How does 1 Samuel 28:9 align with biblical teachings against necromancy? Text of 1 Samuel 28:9 “But the woman replied, ‘Surely you know what Saul has done. He has cut off the mediums and spiritists from the land. Why have you set a trap for my life to bring about my death?’ ” Historical Setting and Immediate Context Israel is at war with the Philistines (28:1). Samuel is dead (28:3), Saul has “expelled all mediums and spiritists from the land,” yet, abandoned by God because of his persistent disobedience, he seeks guidance from a medium at En-dor (28:5-8). Verse 9 records the woman’s reminder that necromancy is outlawed on pain of death. Her fear confirms that Saul’s earlier decree (in harmony with the Torah) was universally known and enforced. Mosaic Prohibitions Against Necromancy 1. Leviticus 19:31,: “You must not turn to mediums or spiritists; do not seek them out, lest you be defiled by them.” 2. Leviticus 20:6, 27: capital punishment prescribed. 3. Deuteronomy 18:10-12: necromancy listed among “detestable” practices. The woman’s words in 1 Samuel 28:9 prove that Saul’s legislation accurately reflected these statutes. The text therefore upholds, rather than contradicts, the biblical ban. Why the Medium Complied Despite the Ban Her fear shows genuine awareness of the law, yet Saul’s oath “as surely as the LORD lives” (28:10) overrode her hesitation. The narrative thus exposes Saul’s spiritual decline: the same king who once enforced God’s law now violates it, illustrating that knowledge of truth without obedience brings judgment (cf. James 4:17). Canonical Harmony: God’s Silence, Not Approval • No prophetic sanction appears in the chapter; Yahweh never legitimizes Saul’s action. • 1 Chronicles 10:13-14 explicitly identifies Saul’s consultation of “a medium for guidance” as a reason for his death: “he was unfaithful to the LORD.” • Isaiah 8:19 rebukes the practice, asking, “Should not a people consult their God?” Saul’s story is a negative object lesson reinforcing that principle. Theological Takeaways 1. God’s laws are immutable; human decrees only have legitimacy when aligned with divine revelation. 2. Sinful desperation drives people to forbidden substitutes when they reject God’s ordained means of guidance (prayer, prophets, Scripture). 3. Necromancy does not bridge the gap between God and man; Christ’s resurrection (1 Corinthians 15) and the indwelling Holy Spirit (John 16:13) provide the only sanctioned access to divine wisdom today. Archaeological and Extra-Biblical Corroboration Ugaritic texts (KTU 1.6, 1.20) show Canaanite kings employing necromancers, matching Deuteronomy’s warnings against “detestable practices of those nations.” Ostraca from the Iron Age site at Lachish attest to governmental enforcement of cultic regulations, paralleling Saul’s purge. Answering Skeptical Objections Objection: “God allowed the medium’s séance, so He endorses necromancy.” Response: 1) Allowance ≠ endorsement; Scripture often records sins it condemns (e.g., David’s adultery). 2) The prophetic message received condemns Saul and predicts his death (28:16-19), consistent with divine judgment, not occult validation. Pastoral and Practical Application Modern fascination with séances, Ouija boards, and psychic readings repeats Saul’s error. Believers are exhorted to “test the spirits” (1 John 4:1) and rely solely on Scripture and the risen Christ for guidance. Unbelievers are invited to the living Savior, who conquered death and renders necromancy obsolete. Conclusion 1 Samuel 28:9 does not undermine the Bible’s stance against necromancy; it underscores it. The medium’s fear, Saul’s hypocrisy, and subsequent judgment combine to reaffirm that seeking the dead is rebellion against the living God, whose definitive revelation and resurrection power are found uniquely in Jesus Christ. |
    |