The King's Desperation and a Forbidden Path

The narrative of "The Witch of Endor and the Ghost of Samuel" found in 1 Samuel 28 stands as one of the most perplexing and profound accounts in the Old Testament. It unfolds during a desperate hour for King Saul, a time when the Lord had departed from him, and he found himself bereft of divine counsel. The Philistines had gathered for war, and Saul, filled with fear, sought guidance from God, but found none.

And when Saul enquired of the LORD, the LORD answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets.

1 Samuel 28:6

In his profound spiritual emptiness and dread, Saul resorted to a practice explicitly forbidden by the Lord: necromancy, the summoning of the dead. This act underscored the depth of his apostasy and desperation, marking a significant turning point in his tragic reign.

The Lord's Clear Prohibition Against Spiritism

From the earliest days of the Law, God had unequivocally condemned all forms of spiritism, divination, and communication with the dead. These practices were an abomination in His sight, rooted in the idolatrous customs of the nations surrounding Israel.

There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch,Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer.For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee.

Deuteronomy 18:10-12

Other passages, such as Leviticus 19:31 and Leviticus 20:6, likewise warn against turning to "familiar spirits" or "wizards." Saul himself, early in his reign, had taken measures to purge the land of such practitioners (1 Samuel 28:3). His decision to seek out a medium, therefore, represented a complete reversal of his own policy and a blatant defiance of God's holy commands, highlighting his spiritual decline.

The Encounter at Endor

Driven by his terror, Saul disguised himself and, with two men, journeyed by night to Endor, where a woman with a familiar spirit resided. His request to her was clear:

And Saul said 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.And Saul disguised himself, and put on other raiment, and he went, and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night: and he said, I pray thee, divine unto me by the familiar spirit, and bring me him up, whom I shall name unto thee.

1 Samuel 28:7-8

The woman, initially fearful because of Saul's own decree against mediums, was assured of her safety by an oath from the king. When Saul requested the spirit of Samuel, the woman saw an apparition that caused her to cry out in alarm, recognizing Saul. Her description of what she saw was profound:

And the king said unto her, Be not afraid: for what sawest thou? And the woman said unto Saul, I saw gods ascending out of the earth.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.

1 Samuel 28:13-14

The Manifestation of Samuel: A Theological Conundrum

The central question arising from this account is whether it was truly Samuel who appeared, or a demonic impersonation. The KJV text explicitly states, "Samuel said to Saul" (1 Samuel 28:15), and refers to the apparition as "Samuel" throughout the ensuing dialogue. Several factors support the conclusion that God, in His sovereignty, allowed Samuel to appear:

  • The Text's Plain Reading: The narrative consistently identifies the figure as Samuel. To argue otherwise requires reading into the text a meaning not explicitly stated.
  • The Woman's Reaction: The medium was genuinely terrified and surprised. This suggests that what appeared was not a typical "familiar spirit" under her control, but something beyond her power, likely a divine intervention.
  • The Accuracy of the Prophecy: The message delivered was a precise and accurate prophecy of Saul's imminent death, the death of his sons, and Israel's defeat. Demons are not known to deliver true prophecies in God's name, especially those of judgment, without divine permission.
  • God's Sovereignty: While God strictly forbids necromancy, He is sovereign over all creation, including the spiritual realm. He can, and sometimes does, use extraordinary means to accomplish His will, even when those means are initiated through sinful acts. In this case, it served to deliver a final, damning judgment to Saul, demonstrating that even in his rebellion, God's word would prevail. This appearance was not an endorsement of necromancy but a demonstration of God's ultimate control and judgment.

    • Therefore, the most biblically sound interpretation is that God, in His divine prerogative, permitted the actual spirit of Samuel to appear to Saul. This extraordinary event served as a final, decisive judgment upon the king who had utterly forsaken the Lord.

    The Message of Doom

    Samuel's words to Saul were not comforting but condemnatory, a stark pronouncement of the king's impending doom:

    Then said Samuel, Wherefore then dost thou ask of me, seeing the LORD is departed from thee, and is become thine enemy?And the LORD hath done to him, as he spake by me: for the LORD hath rent the kingdom out of thine hand, and given it to thy neighbour, even to David.Because thou obeyedst not the voice of the LORD, nor executedst his fierce wrath upon Amalek, therefore hath the LORD done this thing unto thee this day.Moreover the LORD will also deliver Israel with thee into the hand of the Philistines: and to morrow shalt thou and thy sons be with me: the LORD also shall deliver the host of Israel into the hand of the Philistines.

    1 Samuel 28:16-19

    Samuel rebuked Saul for his disobedience, specifically referencing his failure to utterly destroy the Amalekites, which was the initial cause of God's rejection of him as king. He then prophesied that Saul and his sons would die the next day and that Israel would fall before the Philistines. The phrase "to morrow shalt thou and thy sons be with me" implies their shared fate in death, entering the realm of the departed, often referred to as Sheol in the Old Testament, the common abode of the dead.

    Saul's Despair and Downfall

    Upon hearing Samuel's chilling prophecy, Saul's strength completely abandoned him. He fell prostrate on the ground, overwhelmed by terror and weakness, having eaten nothing all day. The woman and his servants tried to revive him, offering him food, but his spirit was utterly broken.

    Then Saul fell straightway all along on the earth, and was sore afraid, because of the words of Samuel: and there was no strength in him; for he had eaten no bread all the day, nor all the night.

    1 Samuel 28:20

    True to Samuel's word, the very next day, the battle raged on Mount Gilboa. Saul's sons, Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchishua, were slain. Mortally wounded, Saul ultimately took his own life, fulfilling the prophecy delivered through Samuel's apparition. His reign ended in utter defeat and despair, a direct consequence of his persistent disobedience and rebellion against the Lord.

    Enduring Lessons from Endor

    The account of the Witch of Endor offers several profound lessons for believers today:

    • The Gravity of Disobedience: Saul's tragic end is a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of persistent disobedience to God's commands. His initial rebellion led to God's departure, which in turn led to desperate measures and ultimate destruction.
    • The Sovereignty of God: Even in a context of forbidden practices, God's sovereign will prevailed. He used an extraordinary and unique event to deliver His final judgment, demonstrating His ultimate control over all realms, spiritual and physical. This does not condone seeking mediums, but highlights God's power to use even the sinful actions of men to achieve His purposes.
    • The Danger of Forbidden Practices: Despite the genuine appearance of Samuel, the act of seeking a medium was still an abomination to God. Such practices are inherently dangerous, opening doors to deception and demonic influence, and are never a legitimate means of seeking divine guidance.
    • The Importance of God's Appointed Means: God has provided legitimate and holy means for His people to seek Him: through His Word, prayer, and His appointed ministers. When these are forsaken, individuals become vulnerable to deception and despair, as Saul's life tragically illustrates.
    • The Reality of the Afterlife: The narrative, though not a comprehensive theological treatise on the afterlife, affirms the existence of spirits beyond physical death and God's power to interact with that realm.

    The episode at Endor serves as a powerful testament to God's holiness, His unwavering judgment against disobedience, and His absolute sovereignty, even over the darkest spiritual realms. It underscores the critical importance of walking in obedience and continually seeking the Lord through His established means, rather than resorting to forbidden paths of desperation.