TRV
See on the biblical-era map
Study This Verse
Public-domain commentary
Matthew Henry
From his Commentary on the Whole Bible. Henry comments on passages, not single verses — this entry covers 1 Samuel 28:15–19.
We have here the conference between Saul and Satan. Saul came in disguise (Sa1 28:8), but Satan soon discovered him, Sa1 28:12. Satan comes in disguise, in the disguise of Samuel's mantle, and Saul cannot discover him. Such is the disadvantage we labour under, in wrestling with the rulers of the darkness of this world, that they know us, while we are ignorant of their wiles and devices.
I.The spectre, or apparition, personating Samuel, asks why he is sent for (Sa1 28:15):
Why hast thou disquieted me to bring me up? To us this discovers that it was an evil spirit that personated Samuel; for (as bishop Patrick observes) it is not in the power of witches to disturb the rest of good men and to bring them back into the world when they please; nor would the true Samuel have acknowledged such a power in magical arts: but to Saul this was a proper device of Satan's, to draw veneration from him, to possess him with an opinion of the power of divination, and so to rivet him in the devil's interests.
II.Saul makes his complaint to this counterfeit Samuel, mistaking him for the true; and a most doleful complaint it is:
"I am sorely distressed, and know not what to do, for the Philistines make war against me; yet I should do well enough with them if I had but the tokens of God's presence with me; but, alas! God has departed from me." He complained not of God's withdrawings till he fell into trouble, till the Philistines made war against him, and then he began to lament God's departure. He that in his prosperity enquired not after God in his adversity thought it hard that God answered him not, nor took any notice of his enquiries, either by dreams or prophets, neither gave answers immediately himself nor sent them by any of his messengers. He does not, like a penitent, own the righteousness of God in this; but, like a man enraged, flies out against God as unkind and flies off from him: Therefore I have called thee; as if Samuel, a servant of God, would favour those whom God frowned upon, or as if a dead prophet could do him more service than the living ones. One would think, from this, that he really desired to meet with the devil, and expected no other (though under the covert of Samuel's name), for he desires advice otherwise than from God, therefore from the devil, who is a rival with God. "God denies me, therefore I come to thee. Flectere si nequeo superos, Acheronta movebo." - If I fail with heaven, I will move hell.
III.It is cold comfort which this evil spirit in Samuel's mantle gives to Saul, and is manifestly intended to drive him to despair and self-murder. Had it been the true Samuel, when Saul desired to be told what he should do he would have told him to repent and make his peace with God, and recall David from his banishment, and would then have told him that he might hope in this way to find mercy with God; but, instead of that, he represents his case as helpless and hopeless, serving him as he did Judas, to whom he was first a tempter and then a tormentor, persuading him first to sell his master and then to hang himself. 1. He upbraids him with his present distress (Sa1 28:16), tells him, not only that God had departed from him, but that he had become his enemy, and therefore he must expect no comfortable answer from him: "Wherefore dost thou ask me? How can I be thy friend when God is thy enemy, or thy counsellor when he has left thee?" 2. He upbraids him with the anointing of David to the kingdom, Sa1 28:17. He could not have touched upon a string that sounded more unpleasant in the ear of Saul than this. Nothing is said to reconcile him to David, but all tends rather to exasperate him against David and widen the breach. Yet, to make him believe that he was Samuel, the apparition affirmed that it was God who spoke by him. The devil knows how to speak with an air of religion, and can teach false apostles to transform themselves into the apostles of Christ and imitate their language. Those who use spells and charms, and plead, in defence of them, that they find nothing in them but what is good, may remember what good words the devil here spoke, and yet with what a malicious design. 