1 Samuel 28:11

Then said the woman, Whom shall I bring up unto thee? And he said, Bring me up Samuel.

Then said {H559} the woman {H802}, Whom shall I bring up {H5927} unto thee? And he said {H559}, Bring me up {H5927} Samuel {H8050}.

Then the woman asked, "Whom should I bring up for you?" He said, "Bring up for me Sh'mu'el."

“Whom shall I bring up for you?” the woman asked. “Bring up Samuel,” he replied.

Then said the woman, Whom shall I bring up unto thee? And he said, Bring me up Samuel.

Commentary

Context

1 Samuel 28:11 is a pivotal moment in the tragic final chapters of King Saul's reign. Facing an overwhelming Philistine army, and having been abandoned by God (who no longer answered him by dreams, Urim, or prophets, as detailed in 1 Samuel 28:6), Saul resorted to a forbidden act. Despite having previously purged mediums and spiritualists from Israel, he disguised himself and sought out a woman with a familiar spirit in Endor. This verse records the woman's question about whom to summon, and Saul's immediate, desperate request for the deceased prophet Samuel, who had been a key figure in Saul's anointing and subsequent rejection. Samuel had recently died, and Saul was desperate for his counsel, even if it meant violating God's explicit commands.

Key Themes

  • Desperation and Disobedience: Saul's request highlights his profound desperation and his willingness to defy God's clear prohibitions against necromancy (Deuteronomy 18:10-12) in his hour of need.
  • Consequences of Rejecting God: The narrative illustrates the spiritual decline of a king who, having repeatedly disobeyed God's commands, ultimately found himself cut off from divine guidance and resorting to unholy means.
  • The Lure of Forbidden Practices: This event serves as a powerful warning against seeking spiritual insight or comfort from sources outside of God's will, especially when faced with fear or uncertainty.

Linguistic Insight

The phrase "bring up" (Hebrew: alah) in this context literally means to cause to ascend or come up, implying a summoning from the grave or the realm of the dead. This clearly defines the woman's role as a necromancer, one who attempts to communicate with the deceased. Saul's direct command for "Samuel" demonstrates his specific desire to hear from the prophet he had once scorned but now desperately needed.

Significance and Application

1 Samuel 28:11 is a stark reminder of the dangers of spiritual desperation and disobedience. Saul's actions demonstrate the tragic consequences of a life lived apart from God's guidance, where fear and a lack of faith lead to seeking forbidden answers. For believers today, this verse underscores the importance of:

  • Trusting God's Sovereignty: Even when God seems silent, we are called to trust His plan and not resort to ungodly means for answers or comfort.
  • Obeying God's Word: God's commands against spiritualism and divination are for our protection. Rebellion against God is likened to witchcraft in 1 Samuel 15:23, highlighting the serious nature of Saul's sin.
  • Seeking God in Righteous Ways: When we need guidance, we should turn to prayer, God's Word, and godly counsel, confident that God will answer in His time and way (Jeremiah 29:13).
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 — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

No cross-references found.