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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>1 Samuel 28:7 Then 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.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/1_samuel/28-7.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/13/09_1Sa_28_07.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="1 Samuel 28:7 - Saul and the Medium of Endor" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="Then Saul said to his servants, Find me a woman who is a medium, so I can go and consult her. 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And his servants said to him, Behold, there is a woman that hath a familiar spirit at Endor. <a href="/nkjv/1_samuel/28.htm">New King James Version</a> Then Saul said to his servants, “Find me a woman who is a medium, that I may go to her and inquire of her.” And his servants said to him, “In fact, there is a woman who is a medium at En Dor.” <a href="/nasb_/1_samuel/28.htm">New American Standard Bible</a> Then Saul said to his servants, “Find for me a woman who is a medium, so that I may go to her and inquire of her.” And his servants said to him, “Behold, there is a woman who is a medium at En-dor.” <a href="/nasb/1_samuel/28.htm">NASB 1995</a> Then Saul said to his servants, &#8220Seek for me a woman who is a medium, that I may go to her and inquire of her.&#8221 And his servants said to him, &#8220Behold, there is a woman who is a medium at En-dor.&#8221 <a href="/nasb77/1_samuel/28.htm">NASB 1977 </a> Then Saul said to his servants, “Seek for me a woman who is a medium, that I may go to her and inquire of her.” And his servants said to him, “Behold, there is a woman who is a medium at En-dor.” <a href="/lsb/1_samuel/28.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a> So Saul said to his servants, “Seek for me a woman who is a medium, that I may go to her and inquire of her.” And his servants said to him, “Behold, there is a woman who is a medium at En-dor.” <a href="/amp/1_samuel/28.htm">Amplified Bible</a> Then Saul said to his servants, “Find for me a woman who is a medium [between the living and the dead], so that I may go to her and ask her advice.” His servants said to him, “There is a woman who is a medium at En-dor.” <a href="/csb/1_samuel/28.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a> Saul then said to his servants, “Find me a woman who is a medium, so I can go and consult her.” His servants replied, “There is a woman at En-dor who is a medium.” <a href="/hcsb/1_samuel/28.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a> Saul then said to his servants, &#8220Find me a woman who is a medium, so I can go and consult her.&#8221 His servants replied, &#8220There is a woman at En-dor who is a medium.&#8221 <a href="/asv/1_samuel/28.htm">American Standard Version</a> Then said Saul unto his servants, Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and inquire of her. And his servants said to him, Behold, there is a woman that hath a familiar spirit at En-dor. <a href="/cev/1_samuel/28.htm">Contemporary English Version</a> Then Saul told his officers, "Find me a woman who can talk to the spirits of the dead. I'll go to her and find out what's going to happen." His servants told him, "There's a woman at Endor who can talk to spirits of the dead." <a href="/erv/1_samuel/28.htm">English Revised Version</a> Then said Saul unto his servants, Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and inquire of her. And his servants said to him, Behold, there is a woman that hath a familiar spirit at En-dor. <a href="/gwt/1_samuel/28.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a> Saul told his officers, "Find me a woman who conjures up the dead. Then I'll go to her and ask for her services." His officers told him, "There is a woman at Endor who conjures up the dead." <a href="/gnt/1_samuel/28.htm">Good News Translation</a> Then Saul ordered his officials, "Find me a woman who is a medium, and I will go and consult her." "There is one in Endor," they answered. <a href="/isv/1_samuel/28.htm">International Standard Version</a> Saul told his servants, "Find me a woman who is a medium so I can go to her and make my inquiry through her." His servants told him, "Look, there's a woman at Endor who is a medium." <a href="/msb/1_samuel/28.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a> Then 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. <a href="/net/1_samuel/28.htm">NET Bible</a> So Saul instructed his servants, "Find me a woman who is a medium, so that I may go to her and inquire of her." His servants replied to him, "There is a woman who is a medium in Endor." <a href="/nheb/1_samuel/28.htm">New Heart English Bible</a> Then Saul said to his servants, "Find for me a woman who is a medium, that I may go to her and inquire of her." His servants said to him, "Look, there is a woman who has a familiar spirit at Endor." <a href="/wbt/1_samuel/28.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a> Then said Saul to his servants, seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and inquire of her. And his servants said to him, Behold, there is a woman that hath a familiar spirit at En-dor. <a href="/web/1_samuel/28.htm">World English Bible</a> Then Saul said to his servants, “Seek for me a woman who has a familiar spirit, that I may go to her and inquire of her.” His servants said to him, “Behold, there is a woman who has a familiar spirit at Endor.” <div class="vheading2">Literal Translations</div><a href="/lsv/1_samuel/28.htm">Literal Standard Version</a> And Saul says to his servants, “Seek a woman for me possessing a familiar spirit, and I go to her, and inquire of her”; and his servants say to him, “Behold, a woman possessing a familiar spirit [is] in En-dor.” <a href="/ylt/1_samuel/28.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a> And Saul saith to his servants, 'Seek for me a woman possessing a familiar spirit, and I go unto her, and inquire of her;' and his servants say unto him, 'Lo, a woman possessing a familiar spirit in En-dor.' <a href="/slt/1_samuel/28.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a> And Saul will say to his servants, Seek out for me a woman, mistress of necromancy, and I will go to her and inquire of her. And his servants will say to him, Behold, a woman mistress of necromancy in the Fountain of Dor.<div class="vheading2">Catholic Translations</div><a href="/drb/1_samuel/28.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a> And Saul said to his servants: Seek me a woman that hath a divining spirit, and I will go to her, and inquire by her. And his servants said to him: There is a woman that hath a divining spirit at Endor. <a href="/cpdv/1_samuel/28.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a> And Saul said to his servants, “Seek for me a woman having a divining spirit, and I will go to her, and consult through her.” And his servants said to him, “There is a woman having a divining spirit at Endor.” <a href="/nabre/1_samuel/28.htm">New American Bible</a> Then Saul said to his servants, “Find me a medium through whom I can seek counsel.” His servants answered him, “There is a woman in Endor who is a medium.” <a href="/nrsvce/1_samuel/28.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a> Then Saul said to his servants, “Seek out for me a woman who is a medium, so that I may go to her and inquire of her.” His servants said to him, “There is a medium at Endor.”<div class="vheading2">Translations from Aramaic</div><a href="/lamsa/1_samuel/28.htm">Lamsa Bible</a> Then Saul said to his servants, Seek me a woman who has a familiar spirit, that I may go to her and inquire of her. And his servants said to him, Behold, there is a woman who has a familiar spirit at Endor.<CL>Wherefore now return, and go in peace, that you may not displease the lords of the Philistines. <a href="/hpbt/1_samuel/28.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a> And Shaul said to his Servants: “Seek for me a woman who brings up the spirits of the dead, and I shall go to her and I shall inquire of her.” His Servants said to him: “Behold, a woman who brings up spirits of the dead is in Aduir”<div class="vheading2">OT Translations</div><a href="/jps/1_samuel/28.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a> Then said Saul unto his servants: 'Seek me a woman that divineth by a ghost, that I may go to her, and inquire of her.' And his servants said to him: 'Behold, there is a woman that divineth by a ghost at En-dor.' <a href="/sep/1_samuel/28.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a> Then Saul said to his servants, Seek for me a woman who has in her a divining spirit, and I will go to her, and enquire of her: and his servants said to him, Behold, there is a woman who has in her a divining spirit at Aendor. <a href="/parallel/1_samuel/28-7.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=8303" 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> 7<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.">Then Saul</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.">said</a> <a href="/hebrew/5650.htm" title="5650: la·‘ă·ḇā·ḏāw (Prep-l:: N-mpc:: 3ms) -- Slave, servant. From abad; a servant.">to his servants,</a> <a href="/hebrew/1245.htm" title="1245: baq·qə·šū- (V-Piel-Imp-mp) -- To seek. A primitive root; to search out; by implication, to strive after.">“Find</a> <a href="/hebrew/lî (Prep:: 1cs) -- ">me</a> <a href="/hebrew/802.htm" title="802: ’ê·šeṯ (N-fsc) -- Woman, wife, female. Feminine of 'iysh or 'enowsh; irregular plural, nashiym; a woman.">a woman</a> <a href="/hebrew/1172.htm" title="1172: ba·‘ă·laṯ- (N-fsc) -- A