This verse illustrates the peril of seeking guidance outside of God’s design.
“The king said to her, ‘Do not be afraid; but what do you see?’ And the woman said to Saul, ‘I see a divine being coming up out of the earth.’” (v.13) takes place in the context of King Saul’s secret visit to a medium in En-dor. En-dor was a location in the region of northern Israel, near the Jezreel Valley, which lay in the territory of Manasseh. Saul, who reigned as the first king of Israel around 1050 - 1010 BC, had previously expelled all mediums from the land in obedience to God’s law but found himself desperate for guidance when God’s answers did not come through the appointed means (1 Samuel 28:6). Ironically, he now steps into a forbidden practice, seeking wisdom and reassurance in a way that directly violates God’s commands (Leviticus 19:31).
When Saul sees the woman react fearfully, he encourages her, saying, “Do not be afraid; but what do you see?” (v.13). This question reveals Saul’s eagerness and apprehension about determining what realm he has tapped into. The woman replies that she sees “a divine being coming up out of the earth” (v.13), which signifies that she perceives a supernatural figure—commonly understood to be the spirit of the prophet Samuel. The text underlines Saul’s desperation; even though he was the king chosen by God, he had drifted from the Lord’s instruction to such an extent that seeking help through a medium had become his last resort.
This account offers a profound lesson on obedience and trust in God. King Saul’s reliance on a forbidden practice to communicate with the divine stands in stark contrast to faith in God’s revealed word. Elsewhere in the Old Testament, the theme of calling upon God instead of seeking mediums is echoed, and in the New Testament, believers are taught to rely on God’s Spirit and the guidance of Christ, who is the ultimate mediator between God and humanity (1 Timothy 2:5). The note of tragedy is unavoidable here: Saul, who once was anointed by God, succumbed to fear and disobedience. Even though he was in En-dor, geographically near the heart of Israel’s promised land, his actions placed him spiritually distant from the Lord’s will.
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1 Samuel 28:13 meaning
“The king said to her, ‘Do not be afraid; but what do you see?’ And the woman said to Saul, ‘I see a divine being coming up out of the earth.’” (v.13) takes place in the context of King Saul’s secret visit to a medium in En-dor. En-dor was a location in the region of northern Israel, near the Jezreel Valley, which lay in the territory of Manasseh. Saul, who reigned as the first king of Israel around 1050 - 1010 BC, had previously expelled all mediums from the land in obedience to God’s law but found himself desperate for guidance when God’s answers did not come through the appointed means (1 Samuel 28:6). Ironically, he now steps into a forbidden practice, seeking wisdom and reassurance in a way that directly violates God’s commands (Leviticus 19:31).
When Saul sees the woman react fearfully, he encourages her, saying, “Do not be afraid; but what do you see?” (v.13). This question reveals Saul’s eagerness and apprehension about determining what realm he has tapped into. The woman replies that she sees “a divine being coming up out of the earth” (v.13), which signifies that she perceives a supernatural figure—commonly understood to be the spirit of the prophet Samuel. The text underlines Saul’s desperation; even though he was the king chosen by God, he had drifted from the Lord’s instruction to such an extent that seeking help through a medium had become his last resort.
This account offers a profound lesson on obedience and trust in God. King Saul’s reliance on a forbidden practice to communicate with the divine stands in stark contrast to faith in God’s revealed word. Elsewhere in the Old Testament, the theme of calling upon God instead of seeking mediums is echoed, and in the New Testament, believers are taught to rely on God’s Spirit and the guidance of Christ, who is the ultimate mediator between God and humanity (1 Timothy 2:5). The note of tragedy is unavoidable here: Saul, who once was anointed by God, succumbed to fear and disobedience. Even though he was in En-dor, geographically near the heart of Israel’s promised land, his actions placed him spiritually distant from the Lord’s will.