Första SamuelsbokenKapitel 28

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In those days the Philistines gathered their forces for war against Israel. Achish said to David, "You know, of course, that you and your men are to march out with me in the army."

David answered Achish, "Then you will see for yourself what your servant can do." Achish said to David, "Very well, I will make you my bodyguard for life."

Now Samuel was dead. All Israel had mourned for him and buried him in Ramah, his own town. And Saul had driven the mediums and spiritists out of the land.

The Philistines assembled and came and camped at Shunem, while Saul gathered all Israel and camped at Gilboa.

When Saul saw the Philistine army, he was afraid; terror gripped his heart.

Saul inquired of the LORD, but the LORD gave him no answer—not by dreams, not by Urim, not by prophets.

So Saul said to his servants, "Find me a woman who is a medium, so I can go and consult her." His servants told him, "There is a woman at Endor who is a medium."

So Saul disguised himself, putting on other clothes, and went with two men. They came to the woman at night, and Saul said, "Consult a spirit for me and bring up the one I name."

But the woman said to him, "Surely you know what Saul has done—how he has cut off the mediums and spiritists from the land. Why are you setting a trap for my life, to have me killed?"

Saul swore to her by the LORD, "As surely as the LORD lives, you will not be punished for this."

Then the woman asked, "Whom shall I bring up for you?" "Bring up Samuel," he said.

When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out at the top of her voice and said to Saul, "Why have you deceived me? You are Saul!"

The woman answered, "I see a divine being coming up out of the ground." [Footnote: The Hebrew word can mean God, gods, or a spirit being, and the verb here is plural.]

"What does he look like?" he asked. "An old man wrapped in a robe is coming up," she said. Then Saul knew it was Samuel, and he bowed low with his face to the ground.

Samuel said to Saul, "Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?" "I am in great distress," Saul answered. "The Philistines are attacking me, and God has turned away from me. He no longer answers me, either by prophets or by dreams. So I have called on you to tell me what to do."

Samuel said, "Why ask me, now that the LORD has turned away from you and become your enemy?

The LORD has done to you just as he spoke through me: he has torn the kingdom out of your hand and given it to your neighbor, to David.

Because you did not obey the voice of the LORD and did not carry out his burning anger against Amalek, the LORD has done this to you today.

The LORD will hand both you and Israel over to the Philistines, and tomorrow you and your sons will be with me. The LORD will also hand Israel's army over to the Philistines."

Instantly Saul fell full length on the ground, terrified by Samuel's words. His strength was gone, for he had eaten nothing all that day and all that night.

The woman came to Saul and saw how deeply shaken he was. She said to him, "Look, your servant obeyed you. I took my life in my hands and did what you asked of me.

Now please listen to your servant and let me set a piece of bread before you. Eat, so you will have strength for the journey."

He refused and said, "I will not eat." But his servants joined the woman in urging him, and he listened to them. He got up from the ground and sat on the bed.

The woman had a fattened calf at the house, and she quickly slaughtered it. She took flour, kneaded it, and baked unleavened bread.

Then she set it before Saul and his servants, and they ate. That same night they got up and left.

Uppslag

Sammanfattning2

Kapitel 28

Main Theme: Saul's desperate search for guidance through forbidden necromancy leads to the judgment of his kingdom.

Content: King Saul, afraid of the Philistine army, receives no answer from the Lord through dreams, Urim, or prophets. Despite having himself banned mediums in the land, he seeks out a medium at En-Dor to summon Samuel. The deceased prophet rebukes Saul and announces that the Lord has torn the kingdom from him because of his disobedience regarding Amalek, and that Saul and his sons will die in battle against the Philistines the next day.

Key Words/Images:

Medium (בַּעֲלַת־אוֹב): One who calls up the dead—a practice forbidden by Israel's law, which Saul himself had eradicated.
God's Silence: The Lord did not answer Saul through any legitimate channel, showing the broken relationship between God and the king.
Samuel's Mantle (מְעִיל): The identifying garment that points to Samuel, reminding of when he announced that the kingdom was torn from Saul.
Amalek: The reference to Saul's disobedience explains why judgment is now being carried out.

