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Bring up for me the one I name."</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/1_samuel/28-8.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/15/09_1Sa_28_08.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="1 Samuel 28:8 - Saul and the Medium of Endor" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="So Saul disguised himself by putting on different clothes, and he set out with two of his men. They came to the woman at night, and Saul said, Consult a spirit for me. 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Then he went to the woman’s home at night, accompanied by two of his men. “I have to talk to a man who has died,” he said. “Will you call up his spirit for me?” <a href="/esv/1_samuel/28.htm">English Standard Version</a> So Saul disguised himself and put on other garments and went, he and two men with him. And they came to the woman by night. And he said, “Divine for me by a spirit and bring up for me whomever I shall name to you.” <a href="/bsb/1_samuel/28.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a> So Saul disguised himself by putting on different clothes, and he set out with two of his men. They came to the woman at night, and Saul said, “Consult a spirit for me. Bring up for me the one I name.” <a href="/kjv/1_samuel/28.htm">King James Bible</a> And Saul disguised himself, and put on other raiment, and he went, and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night: and he said, I pray thee, divine unto me by the familiar spirit, and bring me him up, whom I shall name unto thee. <a href="/nkjv/1_samuel/28.htm">New King James Version</a> So Saul disguised himself and put on other clothes, and he went, and two men with him; and they came to the woman by night. And he said, “Please conduct a séance for me, and bring up for me the one I shall name to you.” <a href="/nasb_/1_samuel/28.htm">New American Standard Bible</a> Then Saul disguised himself by putting on different clothes, and went, he and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night; and he said, “Consult the spirit for me, please, and bring up for me the one whom I shall name for you.” <a href="/nasb/1_samuel/28.htm">NASB 1995</a> Then Saul disguised himself by putting on other clothes, and went, he and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night; and he said, &#8220Conjure up for me, please, and bring up for me whom I shall name to you.&#8221 <a href="/nasb77/1_samuel/28.htm">NASB 1977 </a> Then Saul disguised himself by putting on other clothes, and went, he and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night; and he said, “Conjure up for me, please, and bring up for me whom I shall name to you.” <a href="/lsb/1_samuel/28.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a> Then Saul disguised himself and put on other clothes, and he went, he and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night; and he said, “Divine for me, please, and bring up for me whom I shall say to you.” <a href="/amp/1_samuel/28.htm">Amplified Bible</a> So Saul disguised himself by wearing different clothes, and he left with two men, and they came to the woman at night. He said to her, “Conjure up for me, please, and bring up [from the dead] for me [the spirit] whom I shall name to you.” <a href="/csb/1_samuel/28.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a> Saul disguised himself by putting on different clothes and set out with two of his men. They came to the woman at night, and Saul said, “Consult a spirit for me. Bring up for me the one I tell you.” <a href="/hcsb/1_samuel/28.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a> Saul disguised himself by putting on different clothes and set out with two of his men. They came to the woman at night, and Saul said, &#8220Consult a spirit for me. Bring up for me the one I tell you.&#8221 <a href="/asv/1_samuel/28.htm">American Standard Version</a> And Saul disguised himself, and put on other raiment, and went, he and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night: and he said, Divine unto me, I pray thee, by the familiar spirit, and bring me up whomsoever I shall name unto thee. <a href="/cev/1_samuel/28.htm">Contemporary English Version</a> That night, Saul put on different clothing so nobody would recognize him. Then he and two of his men went to the woman, and asked, "Will you bring up the ghost of someone for us?" <a href="/erv/1_samuel/28.htm">English Revised Version</a> And Saul disguised himself, and put on other raiment, and went, he and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night: and he said, Divine unto me, I pray thee, by the familiar spirit, and bring me up whomsoever I shall name unto thee. <a href="/gwt/1_samuel/28.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a> After disguising himself by putting on other clothes, Saul left with two men and came to the woman that night. He said to her, "Please consult with a dead person for me. Conjure up the person I request." <a href="/gnt/1_samuel/28.htm">Good News Translation</a> So Saul disguised himself; he put on different clothes, and after dark he went with two of his men to see the woman. "Consult the spirits for me and tell me what is going to happen," he said to her. "Call up the spirit of the man I name." <a href="/isv/1_samuel/28.htm">International Standard Version</a> Saul disguised himself, putting on different clothes. He went along with two men to the woman at night. He said, "Consult a familiar spirit for me and bring up for me the one whom I tell you." <a href="/msb/1_samuel/28.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a> So Saul disguised himself by putting on different clothes, and he set out with two of his men. They came to the woman at night, and Saul said, ?Consult a spirit for me. Bring up for me the one I name.? <a href="/net/1_samuel/28.htm">NET Bible</a> So Saul disguised himself and put on other clothing and left, accompanied by two of his men. They came to the woman at night and said, "Use your ritual pit to conjure up for me the one I tell you." <a href="/nheb/1_samuel/28.htm">New Heart English Bible</a> Saul disguised himself, and put on other clothing, and went, he and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night. And he said, "Divine a spirit for me, please, and bring up for me the one whom I name to you." <a href="/wbt/1_samuel/28.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a> And Saul disguised himself, and put on other raiment, and he went, and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night: and he said, I pray thee, divine to me by the familiar spirit, and bring up for me whom I shall name to thee. <a href="/web/1_samuel/28.htm">World English Bible</a> Saul disguised himself and put on other clothing, and went, he and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night. Then he said, “Please consult for me by the familiar spirit, and bring me up whomever I shall name to you.” <div class="vheading2">Literal Translations</div><a href="/lsv/1_samuel/28.htm">Literal Standard Version</a> And Saul disguises himself and puts on other garments, and goes, he and two of the men with him, and they come to the woman by night, and he says, “Please divine to me by the familiar spirit, and cause him whom I say to you to come up to me.” <a href="/ylt/1_samuel/28.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a> And Saul disguiseth himself and putteth on other garments, and goeth, he and two of the men with him, and they come in unto the woman by night, and he saith, 'Divine, I pray thee, to me by the familiar spirit, and cause to come up to me him whom I say unto thee.' <a href="/slt/1_samuel/28.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a> And Saul will disguise himself, and will put on other garments, and will go, and two men with him, and he will come to the woman by night: and he will say, Divine to me now, by necromancy, and bring up to me whom I say to thee.<div class="vheading2">Catholic Translations</div><a href="/drb/1_samuel/28.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a> Then he disguised himself: and put on other clothes, and he went, and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night, and he said to her: Divine to me by thy divining spirit, and bring me up him whom I shall tell thee. <a href="/cpdv/1_samuel/28.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a> Therefore, he changed his usual appearance, and he put on other clothes. And he went, and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night. And he said to her, “Divine for me, by your divining spirit, and raise up for me whomever I will tell you.” <a href="/nabre/1_samuel/28.htm">New American Bible</a> So he disguised himself, putting on other clothes, and set out with two companions. They came to the woman at night, and Saul said to her, “Divine for me; conjure up the spirit I tell you.” <a href="/nrsvce/1_samuel/28.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a> So Saul disguised himself and put on other clothes and went there, he and two men with him. They came to the woman by night. And he said, “Consult a spirit for me, and bring up for me the one whom I name to you.”<div class="vheading2">Translations from Aramaic</div><a href="/lamsa/1_samuel/28.htm">Lamsa Bible</a> And Saul disguised himself and put on other raiment, and he went and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night; and Saul said to her, Divine for me by the familiar spirit, and bring up for me him whom I shall tell you.<CL>And David said to Achish, But what have I done? And what have you found in your servant from the day that I have come to you until this day, that I may not go and fight against the enemies of my lord the king? <a href="/hpbt/1_samuel/28.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a> And Shaul stripped his garments and wore another robe, and he went on, he and two men with him, and they came to the woman in the night, and Shaul said to her: “Divine for me by the spirits of the dead and bring up for me him whom I will say to you”<div class="vheading2">OT Translations</div><a href="/jps/1_samuel/28.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a> And Saul disguised himself, and put on other raiment, and went, he and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night; and he said: 'Divine unto me, I pray thee, by a ghost, and bring me up whomsoever I shall name unto thee.' <a href="/sep/1_samuel/28.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a> And Saul disguised himself, and put on other raiment, and he goes, and two men with him, and they come to the woman by night; and he said to her, Divine to me, I pray thee, by the divining spirit within thee, and bring up to me him whom I shall name to thee. <a href="/parallel/1_samuel/28-8.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv">Audio Bible</div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/H8oQfYUMRZg?start=8315" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="vheadingv">Context</div><a href="/bsb/1_samuel/28.htm">Saul and the Medium of Endor</a> 7Then Saul said to his servants, “Find me a woman who is a medium, so I can go and consult her.” “There is a medium at Endor,” his servants replied. 8<a href="/hebrew/7586.htm" title="7586: šā·’ūl (N-proper-ms) -- Passive participle of sha'al; asked; Shaul, the name of an Edomite and two Israelites.">So Saul</a> <a href="/hebrew/2664.htm" title="2664: way·yiṯ·ḥap·pêś (Conj-w:: V-Hitpael-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To search. A primitive root; to seek; causatively, to conceal oneself, or mask.">disguised himself</a> <a href="/hebrew/3847.htm" title="3847: way·yil·baš (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- Or labesh; a primitive root; properly, wrap around, i.e. to put on a garment or clothe, literally or figuratively.">by putting on</a> <a href="/hebrew/312.htm" title="312: ’ă·ḥê·rîm (Adj-mp) -- Another. From 'achar; properly, hinder; generally, next, other, etc.">different</a> <a href="/hebrew/899.htm" title="899: bə·ḡā·ḏîm (N-mp) -- A covering, clothing, treachery, pillage. From bagad; a covering, i.e. Clothing; also treachery or pillage.">clothes,</a> <a href="/hebrew/1980.htm" title="1980: way·yê·leḵ (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To go, come, walk. Akin to yalak; a primitive root; to walk.">and he set out</a> <a href="/hebrew/1931.htm" title="1931: hū (Pro-3ms) -- He, she, it. "></a> <a href="/hebrew/5973.htm" title="5973: ‘im·mōw (Prep:: 3ms) -- From amam; adverb or preposition, with, in varied applications; specifically, equally with; often with prepositional prefix.">with</a> <a href="/hebrew/8147.htm" title="8147: ū·šə·nê (Conj-w:: Number-mdc) -- Two (a card. number). Dual of sheniy; feminine shttayim; two; also twofold.">two</a> <a href="/hebrew/582.htm" title="582: ’ă·nā·šîm (N-mp) -- Man, mankind. From 'anash; properly, a mortal; hence, a man in general.">of his men.