3. He upbraids him with his disobedience to the command of God in not destroying the Amalekites, Sa1 28:18. Satan had helped him to palliate and excuse that sin when Samuel was dealing with him to bring him to repentance, but now he aggravates it, to make him despair of God's mercy. See what those get that hearken to Satan's temptations. He himself will be their accuser, and insult over them. And see whom those resemble that allure others to that which is evil and reproach them for it when they have done. 4. He foretels his approaching ruin, Sa1 28:19. (1.) That his army should be routed by the Philistines. This is twice mentioned: The Lord shall deliver Israel into the hand of the Philistines. This he might foresee, by considering the superior strength and number of the Philistines, the weakness of the armies of Israel, Saul's terror, and especially God's departure from them. Yet, to personate a prophet, he very gravely ascribes it once and again to God: The Lord shall do it. (2.) That he and his sons should be slain in the battle: Tomorrow, that is, in a little time (and, supposing that it was now after midnight, I see not but it may be taken strictly for the very next day after that which had now begun), thou and thy sons shall be with me, that is, in the state of the dead, separate from the body. Had this been the true Samuel, he could not have foretold the event unless God had revealed it to him; and, though it were an evil spirit, God might by him foretel it; as we read of an evil spirit that foresaw Ahab's fall at Ramoth-Gilead and was instrumental in it (Kg1 22:20, etc.), as perhaps this evil spirit was, by the divine permission, in Saul's destruction. That evil spirit flattered Ahab, this frightened Saul, and both that they might fall; so miserable are those that are under the power of Satan; for, whether he rage or laugh, there is no rest, Pro 29:9.
Historical interpretation
Three Centuries of Reception
2 surviving comments on this verse. Each one is dated, so this reads as a timeline rather than a list.
Select a marker to jump to its quote. Markers stagger vertically where authors wrote within a few decades of each other.
Is a little demon capable of prophesying concerning the entire people of God that the Lord is about to deliver Israel?…Can also a little demon know this, that after a king has been appointed with the anointing oil of a prophet, that tomorrow Saul and his sons with him will forfeit their lives?…
But I cannot give to a little demon such a great power that he can prophesy concerning Saul and the people of God and he can prophesy concerning David that he will become king.
The need of severe measures tends to crush all gentleness and compassion of heart. The testimony of Scripture supports my assertion. We read that a sovereign sinned who spared an enemy appointed by heaven to be slain. His leniency brought upon him the penalty which his severity should have inflicted upon another. He who refuses to take vengeance, himself becomes its victim. He who, having an enemy in his power, pardons him, either makes light of or despises the weight of God’s judgment. Rightly do they suffer punishment who have done wrong. He who pardons present faults transmits them to posterity. As for … the patience of our Redeemer mercy and grace embrace those whom the severity of the law forms. Never has a doctor restored a sick person to perfect health without first cutting away the putrid members and drawing out the filth hidden deep within. He who lets the guilty go unpunished urges the innocent to commit crimes. LIFE OF ST.
Continue studying 1 Samuel 28:18 across the web’s major study libraries — every link below opens this exact verse, chapter, or book on the destination site.
Read & Compare
BibleGatewayThis verse in more than 200 translations and 70 languages.
Bible.comThe YouVersion reader — hundreds of translations, reading plans, and highlights.
ESV.orgCrossway's official English Standard Version reader.
NET BibleThe NET translation with 60,000+ translators' notes on every rendering decision.
STEP BibleTyndale House's free study tool — original text, vocabulary, and scholarly resources.
BibliaLogos Bible Software's free web reader.
USCCBThe New American Bible (Revised Edition) with the U.S. bishops' study notes.
Commentaries
BibleHub CommentariesDozens of classic commentaries on this verse, gathered on one page.
StudyLightMore than 100 commentary sets — the largest collection on the web.
BibleRefPlain-English commentary on what this verse means, verse by verse.
Enduring WordDavid Guzik's free commentary on this chapter, widely used by Bible teachers.
Bible Study ToolsVerse commentary alongside Greek and Hebrew study aids.
Original Language & Research
- BibleHub InterlinearThe verse word by word — original language, transliteration, and English.
- BibleHub LexiconEvery word's original-language definition and Strong's entry.