Historisk kontext

People

The Woman of En-Dor (בַּעֲלַת־אוֹב, ba'alat-ov) is the central figure in this chapter. The term ba'alat-ov literally means "a woman who is master over an ov" – a concept referring to either a spirit from the realm of the dead or the medium herself. Such mediums were widespread in the ancient Near East and served as intermediaries between the living and the dead. That Saul himself had expelled these people from the land (v. 3, cf. Lev 19:31; Deut 18:10-11), yet now seeks one out, underscores the deep irony and desperation of his situation.

Achish, king of the Philistines in Gath, appears as someone who has full confidence in David. His offer to make David his bodyguard (v. 2) places David in an impossible conflict of loyalty that is resolved only in chapter 29.

Places

Shunem (v. 4) was located in the Jezreel Valley at the foot of Mount Gilboa, a strategically important site where the Philistines gathered their army. The place is known from other biblical texts, including as the home of the Shunammite woman in 2 Kings 4. Gilboa (v. 4), the mountain region where Saul encamped, lies on the other side of the valley – about 5-6 kilometers away – and would become the site of his final defeat and death (1 Sam 31).

En-Dor (עֵין דּוֹר, v. 7) was located north of Shunem, meaning Saul had to sneak past or around the enemy camp to reach it. The name means "the spring of Dor" and refers to a water source in the area. The dangerous nighttime journey underscores Saul's desperation.

Events and Customs

Necromancy – the practice of summoning the dead to obtain information – was strictly forbidden under Israelite law (Lev 19:31; 20:6, 27; Deut 18:10-12), but was widespread in surrounding cultures. In Mesopotamia we find similar practices, where the dead were consulted through specialists. The fact that the text describes Samuel actually appearing (vv. 12-14) has been a subject of theological debate throughout history – some argue it was a deception, others that God allowed a genuine revelation.

Divine guidance (v. 6) could be sought in Israel through three channels: dreams, Urim (the priests' lot-casting instruments associated with the ephod), and prophets. That all three were closed to Saul signals that God had completely withdrawn from him. This stands in sharp contrast to how David consistently received answers when he asked the Lord.

The Hospitality Meal (vv. 21-25) that the woman serves Saul is remarkable. Slaughter of a "fattened calf" (עֵגֶל מַרְבֵּק, egel marbeq) – a specially fattened calf kept indoors for festive occasions – represented significant hospitality. Combined with unleavened bread (matzot), which could be prepared quickly, she provides a fallen king his last meal before he goes to death.

Key Terms

The word אוֹב (ov) used for the medium has uncertain etymology, but refers either to the spirit that is summoned, the pit or hole from which the spirit comes, or the person who performs the ritual. The Septuagint translates it as engastrimythos ("one who speaks from the belly"). The Hebrew אֱלֹהִים (elohim) in verse 13, which the woman uses when describing what she sees, can mean "god," "gods," or "divine/supernatural being," and here refers to a spirit rising from the realm of the dead.

Personer5

David2 God1 Samuel7 Saul12 Achish (king of the Philistines)2

Alla personer →

Nyckelord8

Saul — The first king of Israel who was chosen by God through the prophet Samuel.
Samuel — A prophet and judge in Israel who anointed both Saul and David to be kings.
Witch — A person who claims to have supernatural powers and abilities, such as communicating with spirits.
Endor — A village in Israel where Saul visited a witch to contact the spirit of Samuel.
Spirit — An immaterial being, often associated with a human soul or divine beings.
Necromancy — The practice of communicating with the dead to gain information or guidance.
Philistines — An ancient people group who were enemies of Israel and lived in Canaan.
God — The Almighty Creator who, according to Genesis, created heaven, earth, and all life.