The woman said to him, “Surely you know what Saul has done, how he has cut off the mediums and the necromancers from the land. Why then are you laying a trap for my life to bring about my death?”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Saul's demand for forbidden magic, after he himself had outlawed it, reveals a desperate hypocrisy. He’s not just seeking answers; he’s forcing this woman into a dangerous position, making her complicit in the very thing he claimed to eradicate.
The woman said to him, “Surely you know what Saul has done, how he has cut off the mediums and the necromancers from the land. Why then are you laying a trap for my life to bring about my death?”
English Standard Version (ESV)
King Saul, desperate because God won't answer him, has disguised himself and gone to a woman who claims to commune with the dead, even though he himself had previously outlawed such practices. This woman, recognizing Saul despite his disguise, fears he's setting her up to be executed for her forbidden craft, a fear heightened by Saul's own decrees. She’s terrified because Saul’s actions in the preceding verses reveal his deep desperation and willingness to break his own laws in his pursuit of guidance.
King Saul was in a tight spot, facing a massive army. But his actions against spiritual mediums were well-known. What does his presence here reveal about his state of mind?
Saul's Crisis and Contradiction
Saul was in deep trouble. The Philistines were massing for battle, and he was utterly alone, feeling abandoned by God. In his desperation, he does something that directly contradicts his own laws:
The woman herself points out the severity of Saul's ban. What does this tell us about the spiritual reality and God's perspective on consulting mediums?
God's Clear Command
This encounter isn't just about a king in a bind; it's about the stark reality of God's commands regarding the spiritual realm.
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Understand the original words
yidde'onim · Hebrew Noun
Those who consult the spirits of the dead, a practice condemned in Scripture as defiling and a turning away from the living God.
Saul's desperate attempt to consult a medium, after he himself had outlawed such practices, highlights his increasing paranoia and spiritual decline as his kingdom crumbles around him.
c. 1070 BC
Saul Anointed King
Samuel anoints Saul as the first king of Israel, marking a significant shift from the era of the judges to a monarchy.
c. 1050 BC
Saul's Early Reign and Philistine Conflicts
Saul's reign is marked by constant warfare, particularly against the Philistines, who pose a major threat to Israel's stability.
Unknown, during Saul's reign— this verse
Saul Bans Spiritists and Diviners
Saul, either out of religious conviction or political expediency, purges the land of mediums and necromancers, viewing their practices as an affront to God.
c. 1010 BC
Battle of Mount Gilboa
The Philistines decisively defeat the Israelites, leading to the deaths of Saul and his sons. This battle represents the culmination of Saul's struggles.
This passage directly prohibits consulting mediums and necromancers, showing that Saul's actions were in line with God's commands, making his later desperation even more tragic.
Deuteronomy 18:10-12This scripture explicitly lists the forbidden practices Saul outlawed, reinforcing that seeking guidance from the dead or through sorcery was an abomination to the Lord.
1 Samuel 15:23This verse describes Saul's rebellion as akin to the sin of witchcraft, highlighting a pattern of disobedience that likely contributed to his spiritual and emotional downfall.
1 Chronicles 10:13-14This parallel account emphasizes that Saul's death was a direct consequence of his unfaithfulness to God and his seeking of supernatural counsel from a medium, fulfilling the prophecy in 1 Samuel 28:9.
Saul's demand for forbidden magic, after he himself had outlawed it, reveals a desperate hypocrisy. He’s not just seeking answers; he’s forcing this woman into a dangerous position, making her complicit in the very thing he claimed to eradicate.
King Saul, desperate because God won't answer him, has disguised himself and gone to a woman who claims to commune with the dead, even though he himself had previously outlawed such practices. This woman, recognizing Saul despite his disguise, fears he's setting her up to be executed for her forbidden craft, a fear heightened by Saul's own decrees. She’s terrified because Saul’s actions in the preceding verses reveal his deep desperation and willingness to break his own laws in his pursuit of guidance.
King Saul, desperate because God won't answer him, has disguised himself and gone to a woman who claims to commune with the dead, even though he himself had previously outlawed such practices. This woman, recognizing Saul despite his disguise, fears he's setting her up to be executed for her forbidden craft, a fear heightened by Saul's own decrees. She’s terrified because Saul’s actions in the preceding verses reveal his deep desperation and willingness to break his own laws in his pursuit of guidance.
"The woman said to him, “Surely you know what Saul has done, how he has cut off the mediums and the necromancers from the land. Why then are you laying a trap for my life to bring about my death?”" — Saul's demand for forbidden magic, after he himself had outlawed it, reveals a desperate hypocrisy. He’s not just seeking answers; he’s forcing this woman into a dangerous position, making her compli…
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Last reviewed October 2026