1 Samuel 28

1 Samuel 28:3

IN his owne] It seemeth, he meaneth Naioth, which was part of the City of Ramah, where Samuel resided, and kept his schoole of Prophets, 1 Samuel 19:18.

1 Samuel 28:4

In Shu em] A City of the Tribe of Issachar, Iosh 19. 18.

1 Samuel 28:6

Inquired] The Ephod being brought to David, 1 Sam. 23. 6. 9. Saul could not enquire of the Lord by Urim and Thummim, Numbers 27:21. Well might he have some Prophet by him, as Ier. 37. 17 Answered him not] Which was a token of Gods extreame wrath, 1 Samuel 14:37. Lamentations 2:9.

1 Samuel 28:7

That hath] That is to say, a Witch: though she did not proceed properly by the spirit called Pithon, who spake from within the belly of them which were possessed by him, in the meane time tying their tongues, which is called Engastrimancy. But she wrought by Necromancy: that is to say by apparitions, and dead mens ghosts, as Isay 8. 19.

1 Samuel 28:8

Bring me him up] call forth and cause the spirit of a dead man whom I shall name, to appeare unto me. Words proceeding from a grosse ignorance, which accompanied Sauls impiety.

1 Samuel 28:9

Layest thou] Why goest thou about to induce me to doe any thing which may make me deserve death.

1 Samuel 28:12

Samuel] A divellish apparition, in the likenesse and forme of Samuel, by which the witch knew him to be Saul.

1 Samuel 28:13

What sawest thou] Because the apparition did not at first appeare to Saul, but to the woman only Gods] the Italian, An Angell] The shape of a divine and heavenly man in all points. So the Devill transformes himselfe into an Angell of light, 2 Corinthians 11:14. Others a God, in the same sence.

1 Samuel 28:14

Covered] Which might be some speciall manner of garment that Samuel used, or all the Prophets in generall: see a Kings 1. 8. Zechariah 13:4 Perceived that it was] After that the Devill had thus appeared to the woman, the same apparition came neer to Saul, who knew Samuel better; and then it spake to him hand to hand, no body hearing their talke. Now Saul through Gods judgement, was by this illusion induced to worship the Devill, which is the aime of the evill spirit to all those which seeke after him.

1 Samuel 28:15

Why]) A continuation of the Devils lye, to insnare Saul so much the more.

1 Samuel 28:19

With mee]) That is to say, dead, as the true Samuel was, who was here represented by the Devill, who by these words, imprinteth this error in Saul; that the soules of all men, as well good as bad go to the same place: for to blot out of him all knowledge and apprehension of eternall life.