Year of the Bible
1 Samuel 28
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Commentary on the First Book of Samuel, Chapter 28:
David’s lies catch up to him when King Achish decides to launch an attack against Israel and use David as his bodyguard. We do not learn the ramifications of this yet, for our narrator moves to King Saul’s efforts in planning for this upcoming battle. Earlier Saul had removed all mediums and wizards from Israel in accordance with God’s Law. Now, when he seeks guidance and does not hear from God, he chooses to have a séance, thus breaking the Law he earlier had upheld! He asks a medium to conjure up Samuel, and while we do not know why Samuel would appear, the dead prophet’s words speak volumes. He reminds Saul that Saul got himself into this mess by rejecting God. He also explains that, in this upcoming battle, God will fulfill the words Samuel had previously spoken regarding how the kingdom would be torn from Saul’s family (15:28).
The First Book of Samuel, Chapter 28:
1 In those days the Philistines gathered their forces for war, to fight against Israel. And Achish said to David, “Understand that you and your men are to go out with me in the army.” 2 David said to Achish, “Very well, you shall know what your servant can do.” And Achish said to David, “Very well, I will make you my bodyguard for life.”
Saul Consults a Medium at Endor
3 Now Samuel had died, and all Israel had mourned for him and buried him in Ramah, his own city. And Saul had put the mediums and the wizards out of the land. 4 The Philistines assembled, and came and encamped at Shunem; and Saul gathered all Israel, and they encamped at Gilboa. 5 When Saul saw the army of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart trembled greatly. 6 And when Saul inquired of the Lord, the Lord did not answer him, either by dreams, or by Urim, or by prophets. 7 Then Saul said to his servants, “Seek out 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 medium at Endor.”
8 So Saul disguised himself and put on other garments, and went, he and two men with him; and they came to the woman by night. And he said, “Divine for me by a spirit, and bring up for me whomever I shall name to you.” 9 The woman said to him, “Surely you know what Saul has done, how he has cut off the mediums and the wizards from the land. Why then are you laying a snare for my life to bring about my death?” 10 But Saul swore to her by the Lord, “As the Lord lives, no punishment shall come upon you for this thing.” 11 Then the woman said, “Whom shall I bring up for you?” He said, “Bring up Samuel for me.” 12 When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out with a loud voice; and the woman said to Saul, “Why have you deceived me? You are Saul.”
13 The king said to her, “Have no fear; what do you see?” And the woman said to Saul, “I see a god coming up out of the earth.” 14 He said to her, “What is his appearance?” And she said, “An old man is coming up; and he is wrapped in a robe.” And Saul knew that it was Samuel, and he bowed with his face to the ground, and did obeisance.
15 Then Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?” Saul answered, “I am in great distress; for the Philistines are warring against me, and God has turned away from me and answers me no more, either by prophets or by dreams; therefore I have summoned you to tell me what I shall do.” 16 And Samuel said, “Why then do you ask me, since the Lord has turned from you and become your enemy? 17 The Lord has done to you as he spoke by me; for the Lord has torn the kingdom out of your hand, and given it to your neighbor, David. 18 Because you did not obey the voice of the Lord, and did not carry out his fierce wrath against Amalek, therefore the Lord has done this thing to you this day. 19 Moreover the Lord will give Israel also with you into the hand of the Philistines; and tomorrow you and your sons shall be with me; the Lord will give the army of Israel also into the hand of the Philistines.”
20 Then Saul fell at once full length upon the ground, filled with fear because of the words of Samuel; and there was no strength in him, for he had eaten nothing all day and all night. 21 And the woman came to Saul, and when she saw that he was terrified, she said to him, “Behold, your handmaid has listened to you; I have taken my life in my hand, and have listened to what you have said to me. 22 Now therefore, you also listen to your handmaid; let me set a morsel of bread before you; and eat, that you may have strength when you go on your way.” 23 He refused, and said, “I will not eat.” But his servants, together with the woman, urged him; and he listened to their words. So he arose from the earth, and sat upon the bed. 24 Now the woman had a fatted calf in the house, and she quickly killed it, and she took flour, and kneaded it and baked unleavened bread of it, 25 and she put it before Saul and his servants; and they ate. Then they rose and went away that night.
*Daily Lectio Divina Question:
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Revised Standard Version; Second Catholic Edition. (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2006).