</a> <a href="/hebrew/935.htm" title="935: way·yā·ḇō·’ū (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3mp) -- To come in, come, go in, go. A primitive root; to go or come.">They came</a> <a href="/hebrew/413.htm" title="413: ’el- (Prep) -- To, into, towards. ">to</a> <a href="/hebrew/802.htm" title="802: hā·’iš·šāh (Art:: N-fs) -- Woman, wife, female. Feminine of 'iysh or 'enowsh; irregular plural, nashiym; a woman.">the woman</a> <a href="/hebrew/3915.htm" title="3915: lā·yə·lāh (N-ms) -- Night. Or leyl; also laylah; from the same as luwl; properly, a twist, i.e. Night; figuratively, adversity.">at night,</a> <a href="/hebrew/559.htm" title="559: way·yō·mer (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To utter, say. A primitive root; to say.">and Saul said,</a> <a href="/hebrew/7080.htm" title="7080: qå̄·sō·mī (V-Qal-Imp-fs) -- A primitive root; properly, to distribute, i.e. Determine by lot or magical scroll; by implication, to divine.">“Consult</a> <a href="/hebrew/4994.htm" title="4994: nå̄ (Interjection) -- I (we) pray, now. "></a> <a href="/hebrew/178.htm" title="178: bā·’ō·wḇ (Prep, Art:: N-ms) -- From the same as 'ab; properly, a mumble, i.e. A water skin; hence a necromancer.">a spirit</a> <a href="/hebrew/lî (Prep:: 1cs) -- ">for me.</a> <a href="/hebrew/5927.htm" title="5927: wə·ha·‘ă·lî (Conj-w:: V-Hifil-Imp-fs) -- A primitive root; to ascend, intransitively or actively; used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative.">Bring up</a> <a href="/hebrew/lî (Prep:: 1cs) -- ">for me</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’êṯ (DirObjM) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/834.htm" title="834: ’ă·šer- (Pro-r) -- Who, which, that. A primitive relative pronoun; who, which, what, that; also when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.">the one</a> <a href="/hebrew/559.htm" title="559: ’ō·mar (V-Qal-Imperf-1cs) -- To utter, say. A primitive root; to say.">I name.”</a> <a href="/hebrew/413.htm" title="413: ’ê·lā·yiḵ (Prep:: 2fs) -- To, into, towards. "></a> 9But the woman replied, “Surely you know what Saul has done, how he has killed the mediums and spiritists in the land. Why have you set a trap to get me killed?”…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div> <a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><a href="/leviticus/19-31.htm">Leviticus 19:31</a> You must not turn to mediums or spiritists; do not seek them out, or you will be defiled by them. I am the LORD your God. <a href="/deuteronomy/18-10.htm">Deuteronomy 18:10-12</a> Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, practices divination or conjury, interprets omens, practices sorcery, / casts spells, consults a medium or spiritist, or inquires of the dead. / For whoever does these things is detestable to the LORD. And because of these detestable things, the LORD your God is driving out the nations before you. <a href="/isaiah/8-19.htm">Isaiah 8:19</a> When men tell you to consult mediums and spiritists who whisper and mutter, shouldn’t a people consult their God instead? Why consult the dead on behalf of the living? <a href="/1_chronicles/10-13.htm">1 Chronicles 10:13-14</a> So Saul died for his unfaithfulness to the LORD, because he did not keep the word of the LORD and even consulted a medium for guidance, / and he failed to inquire of the LORD. So the LORD put him to death and turned the kingdom over to David son of Jesse. <a href="/2_kings/21-6.htm">2 Kings 21:6</a> He sacrificed his own son in the fire, practiced sorcery and divination, and consulted mediums and spiritists. He did great evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking Him to anger. <a href="/2_kings/23-24.htm">2 Kings 23:24</a> Furthermore, Josiah removed the mediums and spiritists, the household gods and idols, and all the abominations that were seen in the land of Judah and in Jerusalem. He did this to carry out the words of the law written in the book that Hilkiah the priest had found in the house of the LORD. <a href="/acts/16-16.htm">Acts 16:16-18</a> One day as we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl with a spirit of divination, who earned a large income for her masters by fortune-telling. / This girl followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who are proclaiming to you the way of salvation!” / She continued this for many days. Eventually Paul grew so aggravated that he turned and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!” And the spirit left her at that very moment. <a href="/galatians/5-19.htm">Galatians 5:19-21</a> The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery; / idolatry and sorcery; hatred, discord, jealousy, and rage; rivalries, divisions, factions, / and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. <a href="/revelation/21-8.htm">Revelation 21:8</a> But to the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and sexually immoral and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their place will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur. This is the second death.” <a href="/2_chronicles/33-6.htm">2 