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Hostile designs of the Philistines against the Jews. Saul's visit to the sorceress of Endor. 1 Samuel 28:1. At that time the Philistines gathered their armies for war to fight against Israel. And Achish said to David, Be it known to you that you will go with me into the army, you and your men. David's stay in the camp of the Philistines and his imaginary service to the interests of the latter (1 Sam. 27:1) inspired the enemies of the Jews with hope for the success of their enterprise. 1 Samuel 28:2. And David said to Achish: Today you will know what your servant will do. And Achish said to David: Therefore I will make you the keeper of my head for all time. “Today you will know what your servant will do.” David's cautious answer was interpreted by Achish in a sense favorable to himself. 1 Samuel 28:3. And Samuel died, and all the Israelites mourned him and buried him in Ramah, his city. Saul drove the magicians and fortune-tellers out of the country. When asked why the sacred writer, having written above (1 Samuel 25:1) about the death of the prophet Samuel, again mentions it, Blessed. Theodoret replies: “Intending to tell the story of the sorceress (who summoned Samuel’s shadow), he was forced to mention the death of Samuel” (Blessed Theodorit, commentary on 1 Samuel, issue 62). 1 Samuel 28:4. And the Philistines gathered together, and went, and pitched at Sonam; Saul also gathered together all the people of Israel, and they pitched on Gilboa. This time the Philistines did not invade the land of the Jews along a direct route - into its southern part, where they could immediately meet Saul’s army, but made a detour to the north and penetrated into the Ezdrilon valley, the most convenient for the action of their cavalry. Sonam is a city in the Ezdrilon Valley. Gelbui is a mountain south of Sonam. 1 Samuel 28:5. And Saul saw the camp of the Philistines and was afraid, and his heart trembled greatly. “His heart trembled strongly.” “This was no longer the same Saul who knew no fear in war and did not count the number of his enemies. Years, everyday troubles, illness and the consciousness of hidden discontent and distrust of his subjects broke his spirit, undermined his faith in himself” (Ya. Bogorodsky. “Jewish Tsars”, p. 118). 1 Samuel 28:7. Then Saul said to his servants, Find me a sorceress, and I will go to her and ask her. And his servants answered him: There is a sorceress woman here in Endor. “Find me a sorceress woman.” Wed. end of 1 Samuel 28:3. Obviously, magic was not previously pursued by Saul with complete conviction of its vanity; and, perhaps, not so much from religious motives as from fear of his spell against himself. Endor - north of Gilboa, between Gilboa and Tabor. 1 Samuel 28:9. But the woman answered him: you know what Saul did, how he drove the wizards and fortune-tellers out of the country; Why are you laying a net for my soul to destroy me? 1 Samuel 28:12. And the woman saw Samuel and cried out loudly; and the woman turned to Saul, saying, Why have you deceived me? you are Saul. Samuel's menacing, accusatory appearance told the woman that before her was none other than the prophet's implacable enemy - the Jewish king Saul. 1 Samuel 28:13. And the king said to her: Do not be afraid; [tell me] what do you see? And the woman answered: I see, as it were, a god emerging from the earth. 1 Samuel 28:14. What kind does he look like? – Saul asked her. She said: an elderly man comes out of the ground, dressed in long clothes. Then Saul knew that it was Samuel, and he fell face down to the ground and worshiped. Contrary to the expectations of the sorceress herself, not a ghostly, but a real miracle happened: God clothed Samuel’s disembodied soul with the likeness of a body in order to once again express to the apostate his unfailing will for him and his house (see Blessed Theodoret, commentary on 1 Samuel, issue 63). 1 Samuel 28:16. And Samuel said: Why do you ask me, when the Lord has departed from you and become your enemy? “He has become your enemy,” i.e. stopped being favorable to you. 1 Samuel 28:17. The Lord will do what he spoke through me; The Lord will take the kingdom out of your hands and give it to your neighbor, David. See 1 Samuel 13:8–14,15:1,16:1. 1 Samuel 28:18. Because you did not listen to the voice of the Lord and did not fulfill the fury of His anger against Amalek, the Lord is doing this to you today. You might be interested in: