saw the camp of the Philistines, and he was afraid, and his heart trembled greatly.

And Saul asked of the LORD, but the LORD did not answer him — not by dreams, not by the Urim, not by the prophets.

Saul and the Medium of Endor

And Saul said to his servants, “Seek out for me a woman who is a master of a spirit, and I will go to her and inquire of her.” And his servants said to him, “Look — there is a woman who is a master of a spirit at En-dor.”

And Saul disguised himself and put on other garments, and he went, he and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night. And he said, “Divine for me, please, by the spirit, and bring up for me the one I say to you.”

And the woman said to him: “Look — you know what Saul has done, how he has cut off the mediums and the spiritists from the land. So why are you laying a snare for my life, to put me to death?”

And Saul swore to her by the LORD, saying, “As the LORD lives, no punishment shall come on you for this thing.”

And the woman said, “Whom shall I bring up for you?” And he said, “Bring up Samuel for me.”

The witch of Endor did not bring up Samuel, for that is impossible; nor did the one who came up speak the truth. But who this was, and by what power he came up, inquire.

WHEN SAMUEL WAS SUPPOSEDLY RAISED UP BY THE PYTHONESS, AND HE WAS SEEN BY HER AND SPOKE TO SAUL—THIS STORY IS REPORTED IN THE BOOK OF KINGS? — I consider it an unworthy deed if assent is given in accordance with the wording of the story. For how could it happen that a man holy by birth and righteous by the works of his life might be drawn by magical art?

And the woman said to Saul, etc. She calls one seen in the plural, as is very customary in Scripture, where often many are designated by the singular, and singular individuals by the plural number. Finally, when one calf was made, the people said: These are your gods, O Israel (Exodus 32).

And the woman saw Samuel, and she cried out with a great voice; and the woman said to Saul, “Why have you deceived me? For you are Saul!”

And the king said to her, “Do not be afraid. What do you see?” And the woman said to Saul, “I see a god coming up from the earth.”

And he said to her, “What is his form?” And she said, “An old man is coming up, and he is wrapped in a robe.” And Saul knew that it was Samuel, and he bowed with his face to the ground, and prostrated himself.

And that the souls survive, I have shown to you from the fact that the soul of Samuel was called up by the witch, as Saul demanded. And it appears also, that all the souls of similar righteous men and prophets fell under the dominion of such powers, as is indeed to be inferred from the very facts in the case of that witch.

The question is raised, whether Samuel rose by the hand of the sorceress or not. And if, indeed, we were to allow that he did rise, we should be propounding what is false. For how could a demon call back the soul, I say not of a righteous man merely, but of any one whatever, when it had gone, and was tarrying one knew not where?

I see no objection to saying that each mind has another body [sōma pneumatikos] when it leaves this solid one, and so the mind always has a body to animate, and in it crosses over, if there is any place to which necessity compels it to go, since, indeed, the angels themselves cannot be enumerated if they are not counted by bodies, as truth itself says in the Gospel: "I could as…

And Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me, bringing me up?” And Saul said: “I am in great distress. The Philistines are fighting against me, and God has departed from me and answers me no longer — not by the hand of the prophets, not by dreams. So I have called you, to make known to me what I should do.”

And Samuel said: “And why do you ask me, when the LORD has departed from you and become your adversary?

The LORD has done for himself just as he spoke by my hand: the LORD has torn the kingdom out of your hand and given it to your neighbor — to David.

Because you did not listen to the voice of the LORD, and did not carry out his burning anger against Amalek — therefore the LORD has done this thing to you this day.

And the LORD will give Israel also, along with you, into the hand of the Philistines; and tomorrow you and your sons will be with me. The camp of Israel also the LORD will give into the hand of the Philistines.”

And Saul hurried and fell full length to the ground, and was greatly afraid at the words of Samuel. And there was no strength in him, for he had not eaten bread all that day and all that night.

And the woman came to Saul and saw that he was terrified greatly; and she said to him: “Look — your servant has listened to your voice, and I have put my life in my hand, and I have listened to your words that you spoke to me.

And now, listen, please — you also — to the voice of your servant; and let me set before you a piece of bread, and eat, that there may be strength in you when you go on the way.”

But he refused and said, “I will not eat.” And his servants, and the woman also, urged him, and he listened to their voice; and he rose from the ground and sat on the bed.

And the woman had a fattened calf in the house; and she hurried and slaughtered it, and took flour and kneaded it, and baked unleavened bread from it.

And she brought it before Saul and before his servants, and they ate. And they rose and went away that night.

I Samuel28

The Philistines Gather against Israel

Saul and the Medium of Endor