mh_parser/vol_split/9 - 1Samuel/Chapter 28.xml

<div2 id="iSam.xxix" n="xxix" next="iSam.xxx" prev="iSam.xxviii" progress="37.81%" title="Chapter XXVIII">
<h2 id="iSam.xxix-p0.1">F I R S T   S A M U E L</h2>
<h3 id="iSam.xxix-p0.2">CHAP. XXVIII.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="iSam.xxix-p1">Preparations are herein making for that war which
will put an end to the life and reign of Saul, and so make way for
David to the throne. In this war, I. The Philistines are the
aggressors and Achish their king makes David his confidant,
<scripRef id="iSam.xxix-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.28.1-1Sam.28.2" parsed="|1Sam|28|1|28|2" passage="1Sa 28:1,2">ver. 1, 2</scripRef>. II. The
Israelites prepare to receive them, and Saul their king makes the
devil his privy-counsellor, and thereby fills the measure of his
iniquity. Observe, 1. The despairing condition which Saul was in,
<scripRef id="iSam.xxix-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.28.3-1Sam.28.6" parsed="|1Sam|28|3|28|6" passage="1Sa 28:3-6">ver. 3-6</scripRef>. 2. The
application he made to a witch, to bring him up Samuel, <scripRef id="iSam.xxix-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.28.7-1Sam.28.14" parsed="|1Sam|28|7|28|14" passage="1Sa 28:7-14">ver. 7-14</scripRef>. 3. His discourse with
the apparition, <scripRef id="iSam.xxix-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.28.15-1Sam.28.19" parsed="|1Sam|28|15|28|19" passage="1Sa 28:15-19">ver.
15-19</scripRef>. The damp it struck upon him, <scripRef id="iSam.xxix-p1.5" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.28.20-1Sam.28.25" parsed="|1Sam|28|20|28|25" passage="1Sa 28:20-25">ver. 20-25</scripRef>.</p>
<scripCom id="iSam.xxix-p0.1_1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.28" parsed="|1Sam|28|0|0|0" passage="1Sa 28" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="iSam.xxix-p0.2_1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.28.1-1Sam.28.6" parsed="|1Sam|28|1|28|6" passage="1Sa 28:1-6" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:1Sam.28.1-1Sam.28.6">
<h4 id="iSam.xxix-p1.8">The Philistines Make War on
Israel. (<span class="smallcaps" id="iSam.xxix-p1.9">b. c.</span> 1055.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="iSam.xxix-p2">1 And it came to pass in those days, that the
Philistines gathered their armies together for warfare, to fight
with Israel. And Achish said unto David, Know thou assuredly, that
thou shalt go out with me to battle, thou and thy men.   2 And
David said to Achish, Surely thou shalt know what thy servant can
do. And Achish said to David, Therefore will I make thee keeper of
mine head for ever.   3 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.   4 And the Philistines gathered
themselves together, and came and pitched in Shunem: and Saul
gathered all Israel together, and they pitched in Gilboa.   5
And when Saul saw the host of the Philistines, he was afraid, and
his heart greatly trembled.   6 And when Saul enquired of the
<span class="smallcaps" id="iSam.xxix-p2.1">Lord</span>, the <span class="smallcaps" id="iSam.xxix-p2.2">Lord</span> answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by
Urim, nor by prophets.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.xxix-p3">Here is, I. The design of the Philistines
against Israel. They resolved to <i>fight them,</i> <scripRef id="iSam.xxix-p3.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.28.1" parsed="|1Sam|28|1|0|0" passage="1Sa 28:1"><i>v.</i> 1</scripRef>. If the Israelites had
not forsaken God, there would have been no Philistines remaining to
molest them; if Saul had not forsaken him, they would by this time
have been put out of all danger by them. The Philistines took an
opportunity to make this attempt when they had David among them,
whom they feared more than Saul and all his forces.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.xxix-p4">II. The expectation Achish had of
assistance from David in this war, and the encouragement David gave
him to expect it: "<i>Thou shalt go with me to battle,</i>" says
Achish. "If I protect thee, I may demand service from thee;" and he
will think himself happy if he may have such a man as David on his
side, who prospered whithersoever he went. David gave him an
ambiguous answer: "We will see what will be done; it will be time
enough to talk of that hereafter; but <i>surely thou shalt know
what thy servant can do</i>" (<scripRef id="iSam.xxix-p4.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.28.2" parsed="|1Sam|28|2|0|0" passage="1Sa 28:2"><i>v.</i> 2</scripRef>), that is, "I will consider in
what post I may be best able to serve thee, if thou wilt but give
me leave to choose it." Thus he keeps himself free from a promise
to serve him and yet keeps up his expectation of it; for Achish
took it in no other sense than as an engagement to assist him, and
promised him, thereupon, that he would make him captain of the
guards, protector, or prime-minister of state.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.xxix-p5">III. The drawing of the armies, on both
sides, into the field (<scripRef id="iSam.xxix-p5.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.28.4" parsed="|1Sam|28|4|0|0" passage="1Sa 28:4"><i>v.</i>
4</scripRef>): <i>The Philistines pitched in Shunem,</i> which was
in the tribe of Issachar, a great way north from their country. The
land of Israel, it seems, was ill-guarded, when the Philistines
