Bible Strands
1 Samuel 28:8
So Saul disguised himself by putting on different clothes, and he set out with two of his men. They came to the woman at night, and Saul said, “Consult a spirit for me. Bring up for me the one I name.”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Saul speaks to a medium in Endor at night, having just ordered his servants to locate one after God ceased answering him. He approaches the woman in disguise to secretly commission her to summon a specific deceased spirit.
The words — The Hebrew verbs וַ/יִּתְחַפֵּ֣שׂ (va/i.yit.cha.Pes) and וַ/יִּלְבַּשׁ (va/i.yil.Bash) denote the actions of disguising himself and wearing different garments. These terms literally describe the physical act of changing clothes to conceal his royal identity.
The thread — This secret consultation echoes the forbidden practices condemned in Deuteronomy 18:10 and Isaiah 8:19, while his eventual death for this act is recorded in 1 Chronicles 10:13. The narrative directly contrasts his illicit request with the biblical command to consult God rather than the dead.
Why it lands — The text records a king abandoning his office and God’s law to seek forