1 Samuel 28:20
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
What's really striking here is that Saul's "fear" isn't just being spooked; it's a profound, paralyzing dread that knocks him flat. This isn't just about the prophet Samuel's words, but about the terrifying reality of God's judgment they represented, a weight so heavy it physically broke him.
Then Saul fell at once full length on 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.
English Standard Version (ESV)
King Saul, desperate and terrified, has just consulted a medium at En-dor, against God's commands, to summon the prophet Samuel's spirit. Samuel's apparition confronts Saul with the devastating news that God has abandoned him and that he and his sons will die in the coming battle. This direct pronouncement crushes Saul, leaving him physically and emotionally broken.
When you're cornered and terrified, who do you turn to? Saul sought counsel from the dead, and the 'answer' he received shattered him.
Saul's desperate act of consulting the medium at Endor was a direct defiance of God's commands. The 'spirit' that appeared as Samuel didn't offer hope or a way out, but a terrifying prophecy of doom. This highlights a crucial truth: seeking guidance from sources outside of God, especially those that claim to offer forbidden knowledge, will ultimately lead to fear and destruction, not wisdom.
Imagine desperately needing an answer from God, only to be met with silence. Saul's situation reveals the devastating consequences of persistent rebellion.
The narrative leading up to this moment emphasizes that God had already withdrawn His direct communication from Saul. Saul had repeatedly ignored God's commands and rejected His Spirit. In 1 Samuel 28:6, it explicitly states, 'Saul inquired of the Lord, but the Lord did not answer him, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets.'
Ask a follow-up
Understand the original words
yare · Hebrew Noun/Verb
A profound emotion characterized by trembling or distress. In the presence of God or divine judgment, it is the natural human reaction to realizing one's own vulnerability, sinfulness, and impending accountability before the Almighty.
Saul's desperate act of consulting a medium, a practice strictly forbidden by God's law, highlights his profound spiritual decay and the terrifying consequences of rejecting divine guidance.
c. 1075 BC
Samuel's Ministry Begins
Samuel, the prophet and last judge of Israel, begins his significant ministry, guiding the nation through a tumultuous period and eventually anointing its first kings.
c. 1050 BC
Saul Anointed King
Saul, from the tribe of Benjamin, is chosen and anointed by Samuel as the first king of Israel, marking a major shift in the nation's governance.
c. 1015 BC
Saul Disobeys God's Command
Saul repeatedly disobeys direct commands from God through Samuel, notably failing to utterly destroy the Amalekites, which leads to God rejecting him as king.
c. 1015 BC
God Rejects Saul as King
Following Saul's persistent disobedience, Samuel declares that God has rejected Saul from being king over Israel, and a new king, David, will be chosen.
c. 1010 BC
David is Anointed King
While Saul is still king, the prophet Samuel secretly anoints David, the youngest son of Jesse, as the future king of Israel, setting up future conflict.
c. 1010 BC— this verse
Saul Seeks a Medium
Facing the overwhelming might of the Philistine army and feeling abandoned by God, Saul, in his desperation, seeks out the Witch of Endor to summon the spirit of the deceased prophet Samuel.
c. 1010 BC
Philistine Army Gathers
The Philistines assemble their vast army for battle against Israel, a confrontation that Saul knows is likely his last and one that will determine the fate of his kingdom.
This passage shows a similar spiritual rebellion and its consequence, framing Saul's actions as a rejection of God's command, which directly leads to his downfall and the loss of his kingdom.
Ecclesiastes 9:3This verse reflects on the pervasive nature of evil and despair in the world, mirroring the deep fear and hopelessness that has consumed Saul in his final moments.
Isaiah 8:19This passage warns against seeking guidance from mediums and spirits instead of God, which is precisely what Saul did, highlighting the dangerous path he chose and the resulting terror.
Galatians 6:7This verse expresses the principle of reaping what you sow, illustrating how Saul's continuous disobedience and manipulation ultimately led to the devastating consequences he faced.
What's really striking here is that Saul's "fear" isn't just being spooked; it's a profound, paralyzing dread that knocks him flat. This isn't just about the prophet Samuel's words, but about the terrifying reality of God's judgment they represented, a weight so heavy it physically broke him.
King Saul, desperate and terrified, has just consulted a medium at En-dor, against God's commands, to summon the prophet Samuel's spirit. Samuel's apparition confronts Saul with the devastating news that God has abandoned him and that he and his sons will die in the coming battle. This direct pronouncement crushes Saul, leaving him physically and emotionally broken.
King Saul, desperate and terrified, has just consulted a medium at En-dor, against God's commands, to summon the prophet Samuel's spirit. Samuel's apparition confronts Saul with the devastating news that God has abandoned him and that he and his sons will die in the coming battle. This direct pronouncement crushes Saul, leaving him physically and emotionally broken.
"Then Saul fell at once full length on 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." — What's really striking here is that Saul's "fear" isn't just being spooked; it's a profound, paralyzing dread that knocks him flat. This isn't just about the prophet Samuel's words, but about the t…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026
