Achish intending war against Israel, relieth on David, 1, 2. Saul having destroyed the witches, yet, Samuel being dead, in his fear, forsaken of God, seeketh to a witch, 3-8. She, encouraged by Saul, raiseth Samuel; of whom hearing his approaching ruin, he fainteth, 9-20. The woman, with his servants, refresh him with meat, 21-25.
Matthew Henry: 'Samuel, who was lately dead, is the person whom Saul desired to have some talk with; and the witch, with her enchantments, gratifies his desire, and brings them together. 1. As soon as Saul had given the witch the assurance she desired (that he would not discover her) she applied to her witchcrafts, and asked very confidently, Whom shall I bring up to thee? 1 Samuel 28:11. Note, Hopes of impunity embolden sinners in their evil ways and harden their hearts. 2. Saul desires to speak with Samuel: Bring me up Samuel. Samuel had anointed him to the kingdom and had formerly been his faithful friend and counsellor, and therefore with him he wished to advise. While Samue…
Thomas Boston's "The World to Come": 'Having evinced the being of another world, a world to come, we shall now essay to give some view of that world. And here we are much in the dark, knowing but very little of the subject; and therefore, it is a very scanty view we can pretend to give of it. The reasons hereof are,
1. We are, while in this body, creatures of sense, and much of the knowledge we have arises from our senses; but thither our senses cannot reach. We see, and hear, and feel much of this world lying in wickedness, whereby we are in a capacity to judge thereof; but in respect of these our senses, and all…
Thomas Boston's Doctrines of the Christian Religion: 'The discontented being angry with God, they are in a fair way to be a prey to Satan. Thus Saul, in a fit of discontent, went to the witch at Endor, 1 Samuel 28. The discontented heart is a drumly heart, and it is in such waters that Satan loves to fish. And here is his hook wherewith he catches them; he proffers to do that for them, or give that to them, which God will not. And they being intent upon it, so that they cannot be easy without it, are easily ensnared. Whereof the world has afforded many miserable instances.'
Matthew Henry: 'Preparations are herein making for that war which will put an end to the life and reign of Saul, and so make way for David to the throne. In this war, I. The Philistines are the aggressors and Achish their king makes David his confidant, verses 1-2. II. The Israelites prepare to receive them, and Saul their king makes the devil his privy-counsellor, and thereby fills the measure of his iniquity. Observe, 1. The despairing condition which Saul was in, verses 3-6. 2. The application he made to a witch, to bring him up Samuel, verses 7-14. 3. His discourse with the apparition, verses 15-19. The damp it struck upon him, verses 20-25.'
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