1 Samuel 28:10

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

And Saul sware to her by the LORD, saying, [As] the LORD liveth, there shall no punishment happen to thee for this thing.

Complete Jewish Bible:

But Sha'ul swore to her by ADONAI, "As ADONAI lives, you will not be punished for doing this."

Berean Standard Bible:

Then Saul swore to her by the LORD: “As surely as the LORD lives, no punishment shall come upon you for this.”

American Standard Version:

And Saul sware to her by Jehovah, saying, As Jehovah liveth, there shall no punishment happen to thee for this thing.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And Saul^{H7586} sware^{H7650} to her by the LORD^{H3068}, saying^{H559}, As the LORD^{H3068} liveth^{H2416}, there shall^{H518} no punishment^{H5771} happen^{H7136} to thee for this thing^{H1697}.

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Commentary for 1 Samuel 28:10

1 Samuel 28:10 is set within a narrative rich in historical and spiritual significance. This verse captures a critical moment in the life of King Saul, the first king of Israel, who has reached a point of desperation. Saul's reign has been marked by a series of conflicts, both external and internal, including ongoing wars with the Philistines and his own deteriorating mental health. Moreover, Saul has fallen out of favor with God due to his disobedience, particularly his failure to utterly destroy the Amalekites as commanded by the Lord through the prophet Samuel.

In this context, Saul is faced with an imminent battle against the Philistines and seeks guidance from God. However, after repeated attempts to consult the Lord through traditional means—dreams, prophets, and the Urim—Saul receives no answer. In his fear and desperation, he resorts to seeking out a medium, a practice strictly forbidden by Israelite law, to summon the spirit of the prophet Samuel. The medium, commonly referred to as the Witch of Endor, is hesitant, knowing that Saul has banned such practices.

In 1 Samuel 28:10, after the spirit of Samuel is conjured, Saul speaks to the medium and reassures her with an oath, "As the Lord lives, no punishment shall happen to you for this thing." This statement reflects Saul's deep distress and his willingness to transgress the law in an attempt to gain divine insight. It also highlights the depth of his isolation, as he has been abandoned by God and is now resorting to forbidden practices.

The themes present in this verse include the consequences of disobedience, the desperation that can arise from fear and abandonment, and the boundaries between the divine will and human desires. Historically, this moment underscores the spiritual crisis of Saul's reign and foreshadows his ultimate downfall. It serves as a stark reminder of the importance of obedience to God's commands and the perils of seeking guidance outside of His will. The verse also touches on the complex relationship between spiritual laws and the actions of rulers who are entrusted with upholding them.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H7586
   There are 335 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שָׁאוּל
   Transliteration: Shâʼûwl
   Pronunciation: shaw-ool'
   Description: passive participle of שָׁאַל; asked; Shaul, the name of an Edomite and two Israelites; Saul, Shaul.
   
2. Strong's Number: H7650
   There are 175 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שָׁבַע
   Transliteration: shâbaʻ
   Pronunciation: shaw-bah'
   Description: a primitive root; properly to be complete, but used only as a denominative from שֶׁבַע; to seven oneself, i.e. swear (as if by repeating a declaration seven times); adjure, charge (by an oath, with an oath), feed to the full (by mistake for שָׂבַע), take an oath, [idiom] straitly, (cause to, make to) swear.
   
3. Strong's Number: H3068
   There are 5521 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יְהֹוָה
   Transliteration: Yᵉhôvâh
   Pronunciation: yeh-ho-vaw'
   Description: from הָיָה; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God; Jehovah, the Lord. Compare יָהּ, יְהֹוִה.
   
4. Strong's Number: H559
   There are 4434 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אָמַר
   Transliteration: ʼâmar
   Pronunciation: aw-mar'
   Description: a primitive root; to say (used with great latitude); answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [idiom] plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), [idiom] still, [idiom] suppose, talk, tell, term, [idiom] that is, [idiom] think, use (speech), utter, [idiom] verily, [idiom] yet.
   
5. Strong's Number: H2416
   There are 452 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: חַי
   Transliteration: chay
   Pronunciation: khah'-ee
   Description: from חָיָה; alive; hence, raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water, year), strong; also (as noun, especially in the feminine singular and masculine plural) life (or living thing), whether literally or figuratively; [phrase] age, alive, appetite, (wild) beast, company, congregation, life(-time), live(-ly), living (creature, thing), maintenance, [phrase] merry, multitude, [phrase] (be) old, quick, raw, running, springing, troop.
   
6. Strong's Number: H518
   There are 283 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אִם
   Transliteration: ʼim
   Pronunciation: eem
   Description: a primitive particle; used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogative, whether?; or conditional, if, although; also Oh that!, when; hence, as a negative, not; (and, can-, doubtless, if, that) (not), [phrase] but, either, [phrase] except, [phrase] more(-over if, than), neither, nevertheless, nor, oh that, or, [phrase] save (only, -ing), seeing, since, sith, [phrase] surely (no more, none, not), though, [phrase] of a truth, [phrase] unless, [phrase] verily, when, whereas, whether, while, [phrase] yet.
   
7. Strong's Number: H5771
   There are 213 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: עָוֺן
   Transliteration: ʻâvôn
   Pronunciation: aw-vone'
   Description: or עָווֹן; (2 Kings 7:9; Psalm 51:5 (אֲבַד)), from עָוָה; perversity, i.e. (moral) evil; fault, iniquity, mischeif, punishment (of iniquity), sin.
   
8. Strong's Number: H7136
   There are 27 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: קָרָה
   Transliteration: qârâh
   Pronunciation: kaw-raw'
   Description: a primitive root; to light upon (chiefly by accident); causatively, to bring about; specifically, to impose timbers (for roof or floor); appoint, lay (make) beams, befall, bring, come (to pass unto), floor, (hap) was, happen (unto), meet, send good speed.
   
9. Strong's Number: H1697
   There are 1290 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: דָּבָר
   Transliteration: dâbâr
   Pronunciation: daw-baw'
   Description: from דָבַר; a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause; act, advice, affair, answer, [idiom] any such (thing), because of, book, business, care, case, cause, certain rate, [phrase] chronicles, commandment, [idiom] commune(-ication), [phrase] concern(-ing), [phrase] confer, counsel, [phrase] dearth, decree, deed, [idiom] disease, due, duty, effect, [phrase] eloquent, errand, (evil favoured-) ness, [phrase] glory, [phrase] harm, hurt, [phrase] iniquity, [phrase] judgment, language, [phrase] lying, manner, matter, message, (no) thing, oracle, [idiom] ought, [idiom] parts, [phrase] pertaining, [phrase] please, portion, [phrase] power, promise, provision, purpose, question, rate, reason, report, request, [idiom] (as hast) said, sake, saying, sentence, [phrase] sign, [phrase] so, some (uncleanness), somewhat to say, [phrase] song, speech, [idiom] spoken, talk, task, [phrase] that, [idiom] there done, thing (concerning), thought, [phrase] thus, tidings, what(-soever), [phrase] wherewith, which, word, work.