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Selected Verse: 1 Samuel 28:7 - Strong Concordance
Verse |
Translation |
Text |
1Sa 28:7 |
Strong Concordance |
Then said [0559] Saul [07586] unto his servants [05650], Seek [01245] me a woman [0802] that hath [01172] a familiar spirit [0178], that I may go [03212] to her, and enquire [01875] of her. And his servants [05650] said [0559] to him, Behold, there is a woman [0802] that hath [01172] a familiar spirit [0178] at Endor [05874]. |
|
King James |
Then said Saul unto his servants, Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and enquire of her. And his servants said to him, Behold, there is a woman that hath a familiar spirit at Endor. |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] |
SAUL SEEKS A WITCH, WHO, BEING ENCOURAGED BY HIM, RAISES UP SAMUEL. (1Sa. 28:7-25)
Then said Saul unto his servants, Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit--From the energetic measures which he himself had taken for extirpating the dealers in magical arts (the profession having been declared a capital offense), his most attached courtiers might have had reason to doubt the possibility of gratifying their master's wish. Anxious inquiries, however, led to the discovery of a woman living very secluded in the neighborhood, who had the credit of possessing the forbidden powers. To her house he repaired by night in disguise, accompanied by two faithful servants.
En-dor--"the fountain of the circle" (that figure being constantly affected by magicians) was situated directly on the other side of the Gilboa range, opposite Tabor; so that, in this midnight adventure, Saul had to pass over the shoulder of the ridge on which the Philistines were encamped. |
Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834] |
Enquire - A different word from that in Sa1 28:6, though nearly synonymous with it. It is more frequently applied to inquiry of a false god, as e. g. Kg2 1:2; Isa 8:19; Isa 19:3.
En-dor (see Jos 11:2 note) was seven or eight miles from the slopes of Gilboa, on the north of little Hermon, where the Philistines were encamped; so that Saul must have run great risks in going there. |
Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
That hath, &c. - One that converseth with the devil, or dead men's ghosts, and by them can discover future things. See Isa 8:19. |
Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit - Literally, Seek me a woman, בעלת אוב baalath ob, the mistress of the Obidiah or Pythonic spirit - one who had a familiar spirit, whom she could invoke when she pleased, and receive answers from him relative to futurity.
Strange that a man, who had banished all such from the land, as dangerous to the state, as impostors and deceivers, should now have recourse to them as the only persons in whom he could safely put his confidence in the time in which Jehovah had refused to help him!
At En-dor - This was a city in the valley of Jezreel, at the foot of Mount Gilboa, where the army of Saul had now encamped. |
2 And to the kings [04428] that were on the north [06828] of the mountains [02022], and of the plains [06160] south [05045] of Chinneroth [03672], and in the valley [08219], and in the borders [05299] of Dor [01756] on the west [03220],
3 And the spirit [07307] of Egypt [04714] shall fail [01238] in the midst [07130] thereof; and I will destroy [01104] the counsel [06098] thereof: and they shall seek [01875] to the idols [0457], and to the charmers [0328], and to them that have familiar spirits [0178], and to the wizards [03049].
19 And when they shall say [0559] unto you, Seek [01875] unto them that have familiar spirits [0178], and unto wizards [03049] that peep [06850], and that mutter [01897]: should not a people [05971] seek [01875] unto their God [0430]? for the living [02416] to the dead [04191]?
2 And Ahaziah [0274] fell down [05307] through a lattice [07639] in his upper chamber [05944] that was in Samaria [08111], and was sick [02470]: and he sent [07971] messengers [04397], and said [0559] unto them, Go [03212], enquire [01875] of Baalzebub [01176] the god [0430] of Ekron [06138] whether I shall recover [02421] of this disease [02483].
6 And when Saul [07586] enquired [07592] of the LORD [03068], the LORD [03068] answered [06030] him not, neither by dreams [02472], nor by Urim [0224], nor by prophets [05030].
19 And when they shall say [0559] unto you, Seek [01875] unto them that have familiar spirits [0178], and unto wizards [03049] that peep [06850], and that mutter [01897]: should not a people [05971] seek [01875] unto their God [0430]? for the living [02416] to the dead [04191]?