could march their army into the very heart of the country. Saul,
while he pursued David, left his people naked and exposed. On some
of the adjacent mountains of Gilboa Saul mustered his forces, and
prepared to engage the Philistines, which he had little heart to do
now that the <i>Spirit of the Lord had departed from him.</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.xxix-p6">IV. The terror Saul was in, and the loss he
was at, upon this occasion: He <i>saw the host of the
Philistines,</i> and by his own view of them, and the intelligence
his spies brought him, he perceived they were more numerous, better
armed, and in better heart, than his own were, which made him
afraid, so that <i>his heart greatly trembled,</i> <scripRef id="iSam.xxix-p6.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.28.5" parsed="|1Sam|28|5|0|0" passage="1Sa 28:5"><i>v.</i> 5</scripRef>. Had he kept close to
God, he needed not have been afraid at the sight of an army of
Philistines; but now that he had provoked God to forsake him his
interest failed, his armies dwindled and looked mean, and, which
was worse, his spirits failed him, his heart sunk within him, a
guilty conscience made him tremble at the shaking of a leaf. Now he
remembered the guilty blood of the Amalekites which he had spared,
and the innocent blood of the priests which he had spilt. His sins
were set in order before his eyes, which put him into confusion,
embarrassed all his counsels, robbed him of all his courage, and
produced in him a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery
indignation. Note, Troubles are terrors to the children of
disobedience. In this distress <i>Saul enquired of the Lord,</i>
<scripRef id="iSam.xxix-p6.2" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.28.6" parsed="|1Sam|28|6|0|0" passage="1Sa 28:6"><i>v.</i> 6</scripRef>. Need drives
those to God who in the day of their prosperity slighted his
oracles and altars. <i>Lord, in trouble have they visited thee,</i>
<scripRef id="iSam.xxix-p6.3" osisRef="Bible:Isa.26.16" parsed="|Isa|26|16|0|0" passage="Isa 26:16">Isa. xxvi. 16</scripRef>. Did ever
any seek the Lord and not find him? Yes, Saul did; <i>the Lord
answered him not,</i> took no notice either of his petitions or of
his enquiries; gave him no directions what to do, nor any
encouragement to hope that he would be with him. <i>Should he be
enquired of at all</i> by such a one as Saul? <scripRef id="iSam.xxix-p6.4" osisRef="Bible:Ezek.14.3" parsed="|Ezek|14|3|0|0" passage="Eze 14:3">Ezek. xiv. 3</scripRef>. No, he could not expect an
answer of peace, for, 1. He enquired in such a manner that it was
as if he had <i>not enquired at all.</i> Therefore it is said
(<scripRef id="iSam.xxix-p6.5" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.10.14" parsed="|1Chr|10|14|0|0" passage="1Ch 10:14">1 Chron. x. 14</scripRef>), <i>He
enquired not of the Lord;</i> for he did it faintly and coldly, and
with a secret design, if God did not answer him, to consult the
devil. He did not enquire in faith, but with a double unstable
mind. 2. He enquired of the Lord when it was too late, when the
days of his probation were over and he was finally rejected.
<i>Seek the Lord while he may be found,</i> for there is a time
when he will not be found. 3. He had forfeited the benefit of all
the methods of enquiry. Could he that hated and persecuted Samuel
and David, who were both prophets, expect to be answered by
prophets? Could he that had slain the high priest, expect to be
answered by Urim? Or could he that had sinned away the Spirit of
grace, expect to be answered by dreams? No. <i>Be not deceived, God
is not mocked.</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.xxix-p7">V. The mention of some things that had
happened a good while ago, to introduce the following story,
<scripRef id="iSam.xxix-p7.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.28.3" parsed="|1Sam|28|3|0|0" passage="1Sa 28:3"><i>v.</i> 3</scripRef>. 1. The death
of Samuel. Samuel was dead, which made the Philistines the more
bold and Saul the more afraid; for, had Samuel been alive, Saul
probably thought that his presence and countenance, his good advice
and good prayers, would have availed him in his distress. 2. Saul's
edict against witchcraft. He had put the laws in execution against
<i>those that had familiar spirits,</i> who must not be <i>suffered
to live,</i> <scripRef id="iSam.xxix-p7.2" osisRef="Bible:Exod.22.18" parsed="|Exod|22|18|0|0" passage="Ex 22:18">Exod. xxii.
18</scripRef>. Some think that he did this in the beginning of his
reign, while he was under Samuel's influence; others think that it
was lately done, for it is spoken of here (<scripRef id="iSam.xxix-p7.3" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.28.9" parsed="|1Sam|28|9|0|0" passage="1Sa 28:9"><i>v.</i> 9</scripRef>) as a late edict. Perhaps when
Saul was himself troubled with an evil spirit he suspected that he
was bewitched, and, for that reason, cut off all that had familiar
spirits. Many seem zealous against sin, when they themselves are
any way hurt by it (they will inform against swearers if they swear
at them, or against drunkards if in their drink they abuse them),
who otherwise have no concern for the glory of God, nor any dislike
of sin as sin. However it was commendable in Saul thus to use his
power for the terror and restraint of these evil-doers. Note, Many
seem enemies to sin in others, while they indulge it in themselves.
