1 Samuel 28:14

And he said unto her, What form [is] he of? And she said, An old man cometh up; and he [is] covered with a mantle. And Saul perceived that it [was] Samuel, and he stooped with [his] face to the ground, and bowed himself.

And he said {H559} unto her, What form {H8389} is he of? And she said {H559}, An old {H2205} man {H376} cometh up {H5927}; and he is covered {H5844} with a mantle {H4598}. And Saul {H7586} perceived {H3045} that it was Samuel {H8050}, and he stooped {H6915} with his face {H639} to the ground {H776}, and bowed {H7812} himself.

He asked her, "What does he look like?" She said, "An old man is coming up; he's wearing a cloak." Sha'ul realized it was Sh'mu'el, so he bowed with his face to the ground and prostrated himself.

β€œWhat does he look like?” asked Saul. β€œAn old man is coming up,” she replied. β€œAnd he is wearing a robe.” So Saul knew that it was Samuel, and he bowed facedown in reverence.

And he said unto her, What form is he of? And she said, An old man cometh up; and he is covered with a robe. And Saul perceived that it was Samuel, and he bowed with his face to the ground, and did obeisance.

Commentary

1 Samuel 28:14 details King Saul's desperate and forbidden encounter with the spirit of the deceased prophet Samuel, summoned by a medium at Endor. This pivotal moment underscores Saul's profound spiritual decline and the dire consequences of his persistent disobedience to God.

Context

Facing a formidable Philistine army and having been abandoned by the Lord, King Saul sought guidance through illicit means. Despite having previously purged Israel of mediums and spiritists (1 Samuel 28:3), his visit to the medium of Endor reveals his extreme desperation and spiritual bankruptcy. This verse captures the exact moment the medium describes the apparition's form, leading to Saul's immediate recognition and prostration. The description of an "old man" covered with a "mantle" was highly significant, as the mantle was a distinctive garment often associated with prophets, symbolizing their authority and divine connection.

Key Themes

  • Desperation and Disobedience: Saul's actions illustrate the extreme lengths to which a person will go when they have forsaken God's commands and feel abandoned. His seeking counsel from a medium was a direct and severe violation of Mosaic Law, which explicitly forbids such practices (Deuteronomy 18:10-12).
  • Divine Judgment Confirmed: This encounter serves to confirm the impending judgment upon Saul due to his persistent rebellion against God, particularly his disobedience concerning the Amalekites (1 Samuel 15:23). The appearance of Samuel delivers a stern prophecy of Saul's impending defeat and death, along with the transfer of his kingdom.
  • Recognition and Reverence: Despite his deep rebellion and spiritual estrangement, Saul's immediate recognition of Samuel and his act of bowing with his face to the ground reveal a profound, albeit belated, respect for the prophet and, by extension, for the divine authority Samuel represented.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "mantle" is me'il (ΧžΦ°Χ’Φ΄Χ™Χœ), which refers to a robe or cloak, often signifying a person of rank or a prophet. For example, Elijah's mantle played a significant role in his prophetic ministry. Its specific mention here immediately identifies the figure as Samuel, emphasizing his prophetic identity even beyond death, making his appearance all the more impactful for Saul.

Practical Application

This powerful passage serves as a stark warning against seeking guidance from sources other than God. In times of overwhelming challenge or spiritual distress, our first and only recourse should be to turn to the Lord through prayer, diligent study of His Word, and godly counsel. Saul's tragic end is a somber reminder that persistent disobedience and rebellion against God ultimately lead to destruction, whereas humility, repentance, and obedience bring life, peace, and divine guidance. It highlights that even those who once held positions of favor with God can fall deeply into sin if they choose a path of rebellion.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated β€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 1 Samuel 15:27

    And as Samuel turned about to go away, he laid hold upon the skirt of his mantle, and it rent.

  • 2 Kings 2:13

    ΒΆ He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back, and stood by the bank of Jordan;

  • 2 Kings 2:14

    And he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters, and said, Where [is] the LORD God of Elijah? and when he also had smitten the waters, they parted hither and thither: and Elisha went over.

  • 2 Kings 2:8

    And Elijah took his mantle, and wrapped [it] together, and smote the waters, and they were divided hither and thither, so that they two went over on dry ground.

  • 1 Samuel 24:8

    David also arose afterward, and went out of the cave, and cried after Saul, saying, My lord the king. And when Saul looked behind him, David stooped with his face to the earth, and bowed himself.
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