1 Samuel 28:3-7

1 Samuel 28:3-7

[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.  [4] And the Philistines  gathered themselves together,  and came  and pitched  in Shunem:  and Saul  all Israel  together,  and they pitched  in Gilboa.  [5] And when Saul  saw  the host  of the Philistines,  he was afraid,  and his heart  greatly  trembled.  [6] And when Saul  enquired  of the LORD,  answered  him not, neither by dreams,  nor by Urim,  nor by prophets.  [7] Then said  Saul  unto his servants,  Seek  me a woman  that hath  a familiar spirit,  to her, and enquire  of her. And his servants  said  to him, Behold, there is a woman  that hath  a familiar spirit  at Endor. 

What does 1 Samuel 28:3-7 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

Samuel"s death and the mention of Saul"s commendable removal of mediums and spiritists prepare for what follows (cf. Leviticus 20:6; Deuteronomy 18:10-11). Mediums are people who communicate with the dead, and spiritists are those who communicate with evil spirits. The terms always go together in the Old Testament, indicating the close relationship that exists between these activities. The Mosaic Law prescribed death for mediums and spiritists because God promised to give His people all the information He wanted them to have about the future from prophets ( Deuteronomy 18). It was unwise, even dangerous and therefore forbidden, for them to seek more information from these other sources.
Shunem stood on the south side of the hill of Moreh, which occupied part of the eastern end of the Jezreel plain in Issachar"s territory. Gilboa lay opposite it farther south and was really the name of a mountain ridge. This was the same area where Gideon had routed the Midianites ( Judges 7). Endor ( 1 Samuel 28:7) stood on the north side of the hill of Moreh, on the other side from that on which the Philistines camped.
"The wording of this introduction ( 1 Samuel 28:4 f.) is notable, for it is strongly reminiscent of two other fateful confrontations between Saul and the Philistines, the first at Michmash/Gilgal ( 1 Samuel 13:5 f.), the second at Socoh/Elah ( 1 Samuel 17:1 f, 11)." [1]
Saul again feared the Philistines ( 1 Samuel 28:5). If this enemy succeeded, they would cut Israel in half geographically. God gave Saul no guidance in response to his prayers. Since Saul had refused to listen to God in the past (chs13,15), God now refused to listen to him (cf. 1 Samuel 28:18). He gave the king no revelation about how to proceed. Normally when people refuse to pay attention to the word of God, it becomes increasingly difficult for them to hear the word of God (cf. Jeremiah 7:13-16).
1 Samuel 28:6 says that God did not answer Saul by Urim. Abiathar, the priest, had taken the Urim and Thummim and joined David some time before this event ( 1 Samuel 22:20; 1 Samuel 23:6-12). So Saul did not have access to it now. Perhaps this verse means that even when Saul did have access to it God did not answer him. One writer suggested that Saul may have made a new Urim and Thummim, and that they are in view here. [2]
Saul then proceeded to try to obtain information about the future, specifically about his imminent encounter with the Philistines, from another supernatural source. Publicly Saul was against these diviners ( 1 Samuel 28:3), but privately he now sought one out. This is hypocrisy.
". . . Saul"s attempts at inquiry were of so unworthy a nature that it would be an abuse of language to speak of him as really "inquiring of Jehovah."" [3]