Saul will drive the devil out of his kingdom, and yet harbour him
in his heart, by envy and malice.</p>
</div><scripCom id="iSam.xxix-p0.3" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.28.7-1Sam.28.14" parsed="|1Sam|28|7|28|14" passage="1Sa 28:7-14" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:1Sam.28.7-1Sam.28.14">
<h4 id="iSam.xxix-p7.5">Saul Consults the Witch at
Endor. (<span class="smallcaps" id="iSam.xxix-p7.6">b. c.</span> 1055.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="iSam.xxix-p8">7 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, <i>there
is</i> a woman that hath a familiar spirit at Endor.   8 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
<i>him</i> up, whom I shall name unto thee.   9 And the woman
said unto him, Behold, thou knowest what Saul hath done, how he
hath cut off those that have familiar spirits, and the wizards, out
of the land: wherefore then layest thou a snare for my life, to
cause me to die?   10 And Saul sware to her by the <span class="smallcaps" id="iSam.xxix-p8.1">Lord</span>, saying, <i>As</i> the <span class="smallcaps" id="iSam.xxix-p8.2">Lord</span> liveth, there shall no punishment happen to
thee for this thing.   11 Then said the woman, Whom shall I
bring up unto thee? And he said, Bring me up Samuel.   12 And
when the woman saw Samuel, she cried with a loud voice: and the
woman spake to Saul, saying, Why hast thou deceived me? for thou
<i>art</i> Saul.   13 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.   14 And he said unto her,
What form <i>is</i> he of? And she said, An old man cometh up; and
he <i>is</i> covered with a mantle. And Saul perceived that it
<i>was</i> Samuel, and he stooped with <i>his</i> face to the
ground, and bowed himself.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.xxix-p9">Here, I. Saul seeks for a witch, <scripRef id="iSam.xxix-p9.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.28.7" parsed="|1Sam|28|7|0|0" passage="1Sa 28:7"><i>v.</i> 7</scripRef>. When God <i>answered him
not,</i> if he had humbled himself by repentance and persevered in
seeking God, who knows but that at length he might have been
entreated for him? but, since he can discern no comfort either from
heaven or earth (<scripRef id="iSam.xxix-p9.2" osisRef="Bible:Isa.8.21-Isa.8.22" parsed="|Isa|8|21|8|22" passage="Isa 8:21,22">Isa. viii. 21,
22</scripRef>), he resolves to knock at the gates of hell, and to
see if any there will befriend him and give him advice: <i>Seek me
a woman that has a familiar spirit,</i> <scripRef id="iSam.xxix-p9.3" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.28.7" parsed="|1Sam|28|7|0|0" passage="1Sa 28:7"><i>v.</i> 7</scripRef>. And his servants were too
officious to serve him in this evil affair; they presently
recommended one to him at Endor (a city not far off) who had
escaped the execution of Saul's edict. To her he resolves to apply.
Herein he is chargeable, 1. With contempt of the God of Israel; as
if any creature could do him a kindness when God had left him and
frowned upon him. 2. With contradiction to himself. He knew the
heinousness of the sin of witchcraft, else he would not have cut
off those that had familiar spirits; yet now he had recourse to
that as an oracle which he had before condemned as an abomination.
It is common for men to inveigh severely against those sins which
they are in no temptation to, but afterwards to be themselves
overcome by them. Had one told Saul, when he was destroying the
witches, that he himself would, ere long, consult with one, he
would have said, as Hazael did, <i>What? Is thy servant a dog?</i>
But who knows what mischiefs those will run into that forsake God
and are forsaken of him?</p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.xxix-p10">II. Hearing of one he hastens to her, but
goes by night, and in disguise, only with two servants, and
probably on foot, <scripRef id="iSam.xxix-p10.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.28.8" parsed="|1Sam|28|8|0|0" passage="1Sa 28:8"><i>v.</i>
8</scripRef>. See how those that are led captive by Satan are
forced, 1. To disparage themselves. Never did Saul look so mean as
when he went sneaking to a sorry witch to know his fortune. 2. To
dissemble. Evil works are works of darkness, and they hate the
light, neither care for coming to it. Saul went to the witch, not
in his robes, but in the habit of a common soldier, not only lest
the witch herself, if she had known him, should decline to serve
him, either fearing he came to trepan her or resolving to be
avenged on him for his edict against those of her profession, but
lest his own people should know it and abhor him for it. Such is
the power of natural conscience that even those who do evil blush
and are ashamed to do it.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.xxix-p11">III. He tells her his errand and promises
her impunity. 1. All he desires of her is to bring up one from the
dead, whom he had a mind to discourse with. It was necromancy or
divination by the dead, that he hoped to serve his purpose by. This
was expressly forbidden by the law (<scripRef id="iSam.xxix-p11.1" osisRef="Bible:Deut.18.11" parsed="|Deut|18|11|0|0" passage="De 18:11">Deut. xviii. 11</scripRef>), seeking <i>for the living
to the dead,</i> <scripRef id="iSam.xxix-p11.2" osisRef="Bible:Isa.8.19" parsed="|Isa|8|19|0|0" passage="Isa 8:19">Isa. viii.
