1 Samuel 28 - Printer Friendly

First Samuel 28 begins with David in a seemingly impossible situation. He and his men have finally found protection from King Saul in Philistine territory of the king of Gath. Now the Philistines are gathering their entire forces to go to war against Israel. Achish insists that David and his men will fight under his command against Israel. David agrees, perhaps hoping there will be no fight, or that he can turn against Israel's foes (1 Samuel 28:1–2).

The Philistine forces gather at Shunem, in northern Israel. Saul gathers all of Israel to stand against them at Gilboa which is nearby. When Saul sees the massive size of the Philistine army, he is terrified. He is desperate to hear from the Lord some prophecy about the battle or to get the Lord's supernatural aid in somehow overcoming the Philistines. But Samuel is dead, and God returns only silence to all of Saul's requests (1 Samuel 28:3–6).

Saul's desperation turns to disobedience. He had killed or driven out all the mediums and necromancers, but he tells his servants to find one. They do. He puts on a disguise and tells the woman to find someone. She's hesitant; she knows what the king will do if she's caught. Saul assures her she'll be safe and tells her to call up Samuel. She's startled when a figure appears. She realizes her client is King Saul, but he promises her she's not in danger. She describes the figure, and Saul is convinced it's really Samuel (1 Samuel 28:7–10).

Samuel is irritated. When Saul explains his situation, Samuel gives him the same answer he did when he was alive. The Lord has turned away and become your enemy. The kingdom will go to David. But Samuel adds another prophecy: the next day, the Philistines will defeat the Israelites, and Saul and his sons will die. Commentator debate whether this was actual Samuel, a vision, or a demon pretending to be the dead prophet (1 Samuel 28:15–19).

Struck by fear, Saul falls face down on the ground. He has been fasting for a day and a night, and the medium insists that he eat. Saul finally agrees, and she prepares a large meal for him and his two servants. The three men leave before dawn (1 Samuel 28:20–25).

Meanwhile, the other Philistine kings refuse to fight alongside David. He and his men are sent back to their recent home of Ziklag (1 Samuel 29). David doesn't witness Samuel's prophecy coming true. The Philistines strike down Saul's sons, including Jonathan. Saul is mortally wounded and begs his armor bearer to finish him. When his servant refuses, Saul falls on his sword. David will soon be king (1 Samuel 31).

First Samuel 28:1–2 sees David called on to battle against Saul. David's men and their families have been safe under the protection of the Philistine king Achish (1 Samuel 27). Now, Achish wants David's men to fight Israel with the Philistines. Since David has been telling Achish they've been raiding Israelite towns, he is forced to accept. Fortunately, the other kings will refuse to fight with the man who has killed so many of them, and David will be sent away. When they reach home, they'll find the Amalekites have burned their city and taken their families (1 Samuel 29—30).

First 1 Samuel 28:8–14 describes a controversial moment in the life of King Saul. The Philistines have amassed armies against Saul's. He's terrified that this is his doom. God refuses to speak. Samuel is gone. Saul puts on a disguise, goes to one of the few mediums who escaped his cleansing, and asks her to contact the dead prophet. When Samuel appears, she seems as surprised as everyone else. She also realizes her client is the king. Saul reassures the witch that she's safe, but Samuel does not have the same message for Saul (1 Samuel 28:15–19).

First Samuel 28:15–19 brings bad news to King Saul. A large Philistine army has faced off against the Israelites. Saul needs guidance, but God is silent. He visits a medium, and she's shocked when Samuel's spirit appears (1 Samuel 28:1–14). Samuel repeats his former message: because of Saul's disobedience, God will give the crown to another. But then he adds a warning: Saul will die the next day, along with his sons. Saul, who has been fasting, will collapse. The woman and his servants will get him to eat, and he will leave to face his fate (1 Samuel 28:20–25).

First Samuel 28:20–25 records King Saul's last known meal on earth. This gives him just enough strength to meet his doom. He's about to face the combined armies of the Philistines. Samuel's spirit has told him the Philistines will win, and Saul and his sons will die (1 Samuel 28:3–19). Saul hasn't eaten and collapses on the ground. The witch prepares them food, and she and his servants convince him to eat. The next day, three of Saul's sons, including Jonathan, will die. When Saul is wounded, he will fall on his sword (1 Samuel 31). Because of Saul's rebellion against God, David will be king.

Israelites and the Philistines prepare for war. The Philistine king Achish demands that David fight with him against Israel. Terrified at the amassed Philistine army and unable to reach the Lord for help, Saul finds a medium to contact Samuel's spirit. Samuel repeats that the Lord has taken the kingdom from Saul and adds that Saul and his sons will fall, along with Israel, the next day. The medium serves Saul and his men a large meal, and the men leave under the cover of darkness. David is saved from having to fight his own people, but Saul and his sons do die. David will soon be king (1 Samuel 29; 31).

David and his men have escaped Saul (1 Samuel 27) and begun been fighting Israel's enemies under the protection of the Philistine king Achish (1 Samuel 28). Now, Achish wants David to fight Israel with him. Saul sees the Philistine army and is terrified. He finds a medium to call up Samuel's spirit. Samuel tells Saul that he, his sons, and Israel will fall. Fortunately, the other Philistine kings refuse to fight with David, and Achish sends him home. But Saul's sons are killed. Mortally wounded, Saul will take his own life (1 Samuel 29; 31).

First Samuel introduces the key figures who led Israel after the era of the judges. The books of 1 and 2 Samuel were originally part of a single text, split in certain translations shortly before the birth of Christ. Some of the Bible’s most famous characters are depicted in this book. These including the prophet Samuel, Israel’s first king, Saul, her greatest king, David, and other famous names such as Goliath and Jonathan. By the end of this book, Saul has fallen; the book of 2 Samuel begins with David’s ascension to the throne.