1 Samuel 28:7

KJV

¶ Then said Saul unto his servants, Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and enquire of her. And his servants said to him, Behold, [there is] a woman that hath a familiar spirit at Endor.

KJV (with Strong's)

Then said {H559} Saul {H7586} unto his servants {H5650}, Seek {H1245} me a woman {H802} that hath {H1172} a familiar spirit {H178}, that I may go {H3212} to her, and enquire {H1875} of her. And his servants {H5650} said {H559} to him, Behold, there is a woman {H802} that hath {H1172} a familiar spirit {H178} at Endor {H5874}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Then Sha'ul said to his servants, "Try to find a woman who tells the future by communicating with the dead; I want to go and consult with her." His servants answered him, "Yes, there's a woman in 'Ein-Dor who tells the future by communicating with the dead."

Berean Standard Bible

Then Saul said to his servants, “Find me a woman who is a medium, so I can go and consult her.” “There is a medium at Endor,” his servants replied.

American Standard Version

Then said Saul unto his servants, Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and inquire of her. And his servants said to him, Behold, there is a woman that hath a familiar spirit at En-dor.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
1 Samuel 28:7 captures a moment of profound spiritual desperation and moral collapse in the life of King Saul. Facing an overwhelming Philistine army and having been abandoned by divine counsel—God no longer answering him through dreams, Urim, or prophets—Saul, in an act of desperate rebellion against Mosaic Law, instructs his servants to locate a woman possessing a "familiar spirit." His intent is to seek illicit guidance, leading his servants to identify such a practitioner in Endor, setting the stage for one of the most controversial and tragic encounters in the Old Testament.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is strategically placed at a critical juncture in Saul's reign, immediately following the declaration of God's silence to him in [1 Samuel 28:6](/1_samuel/28-6 "1 Samuel 28:6 - God's Silence to Saul"). The narrative has already established the death of Samuel, Saul's spiritual mentor and the last prophet through whom God had spoken definitively to the king ([1 Samuel 28:3](/1_samuel/28-3 "1 Samuel 28:3 - Samuel's Death")). Furthermore, the Philistine army has gathered at Shunem, poised for a decisive battle at Mount Gilboa, creating an atmosphere of intense fear and impending doom for Israel and its king ([1 Samuel 28:4](/1_samuel/28-4 "1 Samuel 28:4 - Philistine Gathering")). Saul's desperate command in verse 7 is thus a direct consequence of his spiritual isolation and the overwhelming external threat, highlighting his complete abandonment of legitimate divine counsel for forbidden practices.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The practice of necromancy, or consulting the dead, and engaging with "familiar spirits" (often understood as mediums or spiritists) was strictly prohibited under Mosaic Law. [Deuteronomy 18:10-12](/deuteronomy/18-10 "Deuteronomy 18:10-12 - Abominable Practices") explicitly condemns those who "practice divination or tell fortunes or interpret omens, or a sorcerer or a charmer or a medium or a necromancer or one who inquires of the dead," declaring such practices an "abomination to the Lord." Ironically, Saul himself had previously undertaken a purge of mediums and spiritists from the land ([1 Samuel 28:3](/1_samuel/28-3 "1 Samuel 28:3 - Saul's Earlier Purge of Mediums")), making his current action a profound act of hypocrisy and a direct violation of his own past decrees and God's clear commands. This cultural backdrop underscores the gravity of Saul's sin and his utter disregard for divine authority in his moment of crisis.
* **Key Themes:** The narrative of [1 Samuel 28](/1_samuel/28 "1 Samuel 28 - Saul and the Medium of Endor") powerfully illustrates several recurring themes within the book of Samuel and the broader Old Testament. Firstly, it showcases the theme of **Divine Abandonment and its Consequences**, as God's silence to Saul directly precipitates the king's desperate and sinful actions, demonstrating the severe spiritual repercussions of persistent disobedience ([1 Samuel 15:23](/1_samuel/15-23 "1 Samuel 15:23 - Rebellion as Witchcraft")). Secondly, the passage highlights the **Dangers of Forbidden Practices**, emphasizing that turning to illicit spiritual sources in times of crisis is not only an affront to God's sovereignty but also leads to deeper spiritual entanglement and judgment. Finally, it underscores the theme of **Spiritual Decline and Hypocrisy**, revealing Saul's tragic journey from an anointed king who once championed God's law to a desperate man who flagrantly violates it, exposing the moral bankruptcy that results from a life lived apart from genuine repentance and faith.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Familiar Spirit (Hebrew, _'ôḇ_):** This term, appearing here and elsewhere in the Old Testament ([Leviticus 19:31](/leviticus/19-31 "Leviticus 19:31 - Do Not Turn to Mediums"), [Deuteronomy 18:11](/deuteronomy/18-11 "Deuteronomy 18:11 - Prohibition of Necromancy")), refers to a necromancer or a medium who claims to consult the dead. The word _'ôḇ_ itself can also denote the spirit of the dead, or even a leather bottle, perhaps alluding to the hollow sound associated with such spirits speaking from the ground or through the medium's belly (ventriloquism). It signifies a forbidden, demonic, or at least highly deceptive, spiritual practice that bypasses God's ordained channels of communication and directly challenges His exclusive authority as the source of all true revelation.
* **Enquire (Hebrew, _dāraš_):** While _dāraš_ can simply mean "to seek" or "to inquire," in a religious context, it often carries the weight of seeking divine counsel or revelation, as seen in [Deuteronomy 12:5](/deuteronomy/12-5 "Deuteronomy 12:5 - Seeking the Lord"). Here, Saul uses it in the context of seeking information from a forbidden source, highlighting the perversion of a legitimate act of seeking God's will. His "enquiry" is not a humble request for divine guidance but a desperate, illicit attempt to manipulate spiritual forces outside of God's will.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Then said Saul unto his servants, Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit":** This opening clause immediately establishes Saul's desperate and rebellious intent. Having been abandoned by God, he actively seeks out a forbidden alternative. The command "Seek me a woman" demonstrates his agency in this sin, not merely passive acceptance, but an active pursuit of what is anathema to God. The specific request for a "woman that hath a familiar spirit" (a medium or necromancer) reveals the depth of his spiritual depravity and his willingness to transgress clear divine prohibitions.
* **"that I may go to her, and enquire of her.":** This clarifies Saul's purpose: he intends to personally consult this medium. The phrase "enquire of her" underscores his desire for illicit guidance, bypassing God's legitimate channels (prophets, Urim, dreams) which had ceased to function for him. This act is not born of ignorance but of willful rebellion, as Saul was well aware of the laws against such practices, having previously enforced them.
* **"And his servants said to him, Behold, [there is] a woman that hath a familiar spirit at Endor.":** The immediate response of Saul's servants indicates that such forbidden practices, despite Saul's earlier purge, were still present in the land. Their prompt identification of a medium in Endor (a village located across the Valley of Jezreel from Shunem, where the Philistines were camped) suggests that these practices were not entirely eradicated or that knowledge of them persisted. This detail further emphasizes the pervasive nature of spiritual corruption and the ease with which Saul could find someone willing to facilitate his transgression.