Blue Letter BibleDeep-study tools — Strong's numbers, concordance, and word studies.
SefariaThe Hebrew text with Rashi and centuries of Jewish commentary.
Sermons, Hymns & Audio
TrulyRandomVerse is not affiliated with these sites and doesn’t control their content. They’re linked because they’re genuinely useful.
Summary
1 Samuel 28:18 delivers a stark and definitive divine judgment from the spirit of Samuel to King Saul, unequivocally declaring that Saul's impending defeat and death are the direct, inevitable consequences of his profound and persistent disobedience to the LORD. This verse serves as the climactic pronouncement of God's righteous retribution for Saul's failure to fully execute divine wrath upon the Amalekites, powerfully encapsulating the tragic culmination of his rebellion and affirming God's unwavering commitment to His word and justice.
Context
Literary Context
This verse is strategically placed at a moment of profound desperation and spiritual crisis for King Saul. Having been utterly forsaken by God, who refused to communicate through legitimate means (dreams, Urim, or prophets), Saul, in his terror of the Philistine army, resorted to the forbidden practice of necromancy by consulting the medium of Endor. This act, explicitly prohibited by Mosaic Law as an abomination (Deuteronomy 18:10-12), sets the stage for a final, damning encounter. The appearance of Samuel's spirit, or an entity presenting as such, is not to offer comfort or guidance, but to deliver a crushing indictment and confirm the irreversible doom previously prophesied. The immediate preceding verses detail Saul's profound fear and his desperate, yet futile, attempts to seek divine counsel, highlighting the depth of his spiritual abandonment and the direct link between his past disobedience and his present existential crisis.
Historical & Cultural Context
The divine command to utterly destroy the Amalekites (known as herem, or "devotion to destruction") was a unique and severe judgment against a people who had a long-standing history of malevolent hostility towards Israel and God's redemptive purposes. Their unprovoked attack on the vulnerable Israelites immediately after the Exodus, as recorded in Exodus 17:8-16, marked them for perpetual divine retribution. Saul's failure to fully obey this explicit command, particularly his sparing of King Agag and the finest livestock (1 Samuel 15:9), was not merely a tactical error but a profound act of rebellion against God's direct authority. In the ancient Near Eastern understanding of kingship, the king was often seen as a divine agent; Saul's dereliction of this divinely ordained duty demonstrated his preference for his own will and perceived gain over God's clear instruction, a fatal flaw in his kingship.
Key Themes
This verse powerfully articulates several overarching themes central to the books of Samuel and the broader biblical narrative. Foremost is the theme of Consequences of Disobedience, illustrating with stark clarity that rebellion against God's explicit commands inevitably leads to severe judgment and downfall. Saul's ultimate rejection as king, a fate previously declared by Samuel in 1 Samuel 15:23, finds its tragic culmination here. It also profoundly highlights Divine Sovereignty and Justice, demonstrating that God's word and prophetic declarations are unfailingly fulfilled, even through the actions of a disobedient king and an illicit consultation. The emphasis on "the voice of the LORD" underscores the Authority of God's Word and the seriousness with which His commands are to be received, reinforcing the timeless principle articulated in 1 Samuel 15:22 that "to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams."
Exposition and Analysis
Key Word Analysis
This verb (H8085), commonly translated as "to hear" or "to listen," carries the profounder sense of "to heed," "to understand," and crucially, "to obey." The negation in the verse emphasizes a deliberate and active refusal on Saul's part to comply with God's clear instruction. It signifies a willful turning away from God's expressed will, rather than mere oversight or inability, highlighting a deep-seated rebellion.
This noun (H2740), derived from a root meaning "to burn," describes an intense, burning anger or indignation. When paired with "wrath" (Hebrew, ʼaph, H639, meaning "nose" or "face," often associated with the snorting of anger), it forms a powerful anthropomorphism for God's righteous and unyielding judgment. It signifies the severity and divine nature of the command against Amalek, indicating that this was not a casual instruction but the execution of God's holy justice against a people marked for destruction due to their persistent evil.
