1 Samuel 28:13
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Saul's command "Do not be afraid" is surprisingly tender, considering he's threatening to execute her for witchcraft. What’s more, his question "What do you see?" isn't just curiosity; it’s a desperate plea from a king abandoned by God, grasping at any shred of supernatural hope, even from forbidden sources.
The king said to her, “Do not be afraid. What do you see?” And the woman said to Saul, “I see a god coming up out of the earth.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
King Saul, desperate and abandoned by God, has sought out a medium in Endor to consult with the dead. He’s in a terrifying situation, having been rejected by the Lord after his disobedience. This encounter with the medium, immediately before the Philistines attack and he faces his final defeat, shows the depths of his despair and his misguided attempts to find answers outside of God’s will.
Saul, facing overwhelming opposition and abandoned by God, turns to a forbidden source of counsel. What does this desperate plea reveal about his heart and his relationship with the divine?
The King's Fearful Command
In 1 Samuel 28, King Saul is in a dire situation. The Philistines are arrayed against him, and he's terrified because God is silent. In his fear, he makes a radical decision: to consult a medium, a practice strictly forbidden by God's Law.
The medium, terrified by Saul's presence, encounters something unexpected. What does her terrified description of a 'god coming up out of the earth' tell us about the reality of the spiritual world?
A Glimpse of the Spirit Realm
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The medium's terrified response reveals the unsettling nature of the spiritual realm, especially when invoked outside of God's will.
Understand the original words
elohim · Hebrew Noun
A term used in the Old Testament to describe supernatural beings or powerful entities. In this context, it reflects the medium's perception of an otherworldly visitor rising from the grave.
Saul's desperate act of consulting a medium, forbidden by God's law, occurs at a moment of immense military and spiritual crisis, highlighting his rejection and deep fear as the Philistines prepare to crush Israel.
c. 1050 BC
Saul Anointed King
Samuel, the prophet, anoints Saul as the first king of Israel, marking a significant shift from the period of Judges to monarchy.
c. 1010 BC
David's Rise and Saul's Paranoia
David gains popularity as a warrior, particularly after defeating Goliath, leading to King Saul's intense jealousy and persecution of David.
c. 1010 BC
Saul's Rejection by God
Saul disobeys God's direct command through Samuel, leading to God rejecting him as king. This spiritual crisis intensifies Saul's desperation.
c. 1010 BC— this verse
Philistines Muster for War
The Philistines gather a massive army at Shunem, posing an existential threat to Israel and forcing Saul to assemble his own forces at Gilboa.
c. 1010 BC
Saul Seeks a Medium at Endor
Desperate and terrified by the Philistine army and feeling abandoned by God, Saul seeks out a medium (a witch) to commune with the dead, an act explicitly forbidden by Israelite law.
c. 1010 BC
Battle of Mount Gilboa
The ensuing battle results in a devastating defeat for Israel, the deaths of Saul's sons, and Saul's own suicide, effectively ending his reign.
This passage directly prohibits the kind of sorcery and mediumship Saul is engaging in, highlighting the spiritual danger and disobedience in his actions.
1 Samuel 15:23This verse describes Saul's previous rejection by God due to disobedience, which directly foreshadows and explains his desperate, unlawful act of seeking counsel from a medium.
1 Corinthians 10:20Paul warns against sacrificing to demons, which illuminates the true nature of what Saul is encountering: not a departed spirit, but a demonic entity masquerading as one.
Isaiah 8:19This prophetic warning echoes the folly of seeking guidance from the dead or spirits instead of consulting God, showing this was a recurring problem and a path of destruction.
Saul's command "Do not be afraid" is surprisingly tender, considering he's threatening to execute her for witchcraft. What’s more, his question "What do you see?" isn't just curiosity; it’s a desperate plea from a king abandoned by God, grasping at any shred of supernatural hope, even from forbidden sources.
King Saul, desperate and abandoned by God, has sought out a medium in Endor to consult with the dead. He’s in a terrifying situation, having been rejected by the Lord after his disobedience. This encounter with the medium, immediately before the Philistines attack and he faces his final defeat, shows the depths of his despair and his misguided attempts to find answers outside of God’s will.
King Saul, desperate and abandoned by God, has sought out a medium in Endor to consult with the dead. He’s in a terrifying situation, having been rejected by the Lord after his disobedience. This encounter with the medium, immediately before the Philistines attack and he faces his final defeat, shows the depths of his despair and his misguided attempts to find answers outside of God’s will.
"The king said to her, “Do not be afraid. What do you see?” And the woman said to Saul, “I see a god coming up out of the earth.”" — Saul's command "Do not be afraid" is surprisingly tender, considering he's threatening to execute her for witchcraft. What’s more, his question "What do you see?" isn't just curiosity; it’s a despera…
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Last reviewed October 2026