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1 Por aquellos días reunieron los
filisteos sus tropas para hacer la
guerra contra Israel. Aquis dijo a David:
–Te hago saber que habrás de salir
conmigo a la batalla, tú y tus hombres.
2 Dijo David a Aquis
–Bien; vas a saber lo que ha de hacer
tu servidor.
Aquis respondió:
–Por eso te pongo entre mi guardia
personal para siempre.
3 Samuel había muerto, le había llorado
todo Israel y le habían sepultado
en Ramá, su ciudad. Saúl, por otra parte,
había expulsado del país a nigromantes
y adivinos.
4 Los filisteos se reunieron y vinieron
a acampar en Sunem. Saúl reunió
también a todo Israel y acamparon en
Guilboá. 5 Cuando Saúl vio el campamento
de los filisteos tuvo miedo y tembló
mucho su corazón. 6 Consultó al Señor,
pero el Señor no le contestó ni por
sueños, ni por urim, ni por los profetas.
7 Entonces dijo a sus siervos:
–Buscadme una mujer nigromante
para ir a consultarla.
Le contestaron sus siervos:
–Hay una mujer nigromante en Endor.
8 Se disfrazó Saúl con otras vestiduras
y se encaminó con dos de sus hombres
llegando donde la mujer cuando ya
era de noche. Y le dijo:
–Hazme un rito de adivinación evocando
a un muerto y haz que aparezca
el que yo te diga.
9 La mujer le dijo:
–Tú sabes lo que ha hecho Saúl, que
ha expulsado del país a nigromantes y
adivinos. ¿Por qué me tiendes una trampa
que pueda ocasionarme la muerte?
10 Pero Saúl le juró por el Señor diciendo:
–Por vida del Señor, que no te sobrevendrá
ningún castigo por esto.
11 Le dijo la mujer:
–¿A quién quieres que te evoque?
Y él le respondió:
–Evócame a Samuel.
12 Al ver a Samuel, la mujer dio un
grito diciendo a Saúl:
–¿Por qué me has engañado? Tú eres
Saúl.
13 El rey le respondió:
–No temas. ¿Qué has visto?
La mujer respondió:
–Veo un espíritu que asciende desde
el fondo de la tierra.
14 Saúl le preguntó:
–¿Qué aspecto tiene?
Ella le dijo:
–Como un anciano que asciende
envuelto en su manto.
Comprendió Saúl que era Samuel y,
rostro en tierra, se postró ante él.
15 Samuel dijo a Saúl:
–¿Por qué me has perturbado, evocándome?
Respondió Saúl:
–Estoy muy angustiado. Los filisteos
están en guerra contra mí, y Dios
se ha alejado de mí: no me responde ni
por los profetas, ni en sueños. Por eso te
he invocado para que me indiques qué
debo hacer.
16 Samuel dijo:
–¿Por qué me consultas a mí, si Dios
se ha alejado de ti y se ha enemistado
contigo? 17 El Señor ha cumplido lo
que había dicho por mediación mía: ha
arrancado de tus manos el reino y se lo
ha dado a David, tu prójimo, 18 porque
no escuchaste la voz del Señor y no llevaste
a cabo el ardor de su condena contra
Amalec. Por eso, el Señor cumple
contigo este castigo. 19 El Señor te entregará
a ti y a los israelitas en manos de
los filisteos. Mañana tú y tus hijos estaréis
conmigo y, además, el Señor entregará
al ejército de Israel en manos de los
filisteos.
20 Inmediatamente Saúl cayó en tierra
desmayado: estaba lleno de temor
ante las palabras de Samuel y le faltaban
las fuerzas porque no había tomado alimento
en todo el día y toda la noche.
21 La mujer se acercó a Saúl y, al verlo tan
turbado, le dijo:
–Mira, tu sierva ha escuchado tu
voz y he puesto en peligro mi vida por
atender las órdenes que me diste. 22 Ahora,
pues, escucha tú la voz de tu sierva:
voy a servirte algo de alimento; debes
comer y reponerte para que puedas emprender
el camino.
23 Pero Saúl se negó diciendo:
–No comeré.
Le insistieron sus servidores y la
mujer. Por fin accedió, se levantó del
suelo y se sentó. 24 La mujer tenía en casa
un ternero cebado; rápidamente lo sacrificó
y, luego, amasó un poco de harina
y preparó unos panes ácimos. 25 Los
sirvió a Saúl y a sus servidores. Éstos
comieron, se levantaron y se marcharon
aquella misma noche.
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