Matthew Poole and continuators on 1 Samuel 28

AND it came to pass in those days, that the Philistines gathered their armies together, for warfare to fight with Israel : And Achish said unto David, Know thou assuredly that thou shalt go out with me to battel , thou and thy men.

Encouraged thereunto by Samuel's death, and Saul's degeneration, and David's presence with him.

This he [illegible: 1+ letters]aith, partly, to try his Sincerity; and partly, in confidence of David's Fidelity.

2 And David said to Achish, Surely thou shalt know what thy servant can do . And Achish said to David, Therefore will I make thee keeper of mine head for ever.

He speaks ambiguously, as he did before, that Achish might understand him, as he did, of his acting for him against the Israelites; whereas he meant it of his acting for the Israelites against the Philistines, to which he was obliged both by Gods express command, and by his indelible and manifold Obligations to God, and to Gods People; and by his own manifest interest. Though it is likely he would have managed his Affais with all possible regard and care of Achish his person, to whom alone, upon the matter, David stood obliged, and not to the rest of the Philistines, who had an ill opinion of him, as we shall see.

For that Valour which I doubt not thou wiltst shew on my behalf.

i. e. Of my Body and Life, the Captain of my Life-Guard.

3 ¶ 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 .

This is mentioned here as the reason why Saul did not enquire of Samuel; which, if he had now been alive, he would have done.

Where he had his Birth and Education, and most settled Habitation, 1 Sam. 19. 18.

According to Gods command, Levit. 19. 31. and 20. 6, 27. Deut. 18. 11. This he did, either by Samuel's instigation: or from a conceit that the evil Spirit came upon him by some of their means: or, that he might gain the repute of a Religiou[illegible: 1+ letters] Prince, which was very useful to him: or, that he might quiet his troubled Conscience, and please God, as far as his Interest would give him leave. And this is here related, partly, to shew that an Hypocrite, and wicked Man, may obey some of Gods commands: and principally, to bring in the following History.

Of Israel.

Marginal references: Chap. 25. 1.

4 ¶ And the Philistines gathered themselves together, and came and pitched in Shunem : and Saul gathered all Israel together, and they pitched in Gilboa .

A Town in the Tribe of Issach[illegible: 1+ letters]r, Ios. 19. 18.

A Mountain not far from the Valley of Iezreel, where the Battel was fought, chap. 31. 1. 2 Sam. 1. 21. So the two Armies seem to be placed in the same manner as they were chap. 17. each upon an Hill, and a Vally between them.

5 And when Saul[illegible: 1+ letters]saw the host of the Philistines , he was afraid, and his heart greatly trembled .

From Mount Gilboa, chap. 31. 1.

Partly, from the greatness and resoluteness of the Host of the Philistines, who were the aggressors: partly, from the loss of David, who might have been of great use to him at this time: partly, from the Conscience of his own manifest Guilt, and just expectation of Divine vengeance oft threatned, and now in all likelihood to be inflicted upon him.

6 And when Saul enquired of the LORD , the LORD answered him not , neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by Prophets .

In his slight and perfunctory way, as chap. 14. 19. as appears from hence, that when God did not speedily answer him, he goes to the Devil for an answer, v. 7. For which reason he is said, not to have enquired of the Lord, 1 Chron. 10. 14. i. e. not seriously, and after the right order. Possibly he enquired by some Prophet then with him, or by the Priest before the Ark.

Because he sought him not in due order, not by the Urim and Thummim which were in the Ephod, which he by his cruelty to the Priests had lost, chap. 23. 6. and because he did not truly repent of, nor put away his sins, which provoked God, and kept him from answering; as Saul well knew by his own conscience and experience, chap. 14. 37, 38, 39.

i. e. Neither by ordinary means, nor extraordinary.

7 ¶ Then said Saul unto his servants, Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit , that I may go to her, and enqui[illegible: 1+ letters]e of her. And his servants said to him , Behold, there is a woman that hath a familiar spirit at Endor .

Rather than a man; for he thought that Sex most likely to be given to those wicked Arts, as being the weaker Sex, and so aptest to be deceived, and most prone to Superstition, and oft times most malicious and revengeful.

One that converseth with the Devil, and dead mens Ghosts, and by them can discover future things. See Isa. 8. 19.

Instead of dissuading him from this wicked and destructive practice, which they should and would have done, if they had either loved God or their King, they further him in it.

A place in the Tribe of Manasseh, within Iordan, not very far from the place where the Armies were encamped.

8 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.

Both because he was ashamed to be known, or thought guilty of this practice; and because he suspected that the Woman, had she known him, would not practice her Art before him.

9 And the woman said unto him, Behold, thou knowest what Saul hath done, how he hath cut off those that have familiar spirits, and the wizards out of the land: wherefore then layest thou a snare for my life, to cause me to die ?

