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1 Samuel 28:3

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Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel had lamented him, and buried him in Ramah, even in his own city. And Saul had put away those that had familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land.

Now Samuel {H8050} was dead {H4191}, and all Israel {H3478} had lamented {H5594} him, and buried {H6912} him in Ramah {H7414}, even in his own city {H5892}. And Saul {H7586} had put away {H5493} those that had familiar spirits {H178}, and the wizards {H3049}, out of the land {H776}.

Now Sh'mu'el was dead; all Isra'el had mourned him and buried him in his city, Ramah. Also Sha'ul had expelled from the land those who tell the future by communicating with the dead or with a demonic spirit.

Now by this time Samuel had died, and all Israel had mourned for him and buried him in Ramah, his own city. And Saul had removed the mediums and spiritists from the land.

Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel had lamented him, and buried him in Ramah, even in his own city. And Saul had put away those that had familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land.

Commentary

1 Samuel 28:3 serves as a pivotal verse, setting the immediate backdrop for King Saul's desperate actions by highlighting two significant developments: the death of Samuel and Saul's earlier, seemingly righteous, purge of forbidden practices.

Context

The passing of the venerable prophet and judge, Samuel, a towering figure in Israel's history, leaves a profound void. He had served as a spiritual anchor, a consistent voice of God, and the one who anointed both Saul and later David. His burial in Ramah signifies the end of an era of direct prophetic guidance for Saul. Simultaneously, the verse reminds us that King Saul had previously taken a seemingly pious stand, expelling those with familiar spirits and wizards, in accordance with God's law. This detail underscores the tragic irony of what immediately follows in the chapter, revealing Saul's deep spiritual decline and desperation when God remained silent.

Key Themes

  • The End of an Era: Samuel's death marks a significant transition in Israel's spiritual landscape. His absence, particularly for King Saul who had fallen out of God's favor, removed a crucial human intermediary and source of divine counsel.
  • Saul's Inconsistent Piety: The mention of Saul's prior expulsion of sorcerers highlights a superficial or politically motivated obedience. While he enforced God's law externally, his heart had grown far from God, as evidenced by his subsequent actions in seeking a medium himself when in distress.
  • Condemnation of Forbidden Practices: The verse explicitly names 'familiar spirits' and 'wizards,' drawing attention to the severe biblical condemnation of divination, necromancy, and all forms of occult practices. These were considered an abomination to the Lord, a direct affront to His sovereignty and a dangerous turning away from Him.

Linguistic Insights

The King James Version's phrase "familiar spirits" translates the Hebrew word 'ob. This term often refers to a spirit or ghost of the dead that was believed to speak through a medium, indicating a practice of necromancy—attempting to communicate with the deceased. "Wizards" comes from the Hebrew yidde'oni, which refers to those who claim to possess special, occult knowledge or insight, often through forbidden means.

Practical Application

This verse offers a somber lesson on the dangers of spiritual desperation and inconsistent faith. King Saul's initial obedience to God's law against divination eventually gives way to his own desperate pursuit of forbidden knowledge when God remains silent. It reminds us that external religious acts and outward conformity to laws mean little if the heart is not truly committed to God. Instead of turning to illicit means in times of crisis, believers are called to seek God wholeheartedly through prayer, His Word, and legitimate spiritual counsel, even when answers seem elusive. Our trust should remain steadfast in God's timing and wisdom, rather than resorting to practices He condemns.

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 (May 20, 2025) 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

  • Leviticus 19:31 (7 votes)

    Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I [am] the LORD your God.

  • 1 Samuel 25:1 (6 votes)

    ¶ And Samuel died; and all the Israelites were gathered together, and lamented him, and buried him in his house at Ramah. And David arose, and went down to the wilderness of Paran.

  • Leviticus 20:27 (6 votes)

    A man also or woman that hath a familiar spirit, or that is a wizard, shall surely be put to death: they shall stone them with stones: their blood [shall be] upon them.

  • Exodus 22:18 (5 votes)

    Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.

  • Deuteronomy 18:10 (3 votes)

    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,

  • Deuteronomy 18:11 (3 votes)

    Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer.

  • Acts 16:16 (2 votes)

    ¶ 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: