1 Samuel 28:25

KJV

And she brought [it] before Saul, and before his servants; and they did eat. Then they rose up, and went away that night.

KJV (with Strong's)

And she brought {H5066} it before {H6440} Saul {H7586}, and before {H6440} his servants {H5650}; and they did eat {H398}. Then they rose up {H6965}, and went away {H3212} that night {H3915}.

Complete Jewish Bible

She served it to Sha'ul and his servants, and they ate. Afterwards, they got up; and they went away that night.

Berean Standard Bible

She served it to Saul and his servants, and they ate. And that night they got up and left.

American Standard Version

and she brought it before Saul, and before his servants; and they did eat. Then they rose up, and went away that night.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
1 Samuel 28:25 marks the somber conclusion of King Saul's desperate, forbidden consultation with the medium of Endor. Following the terrifying prophecy of his imminent death and the transfer of his kingdom to David, Saul, physically and spiritually broken, reluctantly accepts sustenance from the woman and his servants. This seemingly mundane act of eating and departing under the cover of night serves as a poignant, final scene of Saul's tragic reign, ushering him towards his prophesied doom on the battlefield.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse immediately follows the climactic and devastating encounter between King Saul and the spirit of the prophet Samuel, conjured by the medium of Endor. In [1 Samuel 28:18-19](/1_samuel/28-18 "1 Samuel 28:18-19 - Samuel's Prophecy to Saul"), Samuel's apparition delivered a crushing verdict: God had departed from Saul, his kingdom would be torn from him and given to David, and both he and his sons would die in battle against the Philistines the very next day. Overwhelmed by this dire pronouncement, Saul "fell straightway all along the earth, and was sore afraid, because of the words of Samuel" ([1 Samuel 28:20](/1_samuel/28-20 "1 Samuel 28:20 - Saul's Collapse")). He had been fasting and was physically weak. The woman and Saul's servants, witnessing his collapse, urged him to eat to regain strength for the journey back to the Israelite camp. The woman, displaying remarkable compassion and hospitality, quickly slaughtered a fatted calf and baked unleavened bread ([1 Samuel 28:24](/1_samuel/28-24 "1 Samuel 28:24 - The Woman's Hospitality")). Verse 25 then records the simple act of them eating and departing, setting the stage for the battle detailed in [1 Samuel 31](/1_samuel/31 "1 Samuel 31 - The Death of Saul").

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** King Saul's visit to Endor occurs on the eve of a major battle with the Philistines, who had gathered their forces at Shunem ([1 Samuel 28:4](/1_samuel/28-4 "1 Samuel 28:4 - Philistines Gather at Shunem")). Saul was in a state of extreme distress because God had ceased to communicate with him through any legitimate means—dreams, Urim, or prophets ([1 Samuel 28:6](/1_samuel/28-6 "1 Samuel 28:6 - God's Silence to Saul")). Desperate and fearing the Philistines, Saul resorted to necromancy, a practice explicitly forbidden and considered an abomination in Israel under the Mosaic Law ([Deuteronomy 18:10-12](/deuteronomy/18-10 "Deuteronomy 18:10-12 - Abominations to the Lord")). Ironically, Saul himself had previously purged the land of mediums and spiritists ([1 Samuel 28:3](/1_samuel/28-3 "1 Samuel 28:3 - Saul's Earlier Purge")). The woman's act of providing a meal, despite the danger of harboring a king who had outlawed her profession, highlights the strong cultural imperative of hospitality in the ancient Near East, even towards a perceived enemy or a king in disgrace. The departure "that night" was practical for secrecy and to reach the battlefield by morning, but also carries symbolic weight given the spiritual darkness of the preceding events.

* **Key Themes:** This verse, though brief, contributes to several overarching themes in 1 Samuel. Firstly, it underscores the **gravity of divine judgment** and the **inevitability of God's word**. Samuel's prophecy, a direct consequence of Saul's persistent disobedience, particularly regarding the Amalekites ([1 Samuel 15:23](/1_samuel/15-23 "1 Samuel 15:23 - Saul's Rejection for Disobedience")), is now set in motion, with the meal serving as a grim prelude to its fulfillment. Secondly, it highlights **human desperation and frailty** in the face of overwhelming spiritual and physical collapse. Saul's physical weakness mirrors his spiritual bankruptcy. Thirdly, the woman's actions introduce a theme of **unexpected human compassion** amidst a narrative dominated by divine wrath and royal failure. Finally, the entire episode, culminating in this departure, signifies the **end of an era**—the end of Saul's kingship and the definitive transition of God's favor and the kingdom to David, God's chosen successor ([1 Samuel 16:13](/1_samuel/16-13 "1 Samuel 16:13 - David's Anointing")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Eat (Hebrew: אכל, _'akal'_):** While literally referring to the consumption of food, in this context, "eat" carries a deeper resonance. It represents a moment of grudging acceptance and physical restoration for Saul, who had refused food due to his despair ([1 Samuel 28:20](/1_samuel/28-20 "1 Samuel 28:20 - Saul's Refusal to Eat")). The act of eating signifies a temporary regaining of strength, not for victory, but merely to face the inevitable. It is a final, shared meal before a king goes to his death, contrasting sharply with meals of celebration or covenant.
* **Rose up (Hebrew: קום, _'qum'_):** This verb implies rising from a prostrate or seated position, indicating a physical act of getting to one's feet. For Saul, who had fallen "all along the earth" ([1 Samuel 28:20](/1_samuel/28-20 "1 Samuel 28:20 - Saul's Physical Collapse")), "rose up" signifies a regaining of posture and a grim resolve to face his fate. It is not a rising in hope or triumph, but a somber preparation for the final confrontation.
* **That night (Hebrew: לילה, _'laylah'_):** The specific mention of "that night" is significant. Practically, it allowed for a discreet departure and travel back to the Israelite camp under cover of darkness, preparing for the battle at dawn. Symbolically, "the night" reinforces the spiritual darkness that has enveloped Saul's reign, marking the end of his time in power under a shroud of judgment and despair. It is a night of finality, preceding the dawn of his destruction.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And she brought [it] before Saul, and before his servants;":** This clause highlights the woman's compassionate and practical act of hospitality. She brings the prepared meal—the fatted calf and unleavened bread—not just to Saul, but also to his servants, indicating a shared, if somber, repast. This shared meal underscores the human need for sustenance even in the most dire circumstances and the woman's role in facilitating Saul's physical recovery, however temporary.
* **"and they did eat.":** This simple declarative statement confirms that Saul and his entourage consumed the meal. It is a moment of physical nourishment that stands in stark contrast to the spiritual desolation Saul has just experienced. The act of eating provides the necessary strength for the journey ahead, a journey that will lead directly to his demise. It is a pause, a brief interlude of human normalcy, before the final, tragic act.
* **"Then they rose up, and went away that night.":** This final clause describes the departure from Endor. "Rose up" implies a renewed, albeit temporary, physical capacity. Their departure "that night" signifies a swift, perhaps clandestine, exit from the scene of the dreadful prophecy. The darkness of the night provides cover for their movement and symbolically marks the end of Saul's desperate search for answers, leading him into the final, dark chapter of his life and reign.

#### Literary Devices
The brevity of 1 Samuel 28:25 belies its rich use of literary devices. **Irony** pervades the entire narrative leading up to this verse: Saul, who once purged mediums from the land, now seeks one out in desperation, only to receive a prophecy of doom. The meal itself is an ironic act of sustenance, providing strength not for victory, but for the journey to death. **Foreshadowing** is powerfully present, as the act of eating and departing directly precedes the fulfillment of Samuel's prophecy in the very next chapter, leading to Saul's death. The phrase "that night" employs **Symbolism**, representing not only the literal darkness of their departure but also the spiritual and political darkness that has fallen upon Saul's kingdom. There is also an element of **Pathos**, as the reader witnesses the final, tragic movements of a once-powerful king, now reduced to a broken figure, accepting a final meal before facing his inevitable end.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
1 Samuel 28:25, though seemingly a mundane detail, serves as a poignant theological marker. It demonstrates the inexorable nature of God's judgment once His warnings have been repeatedly ignored and His commands defied. Saul's desperate act of seeking forbidden counsel, a direct violation of God's law, sealed his fate, illustrating that God's word, whether of blessing or judgment, will ultimately come to pass. The scene underscores the futility of human attempts to manipulate divine will or escape consequences through illicit means. Even the act of eating, a basic human need, cannot alter the divine decree but merely provides the strength to walk into its fulfillment. It is a stark reminder that true strength and guidance come only from obedience and humble reliance on God, not from desperate, disobedient acts.