Chronicles 33:6</a> He sacrificed his sons in the fire in the Valley of Ben-hinnom. He practiced sorcery, divination, and witchcraft, and consulted mediums and spiritists. He did great evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking Him to anger. <a href="/exodus/22-18.htm">Exodus 22:18</a> You must not allow a sorceress to live. <a href="/micah/5-12.htm">Micah 5:12</a> I will cut the sorceries from your hand, and you will have no fortune-tellers. <a href="/acts/8-9.htm">Acts 8:9-11</a> Prior to that time, a man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and astounded the people of Samaria. He claimed to be someone great, / and all the people, from the least to the greatest, heeded his words and said, “This man is the divine power called the Great Power.” / They paid close attention to him because he had astounded them for a long time with his sorcery. <a href="/1_corinthians/10-20.htm">1 Corinthians 10:20-21</a> No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God. And I do not want you to be participants with demons. / You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot partake in the table of the Lord and the table of demons too. <a href="/ephesians/5-11.htm">Ephesians 5:11</a> Have no fellowship with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.</div> <a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div>And Saul disguised himself, and put on other raiment, and he went, and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night: and he said, I pray you, divine to me by the familiar spirit, and bring me him up, whom I shall name to you.disguised<a href="/1_kings/14-2.htm">1 Kings 14:2,3</a> And Jeroboam said to his wife, Arise, I pray thee, and disguise thyself, that thou be not known to be the wife of Jeroboam; and get thee to Shiloh: behold, there is Ahijah the prophet, which told me that I should be king over this people… <a href="/1_kings/22-30.htm">1 Kings 22:30,34</a> And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, I will disguise myself, and enter into the battle; but put thou on thy robes. And the king of Israel disguised himself, and went into the battle… <a href="/job/24-13.htm">Job 24:13-15</a> They are of those that rebel against the light; they know not the ways thereof, nor abide in the paths thereof… I pray thee<a href="/deuteronomy/18-11.htm">Deuteronomy 18:11</a> Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer.<a href="/1_chronicles/10-13.htm">1 Chronicles 10:13</a> So Saul died for his transgression which he committed against the LORD, even against the word of the LORD, which he kept not, and also for asking counsel of one that had a familiar spirit, to inquire of it;<a href="/isaiah/8-19.htm">Isaiah 8:19</a> And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead?bring me<a href="/1_samuel/28-15.htm">1 Samuel 28:15</a> 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.<div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/1_samuel/19-24.htm">Clothes</a> <a href="/1_samuel/27-9.htm">Clothing</a> <a href="/isaiah/47-11.htm">Conjure</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/17-9.htm">Consult</a> <a href="/1_samuel/21-13.htm">Disguised</a> <a href="/genesis/44-15.htm">Divine</a> <a href="/1_samuel/26-7.htm">Night</a> <a href="/1_samuel/26-19.htm">Please</a> <a href="/1_samuel/25-29.htm">Putting</a> <a href="/ruth/3-3.htm">Raiment</a> <a href="/1_samuel/28-7.htm">Saul</a> <a href="/1_samuel/28-7.htm">Spirit</a> <a href="/leviticus/15-11.htm">Whomever</a> <a href="/judges/11-24.htm">Whomsoever</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/2_samuel/1-2.htm">Clothes</a> <a href="/2_samuel/1-2.htm">Clothing</a> <a href="/isaiah/47-11.htm">Conjure</a> <a href="/1_samuel/28-16.htm">Consult</a> <a href="/1_kings/20-38.htm">Disguised</a> <a href="/1_samuel/28-9.htm">Divine</a> <a href="/1_samuel/28-20.htm">Night</a> <a href="/1_samuel/28-22.htm">Please</a> <a href="/2_samuel/11-22.htm">Putting</a> <a href="/2_samuel/10-4.htm">Raiment</a> <a href="/1_samuel/28-9.htm">Saul</a> <a href="/1_samuel/28-9.htm">Spirit</a> <a href="/jeremiah/27-5.htm">Whomever</a> <a href="/jeremiah/1-7.htm">Whomsoever</a><div class="vheading2">1 Samuel 28</div>1. <a href="/1_samuel/28-1.htm">Achish puts confidence in David</a> 3. <a href="/1_samuel/28-3.htm">Saul having destroyed the witches</a> 4. <a href="/1_samuel/28-4.htm">and now in his fear forsaken of God</a> 7. <a href="/1_samuel/28-7.htm">has recourse to a witch</a> 8. <a href="/1_samuel/28-8.htm">who, encouraged by Saul, raises up Samuel</a> 15. <a href="/1_samuel/28-15.htm">Saul hearing his ruin, faints</a> 21. <a href="/1_samuel/28-21.htm">The woman and his servants refresh him with meat</a> </div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/1_samuel/28.