19</scripRef>. <i>Bring me up him whom I shall name,</i> <scripRef id="iSam.xxix-p11.3" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.28.8" parsed="|1Sam|28|8|0|0" passage="1Sa 28:8"><i>v.</i> 8</scripRef>. This supposes that it
was generally taken for granted that souls exist after death, and
that when men die there is not an end of them: it supposes too that
great knowledge was attributed to separate souls. But to think that
any good souls would come up at the beck of an evil spirit, or that
God, who had denied a man the benefit of his own institutions,
would suffer him to reap any real advantage by a cursed diabolical
invention, was very absurd. 2. She signifies her fear of the law,
and her suspicion that this stranger came to draw her into a snare
(<scripRef id="iSam.xxix-p11.4" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.28.9" parsed="|1Sam|28|9|0|0" passage="1Sa 28:9"><i>v.</i> 9</scripRef>): <i>Thou
knowest what Saul has done.</i> Providence ordered it so that Saul
should be told to his face of his edict against witches, at this
very time when he was consulting one, for the greater aggravation
of his sin. She insists upon the peril of the law, perhaps to raise
her price; for, though no mention is made of her fee, no doubt she
demanded and had a large one. Observe how sensible she is of danger
from the edict of Saul, and what care she is in to guard against
it; but not at all apprehensive of the obligations off God's law
and the terrors of his wrath. She considered what <i>Saul</i> had
done, not what <i>God</i> had done, against such practices, and
feared a snare laid for her life more than a snare laid for her
soul. It is common for sinners to be more afraid of punishment from
men than of God's righteous judgment. But, 3. Saul promises with an
oath not to betray her, <scripRef id="iSam.xxix-p11.5" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.28.10" parsed="|1Sam|28|10|0|0" passage="1Sa 28:10"><i>v.</i>
10</scripRef>. It was his duty as a king to punish her and he knew
it, yet he swears no to do it; as if he could by his own oath bind
himself from doing that which, by the divine command, he was bound
to do. But he promised more than he could perform when he said,
<i>There shall no punishment happen to thee;</i> for he that could
not secure himself could much less secure her from divine
vengeance.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.xxix-p12">IV. Samuel, who was lately dead, is the
person whom Saul desired to have some talk with; and the witch,
with her enchantments, gratifies his desire, and brings them
together. 1. As soon as Saul had given the witch the assurance she
desired (that he would not discover her) she applied to her
witchcrafts, and asked very confidently, <i>Whom shall I bring up
to thee?</i> <scripRef id="iSam.xxix-p12.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.28.11" parsed="|1Sam|28|11|0|0" passage="1Sa 28:11"><i>v.</i> 11</scripRef>.
Note, Hopes of impunity embolden sinners in their evil ways and
harden their hearts. 2. Saul desires to speak with Samuel: <i>Bring
me up Samuel.</i> Samuel had anointed him to the kingdom and had
formerly been his faithful friend and counsellor, and therefore
with him he wished to advise. While Samuel was living at Ramah, not
far from Gibeah of Saul, and presided there in the school of the
prophets, we never read of Saul's going to him to consult him in
any of the difficulties he was in (it would have been well for him
if he had); then he slighted him, and perhaps hated him, looking
upon him to be in David's interest. But now that he is dead, "O for
Samuel again! By all means, <i>bring me up Samuel.</i>" Note, Many
that despise and persecute God's saints and ministers when they are
living would be glad to have them again when they are gone. <i>Send
Lazarus to me,</i> and <i>send Lazarus to my father's house,</i>
<scripRef id="iSam.xxix-p12.2" osisRef="Bible:Luke.16.24-Luke.16.27" parsed="|Luke|16|24|16|27" passage="Lu 16:24-27">Luke xvi. 24-27</scripRef>. The
sepulchres of the righteous are garnished. 3. Here is a seeming
defector chasm in the story. Saul said, <i>Bring me up Samuel,</i>
and the very next words are, <i>When the woman saw Samuel,</i>
(<scripRef id="iSam.xxix-p12.3" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.28.12" parsed="|1Sam|28|12|0|0" passage="1Sa 28:12"><i>v.</i> 12</scripRef>), whereas
one would have expected to be told how she performed the operation,
what spells and charms she used, or that some little intimation
would be given of what she said or did; but the profound silence of
the scripture concerning it forbids our coveting to <i>know the
depths of Satan</i> (<scripRef id="iSam.xxix-p12.4" osisRef="Bible:Rev.2.24" parsed="|Rev|2|24|0|0" passage="Re 2:24">Rev. ii.
