1 Samuel 28:6

when Saul inquired of the Lord In 1 Chronicles 10:13-14 it is said that "Saul died … for asking counsel of one that had a familiar spirit, to inquire of it, and inquired not of the Lord." The contradiction is only in appearance. Instead of humbling himself in penitence for the sin which he knew must be withholding the Divine answer (1 Samuel 14:37), and persevering in his inquiry, he resorted to a plan which was tantamount to apostasy from Jehovah.

answered him not See Proverbs 1:24-30.

by dreams A recognised method of divine communications to man (Numbers 12:6).

by Urim Since Abiathar had carried off the Ephod with the Urim and Thummim when he fled from Nob, it would appear that Saul had had a new Ephod made, and appointed a high-priest in the room of Ahimelech. This conjecture is supported by the double high-priesthood of Zadok and Abiathar in David's reign (2 Samuel 8:17, &c.), which may be accounted for by supposing that David allowed Zadok to retain the office to which Saul had elevated him.

The following points may be noted with respect to the obscure question of the Urim, or Urim and Thummim. For a full discussion see Smith's Dict. of the Bible.

(a) The name signifies The Light and the Perfection(or the Truth), the words being -plurals of excellence."

(b) It denotes certain material objects, placed inside the breastplate of judgment which formed part of the high-priest's Ephod (Exodus 28:30). There are no directions for making them; it is implied that they were already in existence.

(c) The purpose of this mysterious instrument is clear. It was a means by which the will of Jehovah was ascertained through the high-priest. The present passage is the only mention by name of its use after the entry into Canaan, though it is implied in ch. 1 Samuel 14:3; 1 Samuel 14:18; 1 Samuel 23:2; 1 Samuel 23:9; 1 Samuel 30:7-8; 2 Samuel 21:1. After the Captivity it became a proverbial expression with reference to questions of special difficulty that they must wait for solution "until there stood up a priest with Urim and Thummim" (Ezra 2:63; Nehemiah 7:65).

(d) The origin of the Urim and Thummim was not improbably Egyptian. A plausible conjecture connects them with the symbol of Truth worn by the priest-judges of Egypt, and the symbol of Light worn by members of the priestly caste.

(e) The method of use must remain an enigma. The most probable theories are either (1) that they were consecrated objects by gazing on which the high-priest passed into a state of spiritual ecstasy, and purified from selfish and worldly thoughts became receptive of a supernatural illumination: or (2) that they were a special means of casting lots. Cp. note on 1 Samuel 14:41.

by prophets Cp. 1 Samuel 9:6; 1 Samuel 22:5, for instances of counsel given through prophets. The same three methods of inquiry are mentioned in Hom. Il.I. 62:

"But seek we first some prophet or some priest,

Or some wise vision-seer, since visions too

From Zeus proceed."