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/1_samuel/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/1_samuel/28.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div>So Saul disguised himself by putting on different clothes Saul's act of disguising himself highlights his desperation and fear. As king, Saul was recognizable, and his need to hide his identity underscores the gravity of his situation. This act of disguise is significant because it contrasts with his earlier anointing as king, where he was publicly chosen by God. The use of disguise also reflects Saul's spiritual decline, as he resorts to deception to seek guidance, contrary to God's law (<a href="/deuteronomy/18-10.htm">Deuteronomy 18:10-12</a>). This moment foreshadows the ultimate loss of his kingship and favor with God.and he set out with two of his men Saul's decision to take only two men with him suggests secrecy and urgency. In biblical narratives, the number two often signifies witness or testimony (<a href="/deuteronomy/19-15.htm">Deuteronomy 19:15</a>), but here it may indicate the minimal support Saul has in his quest, reflecting his isolation. The presence of these men also highlights Saul's reliance on human counsel rather than divine guidance, a recurring theme in his reign.They came to the woman at night The cover of night symbolizes secrecy and the hidden nature of Saul's actions. Nighttime in biblical literature often represents evil or wrongdoing (<a href="/john/3-19.htm">John 3:19-20</a>). Saul's visit to the woman, known as the medium of Endor, is a direct violation of God's commands against consulting mediums (<a href="/leviticus/19-31.htm">Leviticus 19:31</a>). The choice of night for this encounter underscores the illicit nature of his actions and his departure from God's light.and Saul said, “Consult a spirit for me. Saul's request to consult a spirit marks a significant departure from his earlier efforts to rid Israel of mediums and spiritists (<a href="/1_samuel/28-3.htm">1 Samuel 28:3</a>). This act of seeking forbidden spiritual guidance highlights his desperation and lack of faith in God's provision. It also reflects the spiritual void in Saul's life, as he turns to the occult for answers rather than seeking repentance and reconciliation with God.Bring up for me the one I name.” Saul's demand to bring up a specific spirit indicates his desire for control and specific guidance, likely seeking Samuel, the prophet who had guided him in the past. This request reveals Saul's misunderstanding of God's sovereignty and the nature of true prophecy. It also foreshadows the tragic outcome of his reign, as seeking guidance from the dead is ultimately futile and leads to his downfall. This moment contrasts with the New Testament's emphasis on seeking wisdom from God through prayer and the Holy Spirit (<a href="/james/1-5.htm">James 1:5</a>).<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <a href="/topical/s/saul.htm">Saul</a> The first king of Israel, who is seeking guidance from a medium after God has stopped answering him through prophets or dreams. 2. <a href="/topical/t/the_woman.htm">The Woman (Medium) of Endor</a> A woman who practices necromancy, living in Endor, whom Saul seeks out to summon the spirit of the prophet Samuel. 3. <a href="/topical/e/endor.htm">Endor</a> A location in ancient Israel, known here as the place where Saul seeks forbidden spiritual guidance. 4. <a href="/topical/t/two_men.htm">Two Men</a> Saul's companions on this secretive and forbidden mission. 5. <a href="/topical/n/nighttime_visit.htm">Nighttime Visit</a> The event takes place at night, symbolizing secrecy and perhaps the darkness of Saul's spiritual state.