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 necromancers out of the land.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Saul's decree to expel mediums and necromancers, right after lamenting Samuel's death, reveals a desperate attempt to regain divine favor and control. It’s not just about obeying God, but a politically charged move to assert his authority and align himself with spiritual purity after a period of deep loss and spiritual isolation.
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 necromancers out of the land.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Saul is in a desperate situation, facing a massive Philistine army, and he's just removed all the spiritual counselors from his kingdom. Having lost connection with God through his disobedience, Saul finds himself utterly alone and terrified, with no clear guidance or hope in sight. This sets the stage for his desperate, forbidden act of seeking out the medium at Endor.
Saul once obeyed God's command to ban all spirit mediums. But now, in his darkest hour, he's desperately seeking forbidden counsel. What does this say about human nature when we face crisis?
Saul's About-Face
It's striking that Saul himself was the one who had previously driven out all the mediums and spiritists from Israel. This wasn't a minor detail; it was a direct obedience to God's command (Deuteronomy 18:10-12).
Samuel, the prophet who guided Israel, is gone. Saul feels cut off from divine guidance. What does this silence mean for a leader, and how should we respond when we can’t sense God’s presence?
The Weight of Prophetic Absence
Samuel was more than just a prophet; he was the spiritual and often political linchpin for Israel, especially for Saul. His death leaves a massive void.
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Understand the original words
shemu'el · Hebrew Proper Noun
The last judge of Israel and a significant prophet who anointed the first two kings of Israel; he represents the prophetic voice that mediates God's word to the people and the monarchy.
ob · Hebrew Noun
Individuals who claim to consult spirits of the dead, usually to obtain information or predict the future; the Bible strictly prohibits this practice as it is an attempt to bypass God's sovereign authority.
yidde'oni · Hebrew Noun
Practitioners of magic or divination who claim to communicate with the deceased; their practices are condemned in Scripture as rebellion against the Lord and participation in forbidden occult activities.
Saul's desperate attempt to consult the dead prophet Samuel reveals his deep spiritual decline. Despite previously outlawing such practices, his fear and rejection by God drive him to the very forbidden acts he once condemned.
c. 1015 BC— this verse
Death of Samuel
The prophet Samuel, who served as Israel's last judge and a key figure in establishing the monarchy, dies. His death leaves a spiritual and political vacuum in Israel.
c. 1025-1015 BC
Saul's Reign and Growing Rejection
Saul's kingship is marked by increasing disobedience to God and conflict with the Philistines. His rejection by God paves the way for David's anointing.
During Saul's Reign
Saul Expels Mediums and Necromancers
In an attempt to purify Israel and perhaps appear righteous before the people, Saul banishes those who practice divination and consult the dead. This action, recorded in the Torah, makes his later seeking of a medium deeply hypocritical.
c. 1010 BC
Battle of Mount Gilboa
The Philistines launch a major invasion, culminating in a decisive battle where Saul and his sons are killed. This battle is the immediate backdrop for Saul's desperate act at Endor.
This passage directly forbids consulting mediums and spirits, highlighting the deep-seated prohibition Saul is trying to enforce after his initial failure.
Deuteronomy 18:10-12These verses further detail the abominations God finds in those who practice divination and sorcery, reinforcing why Saul's earlier actions to remove such people were aligned with God's commands, though his later actions contradict this.
1 Samuel 15:23This verse shows Saul's earlier rebellion against God's direct commands, foreshadowing his desperation and willingness to break his own laws when facing defeat.
Isaiah 8:19This prophetic passage condemns seeking guidance from the dead instead of the living God, directly paralleling Saul's disastrous choice to consult Samuel's spirit.
Saul's decree to expel mediums and necromancers, right after lamenting Samuel's death, reveals a desperate attempt to regain divine favor and control. It’s not just about obeying God, but a politically charged move to assert his authority and align himself with spiritual purity after a period of deep loss and spiritual isolation.
Saul is in a desperate situation, facing a massive Philistine army, and he's just removed all the spiritual counselors from his kingdom. Having lost connection with God through his disobedience, Saul finds himself utterly alone and terrified, with no clear guidance or hope in sight. This sets the stage for his desperate, forbidden act of seeking out the medium at Endor.
Saul is in a desperate situation, facing a massive Philistine army, and he's just removed all the spiritual counselors from his kingdom. Having lost connection with God through his disobedience, Saul finds himself utterly alone and terrified, with no clear guidance or hope in sight. This sets the stage for his desperate, forbidden act of seeking out the medium at Endor.
"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 necromancers out of the land." — Saul's decree to expel mediums and necromancers, right after lamenting Samuel's death, reveals a desperate attempt to regain divine favor and control. It’s not just about obeying God, but a political…
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Last reviewed October 2026