What is the meaning of 1 Samuel 28:3? Now by this time “Now by this time Samuel had died…” • The verse opens with a time marker, signaling a pivotal shift. It reminds us that events now unfold after Samuel’s passing, creating a vacuum of godly leadership. • This time stamp links back to 1 Samuel 25:1, where Samuel’s death was first recorded, and forward to 1 Samuel 28:15, where Saul laments, “God has departed from me and answers me no more.” • The storyline pauses here to let us feel the weight of transition, similar to Joshua 1:1, where God speaks after Moses’ death. Samuel had died • Samuel was the last of the judges (Acts 13:20) and a prophet who had anointed both Saul and David (1 Samuel 10:1; 16:13). His death marked the end of a stabilizing spiritual influence. • Without his counsel, Saul loses a faithful voice that once confronted his disobedience (1 Samuel 15:26). • Hebrews 9:27 quietly underscores the reality: everyone faces death, even giants of faith like Samuel, affirming Scripture’s literal historical claim. All Israel had mourned for him “…and all Israel had mourned for him…” • Corporate mourning highlights Samuel’s nationwide impact, much like Israel mourning Moses thirty days (Deuteronomy 34:8) or Aaron (Numbers 20:29). • Mourning acknowledges loss but also honors God’s servant (1 Thessalonians 5:12-13). • The phrase shows unity: though factions existed, grief over Samuel briefly united the people. Buried him in Ramah, his own city “…and buried him in Ramah, his own city.” • Ramah was Samuel’s lifelong base (1 Samuel 7:17; 1 Samuel 1:19). Burying him there keeps his legacy tied to the community he served. • Burial in one’s hometown echoes Genesis 23:19 (Sarah in Hebron) and 2 Kings 22:20 (King Josiah in his tomb), affirming respect for heritage and covenant land. • The verse shows tangible closure; Samuel’s work on earth is complete, yet his influence lingers. And Saul had removed the mediums and spiritists from the land “…And Saul had removed the mediums and spiritists from the land.” • At first glance this seems like an abrupt topic change, but it exposes a deeper tension: Saul once obeyed God’s law (Leviticus 19:31; Deuteronomy 18:10-12) by expelling occult practitioners, yet will soon contradict himself at Endor (1 Samuel 28:7-8). • The statement legitimizes Scripture’s moral standard: God’s people are to reject occultism (2 Kings 23:24; Isaiah 8:19). • The verse lays groundwork for a tragic irony: Saul’s desperation will override his earlier obedience, showing how far he has drifted without Samuel’s guidance. summary 1 Samuel 28:3 serves as a pause before the dramatic encounter at Endor. It reminds us that Samuel’s death removed a vital prophetic voice, the nation honored him deeply, and Saul initially upheld God’s ban on occult practices. These details combine to highlight a spiritual vacuum in Israel and the inner conflict brewing in Saul’s heart—a conflict that will soon push him to violate his own decree and seek forbidden counsel, underscoring the consequences of drifting from God’s clear Word. |
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