24</scripRef>) or to have our curiosity gratified with an account
of the mysteries of iniquity. It has been said of the books of some
of the popish confessors that, by their descriptions of sin, they
have taught men to commit it; but the scripture conceals sinful
art, that we may be <i>simple concerning evil,</i> <scripRef id="iSam.xxix-p12.5" osisRef="Bible:Rom.16.9" parsed="|Rom|16|9|0|0" passage="Ro 16:9">Rom. xvi. 19</scripRef>. 4. The witch, upon sight
of the apparition, was aware that her client was Saul, her familiar
spirit, it is likely, informing her of it (<scripRef id="iSam.xxix-p12.6" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.28.12" parsed="|1Sam|28|12|0|0" passage="1Sa 28:12"><i>v.</i> 12</scripRef>): "<i>Why hast thou deceived
me</i> with a disguise; for thou art Saul, the very man that I am
afraid of above any man?" Thus she gave Saul to understand the
power of her art, in that she could discover him through his
disguise; and yet she feared lest, hereafter, at least, he should
take advantage against her for what she was now doing. Had she
believed that it was really Samuel whom she saw, she would have had
more reason to be afraid of him, who was a good prophet, than of
Saul, who was a wicked king. But the wrath of earthly princes is
feared by most more than the wrath of the King of kings. 5. Saul
(who, we may suppose, was kept at a distance in the next room) bade
her not to be afraid of him, but go on with the operation, and
enquired <i>what she saw?</i> <scripRef id="iSam.xxix-p12.7" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.28.13" parsed="|1Sam|28|13|0|0" passage="1Sa 28:13"><i>v.</i> 13</scripRef>. <i>O,</i> says the woman, <i>I
saw gods</i> (that is, a spirit) <i>ascending out of the earth;</i>
they called angels <i>gods,</i> because spiritual beings. Poor gods
that ascend <i>out of the earth!</i> But she speaks the language of
the heathen, who had their infernal deities and had them in
veneration. If Saul had thought it necessary to his conversation
with Samuel that the body of Samuel should be called out of the
grave, he would have taken the witch with him to Ramah, where his
sepulchre was; but the design was wholly upon his soul, which yet,
if it became visible, was expected to appear in the usual
resemblance of the body; and God permitted the devil, to answer the
design, to put on Samuel's shape, that those who would not
<i>receive the love of the truth</i> might be <i>given up to strong
delusions and believe a lie.</i> That it could not be the soul of
Samuel himself they might easily apprehend when it <i>ascended out
of the earth,</i> for the <i>spirit of a man,</i> much more of a
good man, <i>goes upward,</i> <scripRef id="iSam.xxix-p12.8" osisRef="Bible:Eccl.3.21" parsed="|Eccl|3|21|0|0" passage="Ec 3:21">Eccl.
iii. 21</scripRef>. But, if people will be deceived, it is just
with God to say, "Let them be deceived." That the devil, by the
divine permission, should be able to personate Samuel is not
strange, since he can <i>transform himself into an angel of
light!</i> nor is it strange that he should be permitted to do it
upon this occasion, that Saul might be driven to despair, by
enquiring of the devil, since he would not, in a right manner,
enquire of the Lord, by which he might have had comfort. Saul,
being told of gods ascending, was eager to know what was the form
of this deity, and in what shape he appeared, so far was he from
conceiving any horror at it, his heart being wretchedly <i>hardened
by the deceitfulness of sin.</i> Saul, it seems, was not permitted
to see any manner of similitude himself, but he must take the
woman's word for it, that she saw <i>an old man covered with a
mantle, or robe,</i> the habit of a judge, which Samuel had
sometimes worn, and some think it was for the sake of that, and the
majesty of its aspect, that she called this apparition <i>Elohim, a
god or gods;</i> for so magistrates are styled, <scripRef id="iSam.xxix-p12.9" osisRef="Bible:Ps.82.1" parsed="|Ps|82|1|0|0" passage="Ps 82:1">Ps. lxxxii. 1</scripRef>. 6. Saul, perceiving, by the
woman's description, that it was Samuel, <i>stooped with his face
to the ground,</i> either, as it is generally taken, in reverence
to Samuel, though he saw him not, or perhaps to listen to that soft
and muttering voice which he now expected to hear (for those that
had familiar spirits <i>peeped and muttered,</i> <scripRef id="iSam.xxix-p12.10" osisRef="Bible:Isa.8.19" parsed="|Isa|8|19|0|0" passage="Isa 8:19">Isa. viii. 19</scripRef>); and it should seem Saul bowed
himself (probably by the witch's direction) that he might hear what
was whispered and listen carefully to it; for the <i>voice of one
that has a familiar spirit</i> is said to come <i>out of the
ground, and whisper out of the dust,</i> <scripRef id="iSam.xxix-p12.11" osisRef="Bible:Isa.29.4" parsed="|Isa|29|4|0|0" passage="Isa 29:4">Isa. xxix. 4</scripRef>. He would stoop to that who
would not stoop to the word of God.</p>
</div><scripCom id="iSam.xxix-p0.4" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.28.15-1Sam.28.19" parsed="|1Sam|28|15|28|19" passage="1Sa 28:15-19" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:1Sam.28.15-1Sam.28.19">
<h4 id="iSam.xxix-p12.13">Saul's Death Foretold. (<span class="smallcaps" id="iSam.xxix-p12.14">b. c.</span> 1055.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="iSam.xxix-p13">15 And Samuel said to Saul, Why hast thou
disquieted me, to bring me up? And Saul answered, I am sore
distressed; for the Philistines make war against me, and God is
departed from me, and answereth me no more, neither by prophets,
nor by dreams: therefore I have called thee, that thou mayest make
known unto me what I shall do.   16 Then said Samuel,
