1 Samuel 28:20

_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._ Then Saul fell straightway all along on the earth х_ MªLO'_ (H4393) _ QOWMAATOW_ (H6967)] - his full stature. [The Septuagint has: kai epesen esteekoos epi teen geen, and he fell, having stood (i:e., at standing length) upon the earthen floor.]...

20-25 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. Though terrified even to despair, he was not humbled. He confessed not his sins, offered no sacrifices, and presented no supplications. He does not seem to have cared about his sons or his people, or to have attempted any escape; but in sullen despair he rushed upon his doom. God sets up a few such beacons, to warn men not to stifle convictions, or despise his word. But while one repenting thought remains, let no sinner suppose himself in this case. Let him humble himself before God, determined to live and die beseeching his favour, and he will succeed....

Verse 1 Samuel 28:20. _THEN SAUL FELL STRAIGHTWAY ALL ALONG ON THE EARTH._] Literally, _he fell with his own length_, or _with the fullness of_ _his stature_. He was so overwhelmed with this most dreadful message, that he swooned away, and thus _fell at his own length_ _upon the ground_. The woman, being terrified, had probably withdrawn to some distance at the first appearance of the prophet; and Saul was left alone with Samuel. After some short time, _the_ _woman came_ again unto Saul, found him _sore troubled_, and offered him those succours which humanity dictated....

DOWNFALL AND DEATH OF SAUL (CHS. 28-31.) THE PHILISTINES GATHER TOGETHER FOR WAR. DISTRESS OF SAUL, AND VISIT TO THE WITCH OF ENDOR (1 Samuel 28:1.). EXPOSITION ACHISH SUMMONS DAVID TO JOIN HIM IN THE WAR AGAINST ISRAEL (1 Samuel

THEN SAUL FELL STRAIGHTWAY ALL ALONG ON THE EARTH,.... Fell at his full length at once, as if he had been thunderstruck, or pierced through with a dart or sword: AND WAS SORE AFRAID, BECAUSE OF THE WORDS OF SAMUEL; as he supposed they were, whose words never failed: AND THERE WAS NO STRENGTH IN HIM: to rise up again, he was quite dispirited and strengthless: FOR HE HAD EATEN NO BREAD ALL THE DAY, NOR ALL THE NIGHT; which contributed the more to his weakness; not only his fears, but not eating any food, occasioned his weakness, and that through want of an appetite, by reason of the great concern of his mind in his present troubles....

7. SAUL AND THE WITCH AT ENDOR CHAPTER 28 _ 1. David fully joined to Achish (1 Samuel 28:1)_ 2. Forsaken Saul (1 Samuel 28:3) 3. The command to seek a witch (1 Samuel 28:7) 4. Saul's visit to Endor (1 Samuel 28:8) 5. Samuel's solemn message (1 Samuel 28:15) 6. Saul's despair and departure (1 Samuel 28:21) Saul's final plunge towards his awful end is the main topic of this chapter. Israel had ad

1 SAMUEL 28:2 is continued by 1 Samuel 29:1; the _connexion is_ broken by the insertion of 1 SAMUEL 28:3. SAUL AND THE WITCH OF ENDOR. This section interrupts the connexion; moreover, it would come naturally immediately before the battle of Gilboa. Saul is at Gilboa (p. 29) in 284. Opinions are divided; some hold that this section is from another source (E) than the bulk of 1 Samuel 25-31, and some that it is from the same source (J), that originally it stood in that document immediately before ch. 31, and that it has got into the wrong place, because it was omitted from an edition of _Samuel,_ and reinserted in a later edition (see p. 273)....

FELL STRAIGHTWAY. remained motionless. Compare Acts 9:7, where "stood. SPEECHLESS. remained speechless. See Acts 26:14. The two passages TOGETHER. fell, and remained so. BREAD. food. Figure of speech _Synecdoche_ (of Species). App-6....

Saul entertained by the woman 20. _all along_ HIS FULL LENGTH, lit. "the fulness of his stature." Terror of mind and exhaustion of body left him powerless....

THEN SAUL FELL STRAIGHTWAY— Immediately after having pronounced the dreadful words in the former verse, Samuel disappeared, leaving the unhappy king in the most dreadful consternation. Saul, most probably, during the time of Samuel's appearance, had been left alone with him, the woman having retired. Continuing some time prostrate upon the earth, without power to move or speak, the woman at length returned to him, and with his servants persuaded him to take some refreshment. The sacred historian does not inform us of all that passed. There is no doubt but the Pythoness was well paid, and that the repast she offered was not at her own expence. Dr. Delaney makes two judicious observations on this event. The first is, that the son of Sirach, who seems to have had as much wisdom, penetration, and piety, as any critic who came after him, is clearly of opinion, with the sacred historian, that...