Ghosts In Sacred Texts

The Witch Of Endor

By: Ezra Vale | 07/07/2025

The Witch of Endor

The story of the Witch of Endor is found in 1 Samuel 28:3–25 in the Old Testament. It is one of the most unusual passages in the Bible because it describes an encounter between King Saul, a medium, and the spirit of the prophet Samuel. This event takes place near the end of Saul’s reign, when he is desperate, fearful, and cut off from God’s guidance.

Background

King Saul had once been chosen by God to lead Israel, but because of his repeated disobedience, God rejected him. The prophet Samuel, who had guided Saul earlier, had died, and Saul no longer had access to his advice. At the same time, the Philistines, Israel’s enemies, were preparing for war. When Saul tried to seek guidance from God, he received no answer through dreams, prophets, or the sacred priestly methods.

Feeling abandoned and terrified, Saul turned to something he had earlier banned himself: necromancy. He had removed mediums and spiritists from Israel in obedience to God’s law (Deuteronomy 18:10–12), but in his desperation, he went in disguise at night to consult a medium in the town of Endor.

The Encounter

When Saul asked the woman to summon Samuel, she was frightened by what she saw. She described an old man wrapped in a robe, and Saul realized it was Samuel. The spirit spoke directly to Saul, asking why he had disturbed him. The message was grim: Samuel reminded Saul that God had turned away from him, that the kingdom was already given to David, and that Saul and his sons would die in battle the next day.

Hearing this, Saul collapsed to the ground, filled with fear and hopelessness. The woman gave him food so he could regain his strength, but the prophecy left him with no comfort or hope.

Meaning of the Story

This passage raises important questions. Was the spirit truly Samuel, or was it a deception? Some believe God allowed Samuel to appear one last time to deliver judgment. Others think it was an evil spirit pretending to be Samuel. Either way, the story shows how far Saul had fallen. Instead of trusting God, he sought help through forbidden means.

The key lessons from the story are:

1. Disobedience has consequences – Saul’s rejection of God led to his downfall.

2. Seeking forbidden practices is dangerous – turning to the occult or necromancy leads only to despair.

3. God alone holds authority – even in death, Samuel’s message showed that human power cannot change God’s will.

Conclusion

The Witch of Endor story is both mysterious and tragic. It shows us a king who once had God’s favor but ended his life in fear and hopelessness. The encounter with Samuel’s spirit was not a comfort, but a final reminder of Saul’s disobedience. In the end, the passage teaches that turning away from God leads to spiritual emptiness, and that true guidance cannot be found through forbidden practices, but only through trust in God.

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