mistress. Feminine of ba'al; a mistress.">who is</a> <a href="/hebrew/178.htm" title="178: ’ō·wḇ (N-ms) -- From the same as 'ab; properly, a mumble, i.e. A water skin; hence a necromancer.">a medium,</a> <a href="/hebrew/1980.htm" title="1980: wə·’ê·lə·ḵāh (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConjImperf.Cohort-1cs) -- To go, come, walk. Akin to yalak; a primitive root; to walk.">so I can go</a> <a href="/hebrew/413.htm" title="413: ’ê·le·hā (Prep:: 3fs) -- To, into, towards. "></a> <a href="/hebrew/1875.htm" title="1875: wə·’eḏ·rə·šāh- (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConjImperf.Cohort-1cs) -- A primitive root; properly, to tread or frequent; usually to follow; by implication, to seek or ask; specifically to worship.">and consult</a> <a href="/hebrew/bāh (Prep:: 3fs) -- ">her.”</a> <a href="/hebrew/2009.htm" title="2009: hin·nêh (Interjection) -- Lo! behold! Prolongation for hen; lo!">“There is</a> <a href="/hebrew/802.htm" title="802: ’ê·šeṯ (N-fsc) -- Woman, wife, female. Feminine of 'iysh or 'enowsh; irregular plural, nashiym; a woman."></a> <a href="/hebrew/1172.htm" title="1172: ba·‘ă·laṯ- (N-fsc) -- A mistress. Feminine of ba'al; a mistress."></a> <a href="/hebrew/178.htm" title="178: ’ō·wḇ (N-ms) -- From the same as 'ab; properly, a mumble, i.e. A water skin; hence a necromancer.">a medium</a> <a href="/hebrew/5874.htm" title="5874: bə·‘ên (Prep) -- Or meyn Dowr; or Eyn-Dor; from ayin and dowr; fountain of dwelling; En-Dor, a place in Palestine."></a> <a href="/hebrew/5874.htm" title="5874: dō·wr (Prep:: N-proper-fs) -- Or meyn Dowr; or Eyn-Dor; from ayin and dowr; fountain of dwelling; En-Dor, a place in Palestine.">at Endor,”</a> <a href="/hebrew/5650.htm" title="5650: ‘ă·ḇā·ḏāw (N-mpc:: 3ms) -- Slave, servant. From abad; a servant.">his servants</a> <a href="/hebrew/413.htm" title="413: ’ê·lāw (Prep:: 3ms) -- To, into, towards. "></a> <a href="/hebrew/559.htm" title="559: way·yō·mə·rū (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3mp) -- To utter, say. A primitive root; to say.">replied.</a> 8So 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.”…<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="/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="/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="/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="/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="/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_kings/17-17.htm">2 Kings 17:17</a> They sacrificed their sons and daughters in the fire and practiced divination and soothsaying. They devoted themselves to doing evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking Him to anger. <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="/isaiah/19-3.htm">Isaiah 19:3</a> Then the spirit of the Egyptians will be emptied out from among them, and I will frustrate their plans, so that they will resort to idols and spirits of the dead, to mediums and spiritists. <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.</div> <a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div>Then said Saul to his servants, Seek me a woman that has a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and inquire of her. And his servants said to him, Behold, there is a woman that has a familiar spirit at Endor.Seek me<a href="/2_kings/1-2.htm">2 Kings 1:2,3</a> And Ahaziah fell down through a lattice in his upper chamber that was in Samaria, and was sick: and he sent messengers, and said unto them, Go, inquire of Baalzebub the god of Ekron whether I shall recover of this disease… <a href="/2_kings/6-33.htm">2 Kings 6:33</a> And while he yet talked with them, behold, the messenger came down unto him: and he said, Behold, this evil is of the LORD; what should I wait for the LORD any longer?<a href="/isaiah/8-19.htm">Isaiah 8:19,20</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? … a familiar spirit<a href="/1_samuel/28-3.htm">1 Samuel 28:3</a> Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel had lamented him, and buried him in Ramah, even in his own city. And Saul had put away those that had familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land.<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="/isaiah/19-3.htm">Isaiah 19:3</a> And the spirit of Egypt shall fail in the midst thereof; and I will destroy the counsel thereof: and they shall seek to the idols, and to the charmers, and to them that have familiar spirits, and to the wizards.that I may<a href="/leviticus/19-31.htm">Leviticus 19:31</a> Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the LORD your God.<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?