The End of Saul's Road

Chapter 28 shows how far Saul had fallen. Facing the Philistine army at Gilboa, he was afraid, and his heart trembled greatly. When Saul inquired of Yahweh, Yahweh didn't answer him by dreams, by Urim, or by prophets. The silence was the result of years of disobedience. Saul had killed the priests at Nob, so even the priestly means of guidance had gone to David with Abiathar.

Desperate, Saul did what God's law forbade and what he himself had once banned. He disguised himself and sought a woman at Endor who had a familiar spirit. The text says the woman saw Samuel and cried out. It does not explain how this happened, and we should not go beyond what it says.

Samuel's words held no comfort. Why then do you ask me, since Yahweh has departed from you and has become your adversary? Yahweh had done just as He had spoken. Because you didn't obey Yahweh's voice, the kingdom was given to David, and Israel would be delivered to the Philistines. Saul fell to the ground, terrified. The woman and his servants urged him to eat, and that night they went away. The man who had once been chosen to save Israel was going into his final battle without God.