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><a href="/topical/t/the_consequences_of_disobedience.htm">The Consequences of Disobedience</a> Saul's actions demonstrate the dangers of turning away from God's commands. Disobedience leads to spiritual darkness and desperation. <a href="/topical/s/seeking_god_in_times_of_silence.htm">Seeking God in Times of Silence</a> When God seems silent, believers are encouraged to remain faithful and patient, trusting in His timing and wisdom rather than seeking forbidden or ungodly alternatives. <a href="/topical/t/the_dangers_of_compromise.htm">The Dangers of Compromise</a> Saul's decision to disguise himself and consult a medium shows how compromise can lead to further sin. Believers must stand firm in their convictions, even in difficult times. <a href="/topical/t/the_importance_of_spiritual_discernment.htm">The Importance of Spiritual Discernment</a> This passage highlights the need for discernment in spiritual matters, recognizing that not all spiritual experiences are from God. <a href="/topical/t/the_role_of_fear_and_desperation.htm">The Role of Fear and Desperation</a> Fear and desperation can drive individuals to make poor decisions. Believers should seek God's peace and guidance through prayer and scripture.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_1_samuel_28.htm">Top 10 Lessons from 1 Samuel 28</a> <a href="/q/evidence_of_mediums_in_ancient_israel.htm">Is there any archaeological or historical evidence confirming the existence of mediums in ancient Israel to support the story of 1 Samuel 28:7-9?</a> <a href="/q/how_does_the_spirit_empower_saul.htm">In 1 Samuel 11:6, how can an invisible Spirit 'rush upon' Saul and make him so effective in leadership, given a skeptical view of supernatural involvement?</a> <a href="/q/why_does_god's_spirit_prompt_saul's_prophecy.htm">Why does the 'Spirit of God' in 1 Samuel 10:10 produce such immediate prophetic activity in Saul, yet seemingly not in others?</a> <a href="/q/what_are_familiar_spirits.htm">What are familiar spirits?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/1_samuel/28.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(8) And Saul disguised himself.--The disguise and the time chosen for the expedition served a double purpose. The king would, he thought, be unknown in the darkness and disguise when he came to the witch's dwelling, and there was, too, a far greater probability of his escaping his Philistine foes, whose army lay between him and the village of En-dor.Divine unto me by the familiar spirit.--Literally, divine unto me by the ob. Keil's remark is interesting: "Prophesying by the ob was probably performed by calling up a departed spirit from Sheol, and obtaining prophecies--i.e., disclosures--concerning one's own fate through the medium of such a spirit." No other commentator touches on the ob here, and Keil leaves it in doubt as to whether he considered the ob was some special spirit devoted to the service of the mistress of the ob, or the spirit or soul of one already dead, who, through some occult power, was to be brought back again for a season to this earth. As far as we can judge of these old mysteries, the sorcerer or sorceress possessed, or was supposed to possess, a "familiar." Through the aid of this "familiar," the departed spirit was compelled or induced to re-visit this world, and to submit to certain questioning. The Hebrew rendered "divine unto me" is of Syriac origin, like most of those words describing illicit vaticinations.--Speaker's Commentary. This miserable power, if it did exist, was one of the things the Israelites learned from the original inhabitants of Canaan. These "black" arts, as they have been called, have, in all ages, in every degree of civilisation, always had an extraordinary fascination for men. It is well known that even in our own "cultured age" similar pretensions are put forth, and the dead are still invoked, summoned, and questioned, as they were in the half-barbarous age when Saul and his companions, in their desperate strait, sought the witch of En-dor.And bring me him up.--The popular idea has always been that Sheol, the place of departed spirits, is somewhere beneath the ground or earth on which we live, just as heaven, the abode of God and His holy angels, is in a region above the earth. St. Paul speaks in this popular language (<a href="/ephesians/4-9.htm" title="(Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?">Ephesians 4:9</a>), where he refers to the lower parts of the earth as the abode of departed spirits. Hence we have here, "bring me him up." The Christian Church, Bishop Wordsworth reminds us, has adopted this language into her creeds, where she says that Christ in His human soul descended into hell (Hades). Keil well remarks on this human idea of what is "above" and "below": "With our modes of thought, which are so bound up with time and space, it is impossible to represent to ourselves in any other way the difference and contrast between blessedness with God and shade-life in death." <a href="/commentaries/1_samuel/28-8.