Wherefore then dost thou ask of me, seeing the <span class="smallcaps" id="iSam.xxix-p13.1">Lord</span> is departed from thee, and is become thine
enemy?   17 And the <span class="smallcaps" id="iSam.xxix-p13.2">Lord</span> hath
done to him, as he spake by me: for the <span class="smallcaps" id="iSam.xxix-p13.3">Lord</span> hath rent the kingdom out of thine hand,
and given it to thy neighbour, <i>even</i> to David:   18
Because thou obeyedst not the voice of the <span class="smallcaps" id="iSam.xxix-p13.4">Lord</span>, nor executedst his fierce wrath upon
Amalek, therefore hath the <span class="smallcaps" id="iSam.xxix-p13.5">Lord</span> done
this thing unto thee this day.   19 Moreover the <span class="smallcaps" id="iSam.xxix-p13.6">Lord</span> will also deliver Israel with thee into the
hand of the Philistines: and to morrow <i>shalt</i> thou and thy
sons <i>be</i> with me: the <span class="smallcaps" id="iSam.xxix-p13.7">Lord</span>
also shall deliver the host of Israel into the hand of the
Philistines.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.xxix-p14">We have here the conference between Saul
and Satan. Saul came in disguise (<scripRef id="iSam.xxix-p14.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.28.8" parsed="|1Sam|28|8|0|0" passage="1Sa 28:8"><i>v.</i> 8</scripRef>), but Satan soon discovered him,
<scripRef id="iSam.xxix-p14.2" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.28.12" parsed="|1Sam|28|12|0|0" passage="1Sa 28:12"><i>v.</i> 12</scripRef>. Satan comes
in disguise, in the disguise of Samuel's mantle, and Saul cannot
discover him. Such is the disadvantage we labour under, in
wrestling with <i>the rulers of the darkness of this world,</i>
that they know us, while we are ignorant of their wiles and
devices.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.xxix-p15">I. The spectre, or apparition, personating
Samuel, asks why he is sent for (<scripRef id="iSam.xxix-p15.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.28.15" parsed="|1Sam|28|15|0|0" passage="1Sa 28:15"><i>v.</i> 15</scripRef>): <i>Why hast thou disquieted
me to bring me up?</i> To us this discovers that it was an evil
spirit that personated Samuel; for (as bishop Patrick observes) it
is not in the power of witches to disturb the rest of good men and
to bring them back into the world when they please; nor would the
true Samuel have acknowledged such a power in magical arts: but to
Saul this was a proper device of Satan's, to draw veneration from
him, to possess him with an opinion of the power of divination, and
so to rivet him in the devil's interests.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.xxix-p16">II. Saul makes his complaint to this
counterfeit Samuel, mistaking him for the true; and a most doleful
complaint it is: "<i>I am sorely distressed,</i> and know not what
to do, <i>for the Philistines make war against me;</i> yet I should
do well enough with them if I had but the tokens of God's presence
with me; but, alas! <i>God has departed from me.</i>" He complained
not of God's withdrawings till he fell into trouble, till the
<i>Philistines made war against him,</i> and then he began to
lament God's departure. He that in his prosperity enquired not
after God in his adversity thought it hard that God answered him
not, nor took any notice of his enquiries, either by dreams or
prophets, neither gave answers immediately himself nor sent them by
any of his messengers. He does not, like a penitent, own the
righteousness of God in this; but, like a man enraged, flies out
against God as unkind and flies off from him: <i>Therefore I have
called thee;</i> as if Samuel, a servant of God, would favour those
whom God frowned upon, or as if a dead prophet could do him more
service than the living ones. One would think, from this, that he
really desired to meet with the devil, and expected no other
(though under the covert of Samuel's name), for he desires advice
otherwise than from God, therefore from the devil, who is a rival
with God. "God denies me, <i>therefore I come to thee. Flectere si
nequeo superos, Acheronta movebo.</i>"—<i>If I fail with heaven,
I will move hell.</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.xxix-p17">III. It is cold comfort which this evil
spirit in Samuel's mantle gives to Saul, and is manifestly intended
to drive him to despair and self-murder. Had it been the true
Samuel, when Saul desired to be told what he should do he would
have told him to repent and make his peace with God, and recall
David from his banishment, and would then have told him that he
might hope in this way to find mercy with God; but, instead of
that, he represents his case as helpless and hopeless, serving him
as he did Judas, to whom he was first a tempter and then a
tormentor, persuading him first to sell his master and then to hang
himself. 1. He upbraids him with his present distress (<scripRef id="iSam.xxix-p17.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.28.16" parsed="|1Sam|28|16|0|0" passage="1Sa 28:16"><i>v.</i> 16</scripRef>), tells him, not only
that God had departed from him, but that he had become his enemy,
and therefore he must expect no comfortable answer from him:
"<i>Wherefore dost thou ask me?</i> How can I be thy friend when
God is thy enemy, or thy counsellor when he has left thee?" 2. He
upbraids him with the anointing of David to the kingdom, <scripRef id="iSam.xxix-p17.2" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.28.17" parsed="|1Sam|28|17|0|0" passage="1Sa 28:17"><i>v.</i> 17</scripRef>. He could not have
touched upon a string that sounded more unpleasant in the ear of
Saul than this. Nothing is said to reconcile him to David, but all
tends rather to exasperate him against David and widen the breach.