For his Speech and Garb discovered him to be an Israelite, and therefore acquainted with these matters.

By accusing me to Saul as guilty of a capital crime.

11 Then said the woman, Whom shall I bring up unto thee? And he said, Bring me up Samuel .

Whose kindness and compassion to him, as he had formerly experienced, so now he expected it in his deep distress▪ This practice of divination by the dead, or by the Ghosts or Souls of dead Persons, called up by Magical Art, was very usual among all Nations, and from them Saul learned it.

12 And when the woman saw Samuel, she cryed with a loud voice : and the woman spake to Saul, saying, Why hast thou deceived me? for thou art Saul .

For fear of her life, Saul himself being Witness of her Crime.

This she knew, either by some Gesture of Reverence, which this supposed Samuel might shew to Saul, as to the King: or, by information from this Ghost, or from the Spirit by whose help she had raised him.

13 And the king said unto her, Be not asraid: for what sawest thou? And the woman said unto Saul, I saw gods ascending out of the earth .

i. e. A god, a Divine Person, Glorious, and full of Majesty and Splendor, exceeding not onely Mortal men, but common Ghosts. She useth the Plural Number, gods, either after the manner of the Hebrew Language, which commonly useth that word of one Person: or, after the Language and Custom of the Heathens. But the whole Coherence shows that it was but one. For Saul desired but one, v. 11. and he enquires, and the Woman answers onely of one, v. 14.

As if it came from the place of the dead.

Marginal references: Or, a god.

14 And he said unto her, What form is he of? And she said, An old man cometh up, and he is covered with a mantle . And Saul perceived that it was Samuel , and he stooped with his face to the ground, and bowed himself.

The usual Habit of Prophets, 2 King. 2. 8, 13. Zech. 13. 4. and particularly of Samuel, 1 Sam. 15. 27.

The Woman pretended, and Saul upon her Suggestion believed that it was Samuel indeed; And so many Popish, and some other Writers conceived. But that it was not Samuel, but the Devil representing Samuel, is sufficiently evident. For, First, It is most incredible, that God, who had just now refused to answer Saul by the means which himself appointed, and used in that case, would answer him, or suffer Samuel to answer him in that way, and upon the use of those means which God detested and contemned: which would have given great countenance and encouragement to Saul, and the Witch, and all Professors and Consulters of those Devillish Arts. Secondly, There are divers passages in this Relation which plainly discover that this was no good, but an evil Spirit: as first, That he receives that Worship from Saul, v. 14. which good Spirits would not suffer, Revel. 19. 10. and 22. 8, 9. Secondly, That amongst his other sins for which he condemneth him, he omitteth this of asking Counsel of one that had a familiar Spirit, to enquire of it; for which transgression, with others, he is expresly said to have died, 1 Chron. 10. 13. which the true Samuel, who was so Zealous for Gods Honour, and so Faithful a Reprover, would never have neglected, especially now, when he takes Saul in the very Fact. Thirdly, That he pretends himself to be disquieted and brought up, v. 15. by Saul's Instigation, and the Witches Art; which is most false, and impious, and absurd to imagine, concerning those Bles[illegible: 1+ letters]ed Souls who are returned to their God, Eccles. 12. 7. and entred into peace and rest, Isa. 57. 2. and lodged in Abraham's bosom, Luk. 16. 22. and rest from their labours, Revel. 14. 13. The onely Argument of any colour to the contrary, is onely this, That the Devil could not so particularly and punctually discover Saul's future Events, as this Samuel doth, v. 19. But this also hath little weight in it; it being confessed and notoriously known, that evil Spirits both in the Oracles of the Heathen, and otherwise, have oft-times foretold future contingencies; God being pleased to Reveal such things to them, and to permit them to be the Instruments of Revealing them to Men, for the trial of some, and for the terror and punishment of others. Besides, the Devil might foresee this by strong conjectures, as by the numerousness, strength, courage and resoluteness of the Philistine Host, and the quite contrary condition of the Israelites, and by divers other symptoms far above the reach of Mortal men, but such as he by his great Sagacity could easily discern. And for that express determination of the time, to morrow, v. 19. that word may be understood not of the very next day, but indefinitely of some short time after this, as it is taken, Exod. 13. 14. Deut. 6. 20. Ios. 4. 6, 21. And then it was easie to gather from the present posture of the two Armies, that the Fight and the Ruin of the Israelites was very near. And that it was not the very next day, but some days after this, is evident from the course of the Story, and hath been proved by a late Learned Writer. See my Latin Synopsis on this place.

Marginal references: Heb. what is his form?