#### Literary Devices
The passage employs several potent literary devices. **Irony** is prominent, as Saul, the king who once "put away those that had familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land" ([1 Samuel 28:3](/1_samuel/28-3 "1 Samuel 28:3 - Saul's Purge")), now actively seeks one out. This highlights the tragic arc of his spiritual decline and the hypocrisy born of desperation. The setting itself provides **Contrast**; the Philistine army is gathered for battle, representing a clear, physical threat, while Saul's internal struggle and spiritual abandonment represent a deeper, spiritual crisis. His turning to a medium underscores the **Foreshadowing** of his ultimate doom, as this act of rebellion against God's explicit command seals his fate and sets the stage for the grim prophecy delivered by the summoned spirit of Samuel.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
1 Samuel 28:7 stands as a stark theological warning against seeking guidance outside of God's revealed will, particularly in moments of extreme pressure or perceived divine silence. It underscores the absolute sovereignty of God as the sole legitimate source of truth and revelation, and the severe consequences of attempting to bypass or manipulate His authority through forbidden practices. Saul's desperation leads him to a profound act of spiritual rebellion, demonstrating that even when God seems silent, the answer is never to turn to illicit means, but rather to humble repentance, patient waiting, and renewed obedience to His established commands. This narrative powerfully reinforces the Old Testament's consistent condemnation of divination and necromancy as abominations that sever one's relationship with the living God.