<a href="/joshua/17-11.htm">Joshua 17:11</a> And Manasseh had in Issachar and in Asher Bethshean and her towns, and Ibleam and her towns, and the inhabitants of Dor and her towns, and the inhabitants of Endor and her towns, and the inhabitants of Taanach and her towns, and the inhabitants of Megiddo and her towns, even three countries.<a href="/psalms/83-10.htm">Psalm 83:10</a> Which perished at Endor: they became as dung for the earth.<div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/1_samuel/19-1.htm">Attendants</a> <a href="/1_samuel/28-3.htm">Control</a> <a href="/1_samuel/28-6.htm">Directions</a> <a href="/leviticus/20-27.htm">Divineth</a> <a href="/joshua/17-11.htm">Endor</a> <a href="/joshua/17-11.htm">En-Dor</a> <a href="/1_samuel/22-15.htm">Inquire</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/18-11.htm">Medium</a> <a href="/judges/18-7.htm">Possessing</a> <a href="/1_samuel/28-6.htm">Saul</a> <a href="/1_samuel/27-4.htm">Seek</a> <a href="/1_samuel/25-41.htm">Servants</a> <a href="/1_samuel/28-3.htm">Spirit</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/1_kings/10-5.htm">Attendants</a> <a href="/2_samuel/3-39.htm">Control</a> <a href="/2_samuel/5-19.htm">Directions</a> <a href="/genesis/44-5.htm">Divineth</a> <a href="/psalms/83-10.htm">Endor</a> <a href="/psalms/83-10.htm">En-Dor</a> <a href="/1_samuel/28-16.htm">Inquire</a> <a href="/1_chronicles/10-13.htm">Medium</a> <a href="/2_samuel/1-6.htm">Possessing</a> <a href="/1_samuel/28-8.htm">Saul</a> <a href="/2_samuel/5-17.htm">Seek</a> <a href="/1_samuel/28-23.htm">Servants</a> <a href="/1_samuel/28-8.htm">Spirit</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>Then Saul said to his servants At this point in the narrative, King Saul is in a state of desperation. The Philistines are preparing to attack, and God has stopped communicating with him through prophets or dreams. Saul's request to his servants indicates his reliance on human counsel rather than divine guidance, highlighting his spiritual decline. This moment contrasts with earlier in his reign when he sought God's will through Samuel.“Find me a woman who is a medium Saul's request for a medium, or necromancer, is significant because it directly contradicts God's law. <a href="/deuteronomy/18-10.htm">Deuteronomy 18:10-12</a> explicitly forbids consulting mediums, as it is considered an abomination. Saul himself had previously expelled mediums and spiritists from the land (<a href="/1_samuel/28-3.htm">1 Samuel 28:3</a>), making his request even more hypocritical and desperate. This act underscores Saul's departure from God's commands and his increasing reliance on forbidden practices.so I can go and consult her.” Saul's desire to consult a medium reflects his fear and uncertainty. He seeks guidance from the dead, specifically the prophet Samuel, whom he believes can provide the counsel he desperately needs. This action demonstrates Saul's lack of faith in God's sovereignty and his willingness to resort to pagan practices. It also foreshadows the tragic consequences of turning away from God.“There is a medium at Endor,” his servants replied. Endor was a town located in the territory of Issachar, near the Jezreel Valley. The mention of Endor is significant because it was outside the immediate control of Saul's kingdom, indicating the lengths to which he was willing to go to find a medium. The fact that his servants knew of a medium's location suggests that despite Saul's earlier ban, such practices continued in secret. This response highlights the spiritual decay within Israel and the failure to fully eradicate pagan influences.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <a href="/topical/s/saul.htm">Saul</a> The first king of Israel, who was anointed by the prophet Samuel. At this point in his life, Saul is desperate and fearful due to the impending battle with the Philistines and God's silence. 2. <a href="/topical/s/servants_of_saul.htm">Servants of Saul</a> These individuals serve the king and are tasked with finding a medium, despite the fact that Saul had previously expelled such individuals from the land. 3. <a href="/topical/m/medium_at_endor.htm">Medium at Endor</a> A woman who practices necromancy, which is forbidden by God. She resides in Endor, a location within the territory of Israel. 4. <a href="/topical/e/endor.htm">Endor</a> A town in the territory of Issachar, known in this context for harboring a medium despite Saul's earlier ban on such practices. 5. <a href="/topical/p/philistines.htm">Philistines</a> The enemies of Israel, whose impending attack causes Saul to seek guidance through forbidden means.