In the Bible, King Saul is recorded as having spoken with the deceased prophet Samuel. This extraordinary event occurred when Saul, in a desperate attempt to seek divine guidance after God had ceased to answer him, consulted a medium in Endor.
The Encounter Between King Saul and Samuel
The account of King Saul's consultation with the medium is detailed in the book of 1 Samuel, chapter 28. Facing a formidable Philistine army and feeling abandoned by God, Saul disguised himself and sought out a woman known for her ability to conjure spirits.
Here are key aspects of this unique biblical event:
- Saul's Desperation: King Saul was in dire straits, with no answers from God through dreams, Urim, or prophets. This led him to defy his own earlier decree against mediums and necromancy.
- The Medium of Endor: Saul requested the medium to bring up Samuel. When Samuel did appear, the medium was visibly shocked and "cried out with a loud voice" (1 Samuel 28:12).
- Divine Intervention: The passage makes it clear that Samuel's appearance was not a result of the medium's power or incantations. Instead, it was an instance where God, for His own purposes, allowed the deceased prophet Samuel to appear and speak to Saul. Samuel delivered a dire prophecy concerning Saul's downfall and death.
- Unique Circumstance: This event stands as a singular occurrence within the biblical narrative where communication with the deceased is explicitly described and permitted by God, contrasting sharply with numerous biblical prohibitions against seeking out mediums or engaging in necromancy (e.g., Deuteronomy 18:10-12, Leviticus 19:31).
For a detailed account, you can read the full story in 1 Samuel 28.