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a> <a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div>So Saul שָׁא֗וּל (šā·’ūl) Noun - proper - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_7586.htm">Strong's 7586: </a> Saul -- first king of Israel, also an Edomite and two Israelites disguised himself וַיִּתְחַפֵּ֣שׂ (way·yiṯ·ḥap·pêś) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hitpael - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_2664.htm">Strong's 2664: </a> To seek, to conceal oneself, mask by putting on וַיִּלְבַּשׁ֙ (way·yil·baš) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3847.htm">Strong's 3847: </a> Wrap around, to put on a, garment, clothe different אֲחֵרִ֔ים (’ă·ḥê·rîm) Adjective - masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_312.htm">Strong's 312: </a> Hinder, next, other clothes, בְּגָדִ֣ים (bə·ḡā·ḏîm) Noun - masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_899.htm">Strong's 899: </a> A covering, clothing, treachery, pillage and he set out וַיֵּ֣לֶךְ (way·yê·leḵ) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_1980.htm">Strong's 1980: </a> To go, come, walk with עִמּ֔וֹ (‘im·mōw) Preposition | third person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_5973.htm">Strong's 5973: </a> With, equally with two וּשְׁנֵ֤י (ū·šə·nê) Conjunctive waw | Number - mdc <a href="/hebrew/strongs_8147.htm">Strong's 8147: </a> Two (a cardinal number) of his men. אֲנָשִׁים֙ (’ă·nā·šîm) Noun - masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_582.htm">Strong's 582: </a> Man, mankind They came וַיָּבֹ֥אוּ (way·yā·ḇō·’ū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_935.htm">Strong's 935: </a> To come in, come, go in, go to אֶל־ (’el-) Preposition <a href="/hebrew/strongs_413.htm">Strong's 413: </a> Near, with, among, to the woman הָאִשָּׁ֖ה (hā·’iš·šāh) Article | Noun - feminine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_802.htm">Strong's 802: </a> Woman, wife, female at night, לָ֑יְלָה (lā·yə·lāh) Noun - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3915.htm">Strong's 3915: </a> A twist, night, adversity and Saul said, וַיֹּ֗אמֶר (way·yō·mer) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_559.htm">Strong's 559: </a> To utter, say “Consult קָֽסֳמִי־ (qā·so·mî-) Verb - Qal - Imperative - feminine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_7080.htm">Strong's 7080: </a> To distribute, determine by lot, magical scroll, to divine a spirit for me. בָּא֔וֹב (bā·’ō·wḇ) Preposition, Article | Noun - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_178.htm">Strong's 178: </a> A bottle (made from animal skin), a necromancer Bring up וְהַ֣עֲלִי (wə·ha·‘ă·lî) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Imperative - feminine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_5927.htm">Strong's 5927: </a> To ascend, in, actively for me לִ֔י (lî) Preposition | first person common singular <a href="/hebrew/.htm">Strong's Hebrew</a> the one אֲשֶׁר־ (’ă·šer-) Pronoun - relative <a href="/hebrew/strongs_834.htm">Strong's 834: </a> Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that I name.? אֹמַ֖ר (’ō·mar) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_559.htm">Strong's 559: </a> To utter, say <div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/1_samuel/28-8.htm">1 Samuel 28:8 NIV</a> <a href="/nlt/1_samuel/28-8.htm">1 Samuel 28:8 NLT</a> <a href="/esv/1_samuel/28-8.htm">1 Samuel 28:8 ESV</a> <a href="/nasb/1_samuel/28-8.htm">1 Samuel 28:8 NASB</a> <a href="/kjv/1_samuel/28-8.htm">1 Samuel 28:8 KJV</a> <a href="//bibleapps.com/1_samuel/28-8.htm">1 Samuel 28:8 BibleApps.com</a> <a href="//bibliaparalela.com/1_samuel/28-8.htm">1 Samuel 28:8 Biblia Paralela</a> <a href="//holybible.com.cn/1_samuel/28-8.htm">1 Samuel 28:8 Chinese Bible</a> <a href="//saintebible.com/1_samuel/28-8.htm">1 Samuel 28:8 French Bible</a> <a href="/catholic/1_samuel/28-8.htm">1 Samuel 28:8 Catholic Bible</a> <a href="/1_samuel/28-8.htm">OT History: 1 Samuel 28:8 Saul disguised himself and put on other (1Sa iSam 1 Sam i sa) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/1_samuel/28-7.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="1 Samuel 28:7"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="1 Samuel 28:7" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/1_samuel/28-9.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="1 Samuel 28:9"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="1 Samuel 28:9" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>