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><a href="/topical/t/the_consequences_of_desperation.htm">The Consequences of Desperation</a> Saul's desperation led him to seek guidance from a source he knew was against God's law. In times of fear and uncertainty, we must remember to turn to God and His Word, rather than forbidden or ungodly sources. <a href="/topical/t/the_importance_of_obedience.htm">The Importance of Obedience</a> Saul's actions serve as a reminder of the importance of obedience to God's commands. Disobedience can lead us further away from God's presence and guidance. <a href="/topical/t/the_danger_of_compromise.htm">The Danger of Compromise</a> Saul's decision to consult a medium, despite knowing God's law, shows how compromise can lead to spiritual downfall. We must remain steadfast in our faith and convictions. <a href="/topical/s/seeking_god_in_silence.htm">Seeking God in Silence</a> When God seems silent, it is crucial to remain patient and trust in His timing, rather than seeking answers through ungodly means. <a href="/topical/t/the_role_of_godly_counsel.htm">The Role of Godly Counsel</a> Surrounding ourselves with godly counsel can help us make decisions that align with God's will, rather than relying on those who may lead us astray.<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/what_are_familiar_spirits.htm">What are familiar spirits?</a> <a href="/q/what_defines_a_sand#233;ance.htm">What defines a séance?</a> <a href="/q/what_does_the_bible_say_on_ghosts.htm">What does the Bible say about ghosts and hauntings?</a> <a href="/q/why_does_saul_consult_a_medium_in_1_sam_28.htm">If necromancy is condemned (Deut. 18:9–12), how can 1 Samuel 28:7–25 portray Saul successfully consulting a medium? </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>(7) Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit.--He was left alone to himself, and now the last spark of life, the religious zeal which he had once shown even to excess, then also vanished; or, rather. as must always be the case when it has thus swerved from the moral principle which alone can guide it, was turned into a wild and desperate superstition. The wizards and familiar spirits, whom in a fit of righteous indignation he had put out of the land, now became his only resource--Flectere si nequeo supcros, Acheronte movebo.STANLEY: Jewish Church, vol. ii., Lect. 21Behold, there is a woman that hath a familiar spirit at En-dor.--One of these women, mistress or possessor of an ob, or familiar spirit, who apparently was well known, dwelt at or was left at Endor. "East of Nain is a village of mud-huts, with hedges of prickly pear. This is En-dor, famous in connection with the tragic history of the death of Saul. The adventurous character of Saul's night journey is very striking, when we consider that for the king to get to En-dor he had to pass the hostile camp, and would probably creep round the eastern shoulder of the hill hidden by the undulations of the ground."--Conder: Tent Life in Palestine. The distance from the camp of Israel on Gilboa to En-dor was about ten miles further, owing perhaps to the circuit they would have to make round the camp of the Philistines. Jewish tradition speaks of the "two men" who accompanied Saul as Abner and Amasa, and further mentions that the witch of En-dor was the mother of the great Abner. If this be true, it would account for her having escaped the general pursuit after witches mentioned above in the early days of Saul.<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/1_samuel/28.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div>Verses 7, 8. - Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit. Hebrew, "owner of an ob" (see on ver. 3). This determination of Saul proves how obstinate was his self-will. He wanted an answer simply that he might know what was about to happen, not that he might receive guidance and counsel from God. From his bidding them seek him out "a woman mistress of an ob," we gather that women were the usual claimants to these occult powers, just as now they are the most successful clairvoyantes, Endor - "the spring of the round," i.e. perhaps of the dwelling, houses being originally circular in shape, like tents - lay a little to the northeast of Shunem, and it was therefore a hazardous matter for Saul to visit it. Condor ('Tent-Work,' 1:122) says, "East of Nain is a village of mud huts, with hedges of prickly pear. This is Endor, famous in connection with the tragic history of the death of Saul. The adventurous character of Saul's night journey is very striking when we consider that the Philistines pitched in Shunem on the southern slopes of the mountain, and that Saul's army was at Jezreel; thus, to arrive at Endor he had to pass the hostile camp, and would probably creep round the eastern shoulder of the hill, hidden by the undulations of the plain, as an Arab will often now advance unseen close by you in a fold of the ground." He proceeds to speculate upon the cave in which the sorceress may have lived, dismissing those in the town as too modern, but suggesting one on the hillside. But there is nothing in the narrative to suggest that she lived in