* [1 Samuel 15:23](/1_samuel/15-23 "1 Samuel 15:23 - Rebellion as Witchcraft")
* [Deuteronomy 18:10-12](/deuteronomy/18-10 "Deuteronomy 18:10-12 - Abominations to the Lord")
* [Proverbs 16:18](/proverbs/16-18 "Proverbs 16:18 - Pride Goes Before Destruction")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The final, somber departure of King Saul from Endor offers profound lessons for contemporary believers. It serves as a powerful cautionary tale against the dangers of persistent disobedience and the spiritual peril of seeking answers outside of God's revealed will. Like Saul, we can be tempted to seek quick fixes or forbidden knowledge when faced with fear, uncertainty, or divine silence. This verse reminds us that such desperate measures only deepen our spiritual darkness and hasten our downfall. Instead, we are called to humble ourselves, repent of our rebellion, and patiently wait on the Lord, trusting in His timing and His ways, even when they seem difficult or slow. The woman's compassion, though misplaced in its ultimate effect on Saul's destiny, reminds us of the human capacity for kindness even in morally ambiguous situations, prompting us to consider how we might extend grace without compromising truth. Ultimately, Saul's story challenges us to examine our own hearts: are we truly seeking God's will, or are we, like Saul, desperately trying to manipulate circumstances to our own ends, even if it means resorting to forbidden paths?

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In moments of desperation or fear, where do I typically turn for guidance and comfort? Am I always seeking God's will, or am I tempted by "forbidden" shortcuts?**
* **How does Saul's refusal to truly repent and his subsequent actions serve as a warning for my own spiritual life?**
* **What does this passage teach me about the importance of discerning God's voice and avoiding practices that are an abomination to Him?**
* **How can I cultivate a heart of obedience and trust, even when God seems silent or my circumstances are dire?**

### FAQ
**Why did the woman offer Saul food after delivering such a dire prophecy?**

Answer: The woman's actions are primarily driven by a combination of practical necessity and deep-seated cultural norms of hospitality, coupled with genuine compassion. Saul had been fasting for an extended period and was physically prostrate and terrified after Samuel's prophecy ([1 Samuel 28:20](/1_samuel/28-20 "1 Samuel 28:20 - Saul's Physical State")). She recognized his extreme weakness and the immediate need for sustenance to enable him to travel. In the ancient Near East, hospitality was a sacred duty, even towards strangers or those in distress, regardless of their identity or the circumstances. Her plea, "Let me set a morsel of bread before thee; and eat, that thou mayest have strength when thou goest on thy way" ([1 Samuel 28:22](/1_samuel/28-22 "1 Samuel 28:22 - The Woman's Plea")), reflects this deep cultural imperative. Her act was one of human kindness and practical care, demonstrating a basic empathy for a suffering individual, even if he was the king who had outlawed her profession.

**What is the significance of "that night" in the verse?**

Answer: The phrase "that night" carries both practical and symbolic significance. Practically, departing under the cover of darkness allowed Saul and his servants to travel discreetly and avoid detection, especially given the king's precarious position and the illicit nature of his visit. It also enabled them to reach the Israelite camp or a strategic position by morning, ready for the impending battle with the Philistines. Symbolically, "that night" reinforces the spiritual darkness that has enveloped Saul's reign and his life. His kingdom is ending in despair and judgment, and his final movements are shrouded in literal and metaphorical darkness. It marks the end of a long, dark chapter for Saul, leading directly into the dawn of his destruction. The night serves as a somber transition from the terror of the prophecy to its grim fulfillment, emphasizing the finality and secrecy surrounding this desperate, disobedient act.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The tragic narrative of Saul's final night, culminating in his desperate, disobedient meal and departure, stands in stark contrast to the perfect obedience and ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Saul, a king chosen by man, sought forbidden counsel in his fear, leading to his kingdom's demise and his own death. His "last supper" was one of despair, providing temporary physical strength for a journey into judgment. In profound contrast, Jesus, the King chosen by God, perfectly obeyed His Father, even unto death on a cross ([Philippians 2:8](/philippians/2-8 "Philippians 2:8 - Christ's Obedience to Death")). His "Last Supper" with His disciples was not a meal of desperation before judgment, but a covenant meal of institution, establishing the New Covenant in His blood, offering eternal life and true spiritual sustenance ([Matthew 26:26-28](/matthew/26-26 "Matthew 26:26-28 - The Institution of the Lord's Supper")). While Saul's departure into the night led to his kingdom's end and his physical death, Christ's journey into the darkness of Gethsemane and Golgotha led to the establishment of an eternal kingdom and the triumph over death through His resurrection ([Colossians 1:13](/colossians/1-13 "Colossians 1:13 - Delivered from the Domain of Darkness")). Saul's story is a cautionary tale of human rebellion and its consequences; Christ's story is the glorious fulfillment of God's redemptive plan, offering light in our darkness and true life where Saul found only death ([John 8:12](/john/8-12 "John 8:12 - Jesus, the Light of the World")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.