What is the meaning of 1 Samuel 28:21? When the woman came to Saul - The medium who had just raised Samuel’s spirit draws near to Saul (1 Samuel 28:8, 12). - Her movement toward him shows boldness; moments earlier she feared for her life because Saul himself had outlawed mediums (1 Samuel 28:3; Deuteronomy 18:10-11). - Saul, disguised yet revealed, now receives her personal attention—an ironic twist, as Israel’s king must rely on the very practice he banned. and saw how distraught he was - Verse 20 notes Saul “fell full length on the ground, filled with fear” after Samuel’s pronouncement of judgment; the woman observes this physical collapse. - His exhaustion is compounded by fasting “all that day and night” (v. 20), recalling previous scenes where rash vows left him weak (1 Samuel 14:24). - Saul’s distress fulfills earlier warnings that rebellion would leave him without divine guidance (1 Samuel 15:23; Proverbs 28:9). she said to him - Though a law-breaking medium, she now addresses Saul with surprising tenderness, mirroring Abigail’s respectful approach to David (1 Samuel 25:24). - Her words interrupt the king’s despair, offering a brief human touch amid his spiritual isolation (Proverbs 27:6). Look, your maidservant has obeyed your voice - The woman calls herself “maidservant,” the customary term of humble submission (Ruth 2:13). - Her obedience to Saul contrasts sharply with Saul’s repeated disobedience to God (1 Samuel 15:19; 1 Samuel 13:13). - The statement underscores the tragic irony: a forbidden medium obeys Saul more readily than Saul obeys the Lord. I took my life in my hands - “Took my life in my hands” conveys real peril (cf. David’s use of the phrase about Goliath, 1 Samuel 19:5). - Practicing necromancy carried the death penalty (Leviticus 20:27). By complying, she risked immediate execution from Saul’s own decree. - Her courage exposes Saul’s desperation; he willingly endangers another to satisfy his craving for supernatural counsel (James 1:14-15). and did as you told me - She emphasizes complete compliance—she has done “as you told me,” echoing Israel’s expected response to divine commands (Exodus 19:8). - Saul’s authority prevails in this limited sphere, yet his earlier half-obedience to God (1 Samuel 15:22) stands in stark relief. - The episode highlights a reversal: the pagan medium displays full obedience; the anointed king persists in selective obedience, sealing his downfall (1 Chronicles 10:13-14). summary 1 Samuel 28:21 portrays the medium approaching a physically and spiritually shattered Saul, testifying that she has risked her life to obey his request. Her respectful obedience contrasts with Saul’s habitual disobedience to God, underscoring the tragic irony of Israel’s king relying on forbidden means while ignoring the Lord. The verse thus exposes Saul’s desperation, the woman’s courage, and the sobering consequences of turning from divine guidance. |
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