15 ¶ And Samuel said to Saul, Why hast thou disquieted me to bring me up ? And Saul answered, I am fore 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.

As the Devil appeared in Samuel's Shape and Garb, so also he speaketh in his Petson, that he might [illegible: 1 word] Saul, and encourage others to seek to him in this wicked way. And God permits him to do so for Saul's greater condemnation and punishment.

He omitteth the U[illegible: 1+ letters]im here, because he neither did nor could enquire by that, because Abiathar had carried it away to David, and so he expected no answer that way.

Marginal references: Heb. by the hand of prophets.

17 And the LORD hath done to him , as he spake by † me : for the LORD hath rent the kingdom out of th[illegible: 1+ letters]ne hand, and given it to thy neighbour, even to David:

i. e. To David, as it is explained in the following words. The Pronoun Relative put before the Noun to which it belongs, as is usual in the Hebrew Text, as Psal. 87. 1. and 105. 19. Prov. 7. 7, 8. Ier. 40. 5. Otherwise, to him, is put for, to thee; such changes of Persons being frequent among the Hebrews. Otherwise, for himself, i. e. for the accomplishment of his Counsel, and Prediction, and Oath, and for the Glory of his Justice and Holiness.

Still he nourisheth this persuasion in Saul, that it was the true Samuel that spake to him.

Marginal references: Or, [illegible: 1 word] himself.; Chap. 1[illegible: 1+ letters].; ‡ Heb. [illegible: 1 word] hand.

18 Because thou obeyedst not the voice of the LORD, nor executedst his fierce wrath upon Amalek , therefore hath the LORD done this thing unto thee this day.

He mentions this as an eminent instance of his disobedience.

Marginal references: Chap. [illegible: 1 word]

19 Moreover, the LORD will also deliver Israel with thee, into the hand of the Philistines: and to morrow shalt thou and thy sons be with me : the LORD also shall deliver the host of Israel into the hand of the Philistines.

i. e. In the state of the dead; and so it was true both of Saul and Ionathan. Or, in the state of rest: for though thou shalt suffer here for thy sin, yet after death thou shalt be happy, as dying in the Lords quarrel: So the Devils design might be to flatter Saul into an opinion of his own future happiness, and to take him off from all serious thoughts and cares about it. And it is here observable, That as it was the manner of the Heathen Oracles to answer ambiguously, the better to save his credit in case of mistake, (the Devil himself not being certain of future events, but onely conjecturing at what was most likely): so doth this counterfeit Samuel here. For, as concerning the time, he says to morrow: which he understood indifferently for the very next day, or for some short time after. And, as concerning the condition, thou shalt be with me; which may be understood either of a good condition, if understood as spoken in the Person of Samuel; or, of a bad condition, if understood as spoken by an evil Spirit; or, at least indefinitely of a dead condition, be it good or evil: which last he foresaw by circumstances to be very likely.

Marginal references: Chap. [illegible: 1 word].

20 Then Saul fell straightway all along on the earth , and was sore afraid, because of the words of Samuel, and there was no strength in him: for he had eaten no bread all the day, nor all the night.

Being quite dis-spirited with these sad and surprizing tidings, and so unable to stand.

Marginal references: Heb. [illegible: 1 word] haste and i[illegible: 1+ letters] with the [illegible: 1 word] ness of his sta[illegible: 1+ letters]ure.

21 ¶ And the woman came unto Saul , and saw that he was sore troubled, and said unto him, Behold, thine handmaid hath obeyed thy voice, and I have put my life in my hand, and have hearkened unto thy words which thou spakest unto me.

From whom she departed, when she had brought him and Samuel together, that they might more freely converse together, as being alone.

22 Now therefore, I pray thee, hearken thou also unto the voice of thine hand-maid , and let me set a morsel of bread before thee; and eat, that thou mayest have strength when thou goest on thy way.

This earnestness did not come mecrly from her humanity and respect to Saul, but from a prudent and necessary care of her self, because if Saul had died in her House, his Blood would have been charged upon her.

23 But he refused, and said I will not eat. But his servants, together with the woman, compelled him , and he hearkened unto their voice: so [illegible: 1+ letters]e arose from the earth, and sate upon the bed.

i. e. Did over-persuade him, by importunate int[illegible: 1+ letters] [illegible: 1 word], as the next words shew.

24 And the woman had a fat calf in the house, and she has[illegible: 1+ letters]ed, and killed it, and took flour, and kneaded [illegible: 1+ letters], and did bake unleavened bread thereof.

Not having time to Leaven it.

25 And she brought it before Saul, and before his servants, and they did eat: then they rose up, and went away that night .

i. e. Before Morning. For he came by Night, v. 8. and went away before Day; not willing to have it discovered that he had consulted with a Witch.