1 Samuel 28:21

_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._ And the woman came unto Saul. During the performance of the necromantic scene she had occupied a place in the farthest recess of the cave, and then when it was done, drew near to Saul....

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....

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

AND THE WOMAN CAME UNTO SAUL,.... Having left him and the apparition in a room by themselves to converse together, and perhaps on hearing him fall to the ground came in: AND SAW THAT HE WAS SORE TROUBLED: by his lying on the ground, and the agonies he seemed to be in, and the uneasiness that sat upon his countenance: AND SAID UNTO HIM, BEHOLD, THINE HANDMAID HATH OBEYED THY VOICE; in divining by her familiar spirit for him, and in bringing up Samuel to him, as he desired: AND I HAVE PUT MY LIFE IN MY HAND; exposed it to the utmost danger, since a person of her profession, and token in the exercise of it, was punishable with death; and especially she was in the greater danger, as it was Saul himself, who had by an edict expelled all such persons from his dominions, who now employed her, as she perceived: AND HAVE HEARKENED UNTO THY WORDS WHICH THOU SPAKEST UNTO ME: to the oath he had...

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)....

BEHOLD. Figure of speech _Asterismos._ 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...

_Samuel's Appearance._ 1 Samuel 28:15-25 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 Lord is departed from thee, and is become thine enemy? 17 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 neighbor, _even_ to David: 18 Because thou obeyedst not the voice of the Lord, nor executedst his fierce wrath upon Amalek, therefore hath the Lord done this thing unto this day, 19 Moreover the Lord will also deliver Israel with thee into the hand