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Spirit of the Witch at Endor

1 Samuel 28

www.bibleone.net

 

Preface

 

This passage takes place when the Philistines were gathering their armies together to fight Israel.  King Saul, having seen the Philistine army, was greatly troubled and attempted to inquire of the Lord for guidance.  But due to Saul’s past transgressions, God refused to communicate with him by any means. 

 

Saul then requested his servants to seek out a female medium (witch, conjurer of the dead) in hopes of guidance.  He was directed to the witch of Endor.  But since Saul had previously been instrumental in eliminating witches and wizards from the land, and even though Saul was in disguise, the witch at Endor was hesitant to help, thinking that a snare was being cast to expose her.  But since Saul took an oath in the name of God that nothing amiss would happen to her, she gave in to his request.

 

Upon Saul’s request to bring forth Samuel, the witch attempted to do so only to be astounded that someone recognizable as Samuel appeared.  And for someone unknown reason, not clearly revealed in this passage, she then realized that it was King Saul with and for whom she was working.  King Saul, after again calming the witch, communicated through her to the apparition.  But he could receive no relief through the communication, only a confirmation of the impending death of both him and his sons, along with the conquest of the host of Israel by the Philistines.

 

The Question

 

The question by student and scholar alike is who or what was the apparition.  Was it truly Samuel or a demon impersonating him?  There are notable scholars on both side of the issue.  Ultimately, the Bible student must make up his own mind regarding the matter.  There are arguments for both sides of this coin.  Both views will be presented.

 

Samuel

 

God interrupted the séance unexpectedly by allowing Samuel to appear.  This view is based on the following:

 

  • The witch was startled by the sudden appearance of Samuel in place of the familiar spirits with whom she was used to dealing.

 

  • The text calls the spirit “Samuel.”

 

  • The spirit prophesied accurately as to what would happen the following day, which would be somewhat “out of character” for a demon in such a circumstance, i.e., he would normally speak good tidings toward the one seeking help.

 

Demon

 

The spirit that appeared only impersonated Samuel, a view based on the following:

 

  • Saul never personally saw Samuel, he only could take the witch’s word that it was him.  Such a demon would be well acquainted with the deceased human being and would be able to imitate (impersonate) him, deceiving both the witch and the one desiring communication with him.

 

  • God’s Word is clear.  All forms of witchcraft and necromancy (to conjure up the dead) are abominable to God.

 

When you come into the land which the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the abominations of those nations.  There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, or one who practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead.  For all who do these things are an abomination to the LORD, and because of these abominations the LORD your God drives them out from before you. (Deuteronomy 18:9-12)

 

It is inconceivable that God would resort to such an abominable practice, thereby granting credibility to it, in order to communicate with man.  This would especially apply to the case at hand, since God had already taken the position of being incommunicado with King Saul.

 

  • Saul had become so wayward in his spiritual life and had laid himself wide open for Satan.  In this sense, 1 Timothy 4:1 was indeed applicable to him, “Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons.”

 

  • And most revealing is an exegetical understanding of 1 Chronicles 10:13 & 14, which in the King James Version reads as follows: “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 enquire of it; and enquired not of the LORD: therefore he slew him, and turned the kingdom unto David the son of Jesse.”  The words “counsel” and “one that had” were added by the translators for a “better understanding” of verse 13, but appropriate could have been left out.  If so, the verses would state:

 

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 of a familiar spirit, to enquire of it; and enquired not of the LORD: therefore he slew him, and turned the kingdom unto David the son of Jesse.

 

These verses then make it clear that Saul was speaking to a “familiar spirit” (demon) and not to God.

 

  • King Saul did not receive any new information.  Samuel, before his death, had already pronounced the death, the destruction, and the rejection of Saul (1 Samuel 15), events of which Satan would have been well aware of and could easily have used in his communication with Saul.

 

  • Although Samuel was an occupant of Paradise (the righteous side) at the time of this communication there is indication from the New Testament that travel from Paradise back to earth is not permitted (Luke 16:22-31).

 

Conclusion

 

As stated previously, it is up to each Bible student to decide which scenario is correct regarding the identity of the spirit in 1 Samuel 28.  For this student, the evidence that the spirit was a demon impersonating Samuel is most compelling, and it is this scenario that this student believes is correct.  The entire experience between King Saul and the witch of Endor was Satanic in origin and execution.

 

It is unfortunate that there are Christians today who attempt to use this passage in order to justify witchcraft, mediums, spiritualists, and the like.  All are an abomination to God and must be shunned by the Christian community.  This use of the passage should be evidence enough to any Christian that Saul’s experience with the witch at Endor was purely Satanic.