a cave, but rather the contrary, and the idea may be dismissed as due to the imagination of painters. As the journey was very dangerous, Saul disguised himself, and went by night, accompanied only by two men; and nothing could more plainly set before us his mental anguish, and also his intense desire to pry into the secrets of futurity, than this strange journey. All faith and hope are gone, and a feverish excitement, ready to catch at any aid, however lawless and untrustworthy, had taken their place. In this state of mind he arrives at the woman's dwelling, and says, Divine unto me by the ob. Though divination was strictly forbidden (<a href="/deuteronomy/18-10.htm">Deuteronomy 18:10, 14</a>), yet we find the diviner (A.V. prudent) in high popular estimation in <a href="/isaiah/3-2.htm">Isaiah 3:2</a>; and it was probably a lucrative profession, or this woman would not have been willing to incur so great a danger as was involved in its practice. Bring me him up, etc. The fancy that we can see the spirits of the dead is a most natural and enduring superstition, and it seems generally assumed that they must have some knowledge not accessible to the living. It must be said for Saul that he did not become the victim of this folly until after his reason was disturbed, and as a punishment for heinous sins. <a href="/commentaries/1_samuel/28-7.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a> <a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div>Then Saul שָׁא֜וּל (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 said וַיֹּ֨אמֶר (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 to his servants, לַעֲבָדָ֗יו (la·‘ă·ḇā·ḏāw) Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_5650.htm">Strong's 5650: </a> Slave, servant “Find בַּקְּשׁוּ־ (baq·qə·šū-) Verb - Piel - Imperative - masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_1245.htm">Strong's 1245: </a> To search out, to strive after me a woman אֵ֣שֶׁת (’ê·šeṯ) Noun - feminine singular construct <a href="/hebrew/strongs_802.htm">Strong's 802: </a> Woman, wife, female who is a medium, א֔וֹב (’ō·wḇ) Noun - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_178.htm">Strong's 178: </a> A bottle (made from animal skin), a necromancer so I can go וְאֵלְכָ֥ה (wə·’ê·lə·ḵāh) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative - first person common singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_1980.htm">Strong's 1980: </a> To go, come, walk and consult וְאֶדְרְשָׁה־ (wə·’eḏ·rə·šāh-) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative - first person common singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_1875.htm">Strong's 1875: </a> To tread, frequent, to follow, to seek, ask, to worship her.” בָּ֑הּ (bāh) Preposition | third person feminine singular <a href="/hebrew/.htm">Strong's Hebrew</a> “There [is] הִנֵּ֛ה (hin·nêh) Interjection <a href="/hebrew/strongs_2009.htm">Strong's 2009: </a> Lo! behold! a medium א֖וֹב (’ō·wḇ) Noun - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_178.htm">Strong's 178: </a> A bottle (made from animal skin), a necromancer at Endor,” דּֽוֹר׃ (dō·wr) Preposition | Noun - proper - feminine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_5874.htm">Strong's 5874: </a> En-dor -- 'spring of dwelling', a town in Manasseh his servants עֲבָדָיו֙ (‘ă·ḇā·ḏāw) Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_5650.htm">Strong's 5650: </a> Slave, servant replied. וַיֹּאמְר֤וּ (way·yō·mə·rū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_559.htm">Strong's 559: </a> To utter, say <div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/1_samuel/28-7.htm">1 Samuel 28:7 NIV</a> <a href="/nlt/1_samuel/28-7.htm">1 Samuel 28:7 NLT</a> <a href="/esv/1_samuel/28-7.htm">1 Samuel 28:7 ESV</a> <a href="/nasb/1_samuel/28-7.htm">1 Samuel 28:7 NASB</a> <a href="/kjv/1_samuel/28-7.htm">1 Samuel 28:7 KJV</a> <a href="//bibleapps.com/1_samuel/28-7.htm">1 Samuel 28:7 BibleApps.com</a> <a href="//bibliaparalela.com/1_samuel/28-7.htm">1 Samuel 28:7 Biblia Paralela</a> <a href="//holybible.com.cn/1_samuel/28-7.htm">1 Samuel 28:7 Chinese Bible</a> <a href="//saintebible.com/1_samuel/28-7.htm">1 Samuel 28:7 French Bible</a> <a href="/catholic/1_samuel/28-7.htm">1 Samuel 28:7 Catholic Bible</a> <a href="/1_samuel/28-7.htm">OT History: 1 Samuel 28:7 Then said Saul to his servants Seek (1Sa iSam 1 Sam i sa) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/1_samuel/28-6.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="1 Samuel 28:6"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="1 Samuel 28:6" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/1_samuel/28-8.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="1 Samuel 28:8"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="1 Samuel 28:8" /></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>