More than just a generic object, this term (H1697) encompasses "word," "matter," "affair," or "deed." In this context, "this thing" refers to the entire unfolding catastrophe of Saul's present predicament—his abandonment by God, his impending defeat by the Philistines, and his imminent death. It underscores that these are not random misfortunes but the direct, divinely orchestrated consequences of his past actions, a "matter" or "deed" brought about by God.
Verse Breakdown
"Because thou obeyedst not the voice of the LORD"
This opening clause establishes the direct and singular cause of Saul's dire situation. His failure was not a minor transgression but a fundamental refusal to heed God's direct and clear command, demonstrating a profound lack of submission to divine authority. "The voice of the LORD" emphasizes the clarity and directness of the divine instruction given to Saul, leaving no room for misunderstanding or ambiguity regarding God's will.
"nor executedst his fierce wrath upon Amalek"
This specifies the particular act of disobedience that led to Saul's downfall. Saul was commissioned by God to be the instrument of divine judgment against the Amalekites, a sacred task he failed to complete fully. His partial obedience—sparing King Agag and the best of the livestock—was deemed complete disobedience in God's eyes, undermining the very nature of the herem command and revealing a heart not fully devoted to God's will but swayed by personal gain or popular approval.
"therefore hath the LORD done this thing unto thee this day"
This concluding clause presents the direct, inevitable consequence of Saul's rebellion. The "this thing" refers to Saul's current desperate state, his abandonment by God, and his impending defeat and death at the hands of the Philistines. It powerfully underscores God's sovereignty in judgment, directly linking Saul's past rebellion to his present and future suffering, making it unequivocally clear that his downfall is a divine act of retribution, a just recompense for his profound disobedience.
Literary Devices
The verse employs Causality as its primary literary device, establishing an undeniable link between Saul's past disobedience and his present and future judgment. The explicit "Because... therefore" construction clearly articulates a divine cause-and-effect relationship, leaving no ambiguity about the source of Saul's misfortune. There is also strong Foreshadowing, as Samuel's words here confirm and bring to fruition the earlier prophecies of Saul's rejection and impending doom, bringing the tragic narrative arc of Saul's reign to its inevitable and bitter conclusion. The language is profoundly Didactic, serving to teach a timeless theological lesson about the seriousness of obedience to divine commands and the severe, unavoidable consequences of rebellion, particularly for those entrusted with leadership and authority by God.
Theological and Thematic Connections
This verse serves as a profound theological statement on the nature of divine judgment and the non-negotiable requirement of obedience for those in covenant with God. It underscores that God's commands are not mere suggestions but absolute mandates, and that partial obedience is, in essence, complete disobedience in His eyes. Saul's downfall is a stark illustration that God holds His chosen leaders to an exceptionally high standard of faithfulness, and that persistent, willful rebellion ultimately leads to rejection and severe consequences. The "fierce wrath" upon Amalek highlights God's unwavering justice against persistent evil, and Saul's failure to execute it demonstrates a fundamental misalignment with God's righteous character. This narrative reinforces the Old Testament principle that blessing follows obedience, and judgment follows rebellion, a pattern evident throughout Israel's history and a foundational truth of God's covenant relationship with His people.
Reflection and Application
King Saul's tragic end, succinctly explained in this verse, offers a sobering and timeless lesson for all believers. It challenges us to deeply examine the depth and sincerity of our own obedience to God. Are there areas in our lives where we practice "partial obedience," doing what is convenient or what we deem acceptable, while neglecting clear divine commands? Saul's rationalization for sparing the Amalekite livestock (to offer sacrifices) reveals a common human tendency to prioritize our own wisdom, perceived benefit, or even religious rituals over the direct, explicit voice of God. This verse calls us to a radical and uncompromising submission, recognizing that God values a surrendered heart and complete obedience far more than any outward religious performance, human reasoning, or personal convenience. It reminds us that while God is infinitely merciful and forgiving, He is also perfectly just, and there are profound spiritual consequences for persistent and willful rebellion against His revealed will. Our walk with God is not merely about avoiding overt sin, but about actively and wholeheartedly aligning our lives with His every word, understanding that true love for God, as Jesus taught, is demonstrated through our obedience to His commands.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Was Samuel truly present, or was it a demonic deception?
