1 Samuel 28:5 - Printer Friendly

ESV: When Saul saw the army of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart trembled greatly.

NIV: When Saul saw the Philistine army, he was afraid; terror filled his heart.

NASB: When Saul saw the camp of the Philistines, he was afraid and his heart trembled greatly.

CSB: When Saul saw the Philistine camp, he was afraid and his heart pounded.

NLT: When Saul saw the vast Philistine army, he became frantic with fear.

KJV: And when Saul saw the host of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart greatly trembled.

NKJV: When Saul saw the army of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart trembled greatly.

From his position on Mount Gilboa, King Saul has a good view of the massive Philistine forces gathered nearby. The enemy is at Shunem, just southwest of the Hill of Moreh in the Jezreel Valley, near the Sea of Galilee. Saul doesn't like what he sees. The Philistine army far outnumber his own fighting men. They are also much better equipped with weapons and defensive armor (1 Samuel 13:19–22). Saul can't see a way for Israel to survive this battle, and he's terrified. Either physically or metaphorically, Saul's heart is trembling at the prospect of the battle that looms before him.

Even worse, he knows God is not with him. When he was first made king, the Holy Spirit came upon him (1 Samuel 10:10). But after disobeying God several times, God took His Spirit away and allowed an evil spirit to torment him (1 Samuel 16:12–14). No matter how Saul asks, God will not answer (1 Samuel 28:6).

In the past, Saul would seek out Samuel, but he hasn't seen Samuel since the prophet told him another—David—would take his kingdom (1 Samuel 15:28, 35). Since then, Samuel has died (1 Samuel 25:1). Saul is desperate to hear from him again. So, he resorts to witchcraft (1 Samuel 28:7).

First Samuel 28:3–7 records Saul's further fall into disobedience. When he sees the size of the Philistine army about to attack him, he's terrified and doesn't know what to do. Samuel the prophet is dead (1 Samuel 25:1), and God won't answer the remaining prophets. Saul sends his servants to find a medium: a profession he himself had outlawed. In disguise, he will meet the medium and receive terrifying news (1 Samuel 28:8–25).

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.