1 Samuel 28:8
And Saul disguised himself, and put on other raiment, and he went, and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night: and he said, I pray thee, divine unto me by the familiar spirit, and bring me him up, whom I shall name unto thee.
1 Samuel 28:8 · King James Version
Meaning
In this verse, we see Saul, the first king of Israel, seeking guidance from a woman who had a familiar spirit. Saul, feeling desperate and abandoned by God, decides to seek help from the spirit of Samuel, a prophet who had passed away. Saul disguises himself and goes to the woman with two men in the cover of night. Despite the risks and the forbidding nature of communicating with the dead, Saul implores the woman to summon Samuel's spirit, promising to tell her the name of the person he wants to speak to. This act of seeking guidance through necromancy goes against the teachings of the Bible, as it is forbidden to communicate with the dead or consult with mediums. Saul's actions here reflect his spiritual decline and his deviation from God's commandments, portraying the consequences of turning away from God in times of need.
Theological Overview
When looking at the theological interpretation of 1 Samuel 28:8, the verse raises important questions regarding the ethics of seeking counsel from mediums or those who claim to have communication with the dead. In this passage, Saul disguises himself and seeks out a medium to contact the spirit of the deceased prophet Samuel. This action goes against the Levitical laws found in the Bible which strictly forbid communicating with the dead (Leviticus 19:31, 20:6). The use of a medium to call on the spirit of Samuel highlights Saul's desperation and disobedience towards God, as he is looking for guidance in a time of distress through forbidden means. This story serves as a cautionary tale for believers today, emphasizing the importance of seeking counsel and direction only from God and His Word rather than turning to mediums or spiritualists.
1 Samuel 28:8 in other translations
American Standard Version
And Saul disguised himself, and put on other raiment, and went, he and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night: and he said, Divine unto me, I pray thee, by the familiar spirit, and bring me up whomsoever I shall name unto thee.
World English Bible
Saul disguised himself, and put on other clothing, and went, he and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night: and he said, “Please divine to me by the familiar spirit, and bring me up whomever I shall name to you.”
Douay-Rheims
Then he disguised himself: and put on other clothes, and he went, and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night, and he said to her: Divine to me by thy divining spirit, and bring me up him whom I shall tell thee.
Geneva Bible (1599)
Then Saul changed him selfe, and put on other raiment, and he went, and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night: and he saide, I pray thee, coniecture vnto me by the familiar spirite, and bring me him vp whome I shall name vnto thee.