Yet, to make him believe that he was Samuel, the apparition
affirmed that it was God who spoke by him. The devil knows how to
speak with an air of religion, and can teach <i>false apostles to
transform themselves into the apostles of Christ</i> and imitate
their language. Those who use spells and charms, and plead, in
defence of them, that they find nothing in them but what is good,
may remember what good words the devil here spoke, and yet with
what a malicious design. 3. He upbraids him with his disobedience
to the command of God in not destroying the Amalekites, <scripRef id="iSam.xxix-p17.3" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.28.18" parsed="|1Sam|28|18|0|0" passage="1Sa 28:18"><i>v.</i> 18</scripRef>. Satan had helped him
to palliate and excuse that sin when Samuel was dealing with him to
bring him to repentance, but now he aggravates it, to make him
despair of God's mercy. See what those get that hearken to Satan's
temptations. He himself will be their accuser, and insult over
them. And see whom those resemble that allure others to that which
is evil and reproach them for it when they have done. 4. He
foretels his approaching ruin, <scripRef id="iSam.xxix-p17.4" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.28.19" parsed="|1Sam|28|19|0|0" passage="1Sa 28:19"><i>v.</i> 19</scripRef>. (1.) That his army should be
routed by the Philistines. This is twice mentioned: <i>The Lord
shall deliver Israel into the hand of the Philistines.</i> This he
might foresee, by considering the superior strength and number of
the Philistines, the weakness of the armies of Israel, Saul's
terror, and especially God's departure from them. Yet, to personate
a prophet, he very gravely ascribes it once and again to God:
<i>The Lord shall do it.</i> (2.) That he and his sons should be
slain in the battle: <i>To-morrow,</i> that is, in a little time
(and, supposing that it was now after midnight, I see not but it
may be taken strictly for the very next day after that which had
now begun), <i>thou and thy sons shall be with me,</i> that is, in
the state of the dead, separate from the body. Had this been the
true Samuel, he could not have foretold the event unless God had
revealed it to him; and, though it were an evil spirit, God might
by him foretel it; as we read of an evil spirit that foresaw Ahab's
fall at Ramoth-Gilead and was instrumental in it (<scripRef id="iSam.xxix-p17.5" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.22.20-1Kgs.22.23" parsed="|1Kgs|22|20|22|23" passage="1Ki 22:20-23">1 Kings xxii. 20</scripRef>, &amp;c.), as
perhaps this evil spirit was, by the divine permission, in Saul's
destruction. That evil spirit flattered Ahab, this frightened Saul,
and both that they might fall; so miserable are those that are
under the power of Satan; for, <i>whether he rage or laugh, there
is no rest,</i> <scripRef id="iSam.xxix-p17.6" osisRef="Bible:Prov.29.9" parsed="|Prov|29|9|0|0" passage="Pr 29:9">Prov. xxix.
9</scripRef>.</p>
</div><scripCom id="iSam.xxix-p0.5" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.28.20-1Sam.28.25" parsed="|1Sam|28|20|28|25" passage="1Sa 28:20-25" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:1Sam.28.20-1Sam.28.25">
<h4 id="iSam.xxix-p17.8">Saul's Despair. (<span class="smallcaps" id="iSam.xxix-p17.9">b. c.</span> 1055.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="iSam.xxix-p18">20 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.   21 And the woman came unto Saul, and
saw that he was sore troubled, and said unto him, Behold, thine
handmaid hath obeyed thy voice, and I have put my life in my hand,
and have hearkened unto thy words which thou spakest unto me.
  22 Now therefore, I pray thee, hearken thou also unto the
voice of thine handmaid, and let me set a morsel of bread before
thee; and eat, that thou mayest have strength, when thou goest on
thy way.   23 But he refused, and said, I will not eat. But
his servants, together with the woman, compelled him; and he
hearkened unto their voice. So he arose from the earth, and sat
upon the bed.   24 And the woman had a fat calf in the house;
and she hasted, and killed it, and took flour, and kneaded
<i>it,</i> and did bake unleavened bread thereof:   25 And she
brought <i>it</i> before Saul, and before his servants; and they
did eat. Then they rose up, and went away that night.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.xxix-p19">We are here told how Saul received this
terrible message from the ghost he consulted. He desired to be told
<i>what he should do</i> (<scripRef id="iSam.xxix-p19.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.28.15" parsed="|1Sam|28|15|0|0" passage="1Sa 28:15"><i>v.</i>
15</scripRef>), but was only told what he had not done and what
should be done to him. Those that expect any good counsel or
comfort otherwise than from God, and in the way of his
institutions, will be as wretchedly disappointed as Saul here was.
Observe,</p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.xxix-p20">I. How he sunk under the load, <scripRef id="iSam.xxix-p20.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.28.20" parsed="|1Sam|28|20|0|0" passage="1Sa 28:20"><i>v.</i> 20</scripRef>. He was indeed unfit to
bear it, having <i>eaten nothing all the day</i> before, nor
<i>that night.</i> He came fasting from the camp, and continued
fasting; not for want of food, but for want of an appetite. The
fear he was in of the power of the Philistines (<scripRef id="iSam.xxix-p20.2" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.28.5" parsed="|1Sam|28|5|0|0" passage="1Sa 28:5"><i>v.</i> 5</scripRef>) took away his appetite, or
perhaps the struggle he had with his own conscience, after he had
entertained the thought of consulting the witch, made him to
nauseate even his necessary food, though ever so dainty. This made
him an easy prey to this fresh terror that now came upon him like
an armed man. <i>He fell all along on the earth,</i> as if the
archers of the Philistines had already hit him, <i>and there was no
strength in him</i> to bear up against these heavy tidings. Now he
had enough of consulting witches, and found them miserable
comforters. When God in his word speaks terror to sinners he opens
to them, at the same time, a door of hope if they repent: but those
that apply to the gates of hell for succour must there expect
darkness without any glimpse of light.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.xxix-p21">II. With what difficulty he was persuaded
to take so much relief as was necessary to carry him back to his
post in the camp. The witch, it should seem, had left Saul alone
with the spectre, to have his talk with him by himself; but perhaps
hearing him fall and groan, and perceiving him to be in great
agony, she came to him (<scripRef id="iSam.xxix-p21.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.28.21" parsed="|1Sam|28|21|0|0" passage="1Sa 28:21"><i>v.</i>
21</scripRef>), and was very importunate with him to take some
refreshment, that he might be able to get clear from her house,
fearing that if he should be ill, especially if he should die
there, she should be punished for it as a traitor, though she had
escaped punishment as a witch. This, it is probable, rather than
any sentiment of kindness, made her solicitous to help him. But
what a deplorable condition had he brought himself to when he
needed so wretched a comforter! 1. She showed herself very
importunate with him to take some refreshment. She pleaded
(<scripRef id="iSam.xxix-p21.2" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.28.21" parsed="|1Sam|28|21|0|0" passage="1Sa 28:21"><i>v.</i> 21</scripRef>) that she
had obeyed his voice to the endangering of her life, and why
therefore should not he hearken to her voice for the relieving of
his life? <scripRef id="iSam.xxix-p21.3" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.28.22" parsed="|1Sam|28|22|0|0" passage="1Sa 28:22"><i>v.</i> 22</scripRef>.
She had a fat calf at hand (and the word signifies one that was
made use of in treading out the corn, and therefore could the worse
be spared); this she prepared for his entertainment, <scripRef id="iSam.xxix-p21.4" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.28.24" parsed="|1Sam|28|24|0|0" passage="1Sa 28:24"><i>v.</i> 24</scripRef>. Josephus is large in
applauding the extraordinary courtesy and liberality of this woman,
and recommending what she did as an example of compassion to the
distressed, and readiness to communicate for their relief, though
we have no prospect of being recompensed. 2. He showed himself very
averse to it: <i>He refused, and said, I will not eat</i>
(<scripRef id="iSam.xxix-p21.5" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.28.23" parsed="|1Sam|28|23|0|0" passage="1Sa 28:23"><i>v.</i> 23</scripRef>), choosing
rather to die obscurely by famine than honourably by the sword. Had
he laboured only under a defect of animal spirits, food might have
helped him; but, alas! his case was out of the reach of such
succours. What are dainty meats to a wounded conscience? <i>As
vinegar upon nitre, so is he that sings songs to a heavy heart,</i>
so disagreeable and unwelcome. 3. The woman at length, with the
help of his servants, overpersuaded him, against his inclination
and resolution, to take some refreshment. Not by force, but by
friendly advice, they <i>compelled him</i> (<scripRef id="iSam.xxix-p21.6" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.28.23" parsed="|1Sam|28|23|0|0" passage="1Sa 28:23"><i>v.</i> 23</scripRef>), and of no other than such a
rational and courteous compulsion are we to understand that in the
parable, <i>Compel them to come in,</i> <scripRef id="iSam.xxix-p21.7" osisRef="Bible:Luke.14.23" parsed="|Luke|14|23|0|0" passage="Lu 14:23">Luke xiv. 23</scripRef>. <i>How forcible are right
words,</i> when men are pressed by them to that which is for their
own interest! <scripRef id="iSam.xxix-p21.8" osisRef="Bible:Job.6.25" parsed="|Job|6|25|0|0" passage="Job 6:25">Job vi. 25</scripRef>.
Saul was somewhat revived with this entertainment; so that he and
his servants, when they had eaten, <i>rose up and went away</i>
before it was light (<scripRef id="iSam.xxix-p21.9" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.28.25" parsed="|1Sam|28|25|0|0" passage="1Sa 28:25"><i>v.</i>
25</scripRef>), that they might hasten to their business and that
they might not be seen to come out of such a scandalous house.
Josephus here much admires the bravery and magnanimity of Saul,
that, though he was assured he should lose both his life and
honour, yet he would not desert his army, but resolutely returned
to the camp, and stood ready for an engagement. I wonder more at
the hardness of his heart, that he did not again apply to God by
repentance and prayer, in hopes yet to obtain at least a reprieve;
but he desperately ran headlong upon his own ruin. Perhaps, indeed,
now that rage and envy possessed him to the uttermost, he was the
better reconciled to his hard fate, being told that his sons, and
Jonathan among the rest, whom he hated for his affection to David,
should die with him. If he must fall, he cared not what desolations
of his family and kingdom accompanied his fall, hoping it would be
the worse for his successor. <b><i>Emou thanontos gaia michtheto
pyri.</i></b>—<i>I care not if, when I am dead, the world should
be set on fire.</i> He begged not, as David, "Let thy hand be
against me, but not against thy people."</p>
</div></div2>