The biblical text explicitly states that "Samuel said to Saul" (1 Samuel 28:15), and Saul recognized Samuel (1 Samuel 28:14). While some commentators suggest it was a demonic impersonation due to the illicit nature of the medium's activities, the narrative consistently presents it as the genuine spirit of Samuel, supernaturally brought forth by God's allowance. This interpretation underscores God's absolute sovereignty, even over forbidden practices, demonstrating His ability to use any means to accomplish His purposes and deliver His final, undeniable judgment upon Saul. The message delivered is entirely consistent with Samuel's previous prophecies and God's righteous character.
Why was God's "fierce wrath" upon Amalek, and why was Saul's disobedience so severe?
The Amalekites were a nomadic people who had a long and consistent history of animosity towards Israel and, by extension, towards God's redemptive plan. They attacked the Israelites when they were vulnerable after the Exodus (Exodus 17:8-16), demonstrating a perpetual enmity against God's chosen people. God declared a perpetual war against Amalek (Exodus 17:16) and commanded their utter destruction (herem) as a unique act of divine judgment, meant to purge a deeply corrupting evil and prevent its influence on Israel. Saul's disobedience was severe because it was a direct defiance of God's explicit command, demonstrating a profound lack of trust and submission. By sparing Agag and the best of the livestock, Saul elevated his own will and perceived gain (booty, a captive king) above God's clear word, undermining his sacred role as God's anointed king and demonstrating a heart not fully devoted to the Lord. This act was seen as rebellion and stubbornness, likened to the sin of idolatry (1 Samuel 15:23).
Does this mean God punishes people directly for their sins in such a way today?
While God's character of justice and the principle that sin has consequences remain constant, the specific nature of divine judgment and its manifestation have changed with the new covenant in Christ. In the Old Testament, particularly under the Mosaic Law, there were often immediate and tangible consequences for disobedience within the nation of Israel, which functioned as a theocracy. Today, while sin still separates us from God and has spiritual, emotional, and often natural consequences, believers live under grace. The ultimate "fierce wrath" for sin was borne by Jesus Christ on the cross, offering forgiveness and reconciliation to those who believe (Romans 8:1). However, the principle that God is holy and that willful, unrepentant sin has serious implications for our relationship with Him and our spiritual well-being remains true (Hebrews 12:5-11). God's discipline for His children, though painful, is always redemptive, aiming to conform us to the image of Christ.
Christ-Centered Fulfillment
The stark judgment pronounced upon Saul in 1 Samuel 28:18 vividly highlights the profound chasm between human disobedience and divine holiness—a chasm that only Christ could bridge. Saul's catastrophic failure to "obey the voice of the LORD" and execute "his fierce wrath" upon Amalek stands in stark contrast to Jesus Christ, the ultimate obedient Son. Where Saul failed in his kingly duty to perfectly execute God's will, Jesus perfectly fulfilled the Father's will, even to the point of death on the cross (Philippians 2:8). The "fierce wrath" that Saul was commanded to execute upon Amalek, representing God's just judgment against persistent sin and rebellion, finds its ultimate and complete satisfaction not through human agency, but through Christ's atoning sacrifice. He bore the full "fierce wrath" of God against sin, becoming the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Thus, while Saul faced judgment for his disobedience, believers in Christ find forgiveness and reconciliation, not through their own imperfect obedience, but through the perfect obedience and substitutionary sacrifice of Jesus, who became our righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21). His perfect obedience and sacrificial death secure our salvation, transforming the "this thing unto thee this day" of judgment into the "this grace unto you this day" of salvation and eternal life.