Tags
1 Samuel, 2 Kings, David, Deuteronomy, Endor, Exodus, Isaiah, Joshua, Leviticus, Necromancy, Numbers, Occult, Oracles, Samuel, Saul, Sheol, Urim and Thummin
- Story appears in 1 Samuel 28
- Commands against engaging with the occult
- Leviticus 19:31 (Do not turn to mediums or wizards; do not seek them out, to be defiled by them: I am the Lord your God.)
- Leviticus 20:27 (A man or a woman who is a medium or a wizard shall be put to death; they shall be stoned to death, their blood is upon them.)
- Deuteronomy 18:10-12 (No one shall be found among you who makes a son or daughter pass through fire, or who practices divination, or is a soothsayer, or an augur, or a sorcerer, or one who casts spells, or who consults ghosts or spirits, or who seeks oracles from the dead. For whoever does these things is abhorrent to the Lord; it is because of such abhorrent practices that the Lord your God is driving them out before you.)
- Exodus 22:18 (You shall not permit a female sorcerer to live.)
- Witchcraft in Ancient Israel
- Throughout much of Jewish history, witchcraft has been seen as a vice that almost all women will indulge in.
- In 1 Enoch, it says that witchcraft was taught by fallen angels to their mortal wives.
- In general, witches in biblical and rabbinic literature are thought to be engaged mostly in malevolent activities.
- Unclear whether necromancy was considered witchcraft or something separate.
- Acknowledged in Isaiah 8:19 (Now if people say to you, ‘Consult the ghosts and the familiar spirits that chirp and mutter; should not a people consult their gods, the dead on behalf of the living,)
- Also acknowledged in 2 Kings 21:6 (He made his son pass through fire; he practiced soothsaying and augury, and dealt with mediums and with wizards. He did much evil in the sight of the Lord, provoking him to anger.)
- Saul, the first king of Israel, was desperate and defied his own laws against the occult.
- Why was Saul desperate?
- Although his rule started out well, he soon began to have troubles. He disobeyed God’s law when he offered burnt and peace offerings before a battle, a responsibility given only to priests (1 Samuel 13:7-14). His punishment for this action was that his descendants would not rule Israel.
- Saul later disobeyed God and lied to Samuel when, instead of killing all the Amalekites and destroying all their possessions, he kept the evil Amalekite king alive and tried to take the best of the animals for himself (1 Samuel 15:1-26).
- The spirit of the Lord which was upon Saul was soon taken from him and he began to be troubled by an evil spirit (1 Samuel 16:14).
- King David’s rise in popularity (1 Samuel 18:7) leads Saul to fits of rage and revenge against him.
- Sometime later, his friend and mentor Samuel dies (1 Samuel 28:3).
- King Saul unsuccessfully tried to consult God regarding his upcoming battle with the Philistines through the accepted means of the Urim and Thummim, as well as the prophets (1 Samuel 28:6).
- Three legitimate ways of receiving oracles.
- Urim and Thummin, a priestly device for obtaining oracles. On the high priest’s ephod (an apron-like garment) lay a breastpiece– a pouch inlaid with 12 precious stones engraved with the names of the 12 tribes of Israel – that held the Urim and Thummim (Exodus 28:15–30; Leviticus 8:8). By means of the Urim, the priest inquired of Yahweh on behalf of the ruler (Numbers 27:21)
- There is no biblical information on the appearance of the Urim, the material out of which they were made
- It appears that they were a kind of lot, possibly marked stones or sticks that would give yes/no answers.
- Dreams
- Prophets
- Saul tried all three and failed.
- Urim and Thummin, a priestly device for obtaining oracles. On the high priest’s ephod (an apron-like garment) lay a breastpiece– a pouch inlaid with 12 precious stones engraved with the names of the 12 tribes of Israel – that held the Urim and Thummim (Exodus 28:15–30; Leviticus 8:8). By means of the Urim, the priest inquired of Yahweh on behalf of the ruler (Numbers 27:21)
- Saul’s meeting with the witch
- Takes place in the city of Endor, which is in the Northern part of the land God gave to the Israelite tribe of Isaachar. It was a city, however, assigned to the tribe of Manasseh (Joshua 17:11).
- Accompanied by two servants, Saul goes in disguise and lies to the witch about his identity.
- The witch is reluctant because of Saul’s prohibition on using occult practices.
- The witch practices necromancy, the practice of communicating with the dead in order to predict the future.
- When the spirit appears, the witch recognizes Saul but Saul has to tell her that the spirit is Samuel.
- When Samuel finally speaks he tells the king what he already knows, that God has judged him for his disobedience and has given the kingdom to another.
- Samuel also tells Saul that he and his sons will be joining Samuel in Sheol the next day when Israel will lose the battle against the Philistines.
- The witch feels so bad for Saul that she insists he stay for a meal. Saul doesn’t want to but his servants press him to stay. The witch kills her fatted calf and fixes him a good meal. After the meal Saul and his servants depart.
- Samuel’s prophecy comes true and Saul and his sons are killed in the battle against the Philistines.
- Questions for Reflection
- Do you believe in psychics and mediums? If so have you ever visited one?
- If a medium has a gift, whom is the gift from?
- Is Saul better off for speaking with Samuel? Why or why not?
- What did Saul lose or gain by seeking out a medium?
- Why do you think the Bible is so adamantly against engaging with the occult?
- Is it wrong – a sin – for Christians to engage in the occult?
- How might God be speaking to you through this story? What response is God asking from you?