* [Leviticus 20:6](/leviticus/20-6 "Leviticus 20:6 - Consequences for Consulting Mediums")
* [Isaiah 8:19-20](/isaiah/8-19 "Isaiah 8:19-20 - Seek God, Not Mediums")
* [Acts 16:16-18](/acts/16-16 "Acts 16:16-16 - Paul and the Spirit of Divination")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Saul's tragic decision in 1 Samuel 28:7 offers a timeless and sobering lesson for believers today. In our own moments of crisis, fear, or when God's guidance seems elusive, the temptation to seek quick fixes, unconventional advice, or even unbiblical solutions can be strong. This passage challenges us to resist such impulses, reminding us that true faith is demonstrated not by seeking answers from forbidden sources, but by patiently trusting in God's sovereignty, even in His silence. It calls us to cultivate a consistent walk of obedience, recognizing that spiritual compromise, even in desperation, leads to deeper entanglement and further alienation from God. Our reliance must always be on the Holy Spirit, the Word of God, and the counsel of godly community, rather than resorting to practices that are anathema to divine truth and wisdom.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What are contemporary "familiar spirits" or forbidden sources of guidance that we might be tempted to turn to in times of desperation?**
* **How can we cultivate greater patience and trust in God's sovereignty when His answers seem delayed or absent?**
* **In what ways might our own past obedience or spiritual commitments be tested and potentially compromised by present fears or crises?**
* **What steps can we take to ensure our seeking of guidance is always aligned with biblical principles and God's revealed will?**

### FAQ
**Why was consulting a "familiar spirit" or medium strictly forbidden by God?**

Answer: Consulting a "familiar spirit" or medium was strictly forbidden by God because it represented a direct defiance of His sovereignty and a turning away from Him as the sole legitimate source of divine revelation and guidance. The Mosaic Law unequivocally condemned such practices as an "abomination to the Lord" ([Deuteronomy 18:10-12](/deuteronomy/18-10 "Deuteronomy 18:10-12 - Abominable Practices")). This prohibition served multiple purposes: it protected Israel from pagan spiritual practices that often involved demonic influence and deception; it maintained the purity of Israel's worship, ensuring that God alone was sought for counsel; and it prevented the people from falling into the manipulative and often destructive schemes of false prophets and charlatans. Seeking guidance from the dead or from spirits other than God was an act of spiritual adultery, severing the covenant relationship and inviting divine judgment ([Leviticus 20:6](/leviticus/20-6 "Leviticus 20:6 - Consequences for Consulting Mediums")).

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Saul's desperate and forbidden act in 1 Samuel 28:7 vividly contrasts with the ultimate source of divine revelation and guidance found in Jesus Christ. Saul sought illicit counsel from a "familiar spirit" because God had fallen silent, a silence brought about by Saul's persistent disobedience. In stark contrast, Christ is the very Word of God made flesh, the perfect revelation of the Father ([John 1:1-3](/john/1-1 "John 1:1-3 - The Word Was God"), [John 1:14](/john/1-14 "John 1:14 - The Word Became Flesh")). While Saul sought a fleeting, deceptive voice from the dead, believers in Christ have access to the living God through the Holy Spirit, who indwells them and guides them into all truth ([John 16:13](/john/16-13 "John 16:13 - The Spirit of Truth")). Saul's failure to trust God's sovereignty led him to spiritual compromise and ultimately, destruction. Jesus, however, perfectly trusted the Father, even unto death, becoming the one true Mediator between God and humanity ([1 Timothy 2:5](/1_timothy/2-5 "1 Timothy 2:5 - One Mediator")). His life, death, and resurrection provide the ultimate answer to humanity's search for meaning and guidance, fulfilling the longing for divine connection that Saul tragically perverted.

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.

Cross-References

Acts 16:16

¶ And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying:

1 Chronicles 10:13

So Saul died for his transgression which he committed against the LORD, [even] against the word of the LORD, which he kept not, and also for asking [counsel] of [one that had] a familiar spirit, to enquire [of it];

Psalms 83:10

[Which] perished at Endor: they became [as] dung for the earth.

Joshua 17:11

And Manasseh had in Issachar and in Asher Bethshean and her towns, and Ibleam and her towns, and the inhabitants of Dor and her towns, and the inhabitants of Endor and her towns, and the inhabitants of Taanach and her towns, and the inhabitants of Megiddo and her towns, [even] three countries.

Isaiah 8:19

And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead?

Isaiah 8:20

To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, [it is] because [there is] no light in them.

Habakkuk 2:3

For the vision [is] yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.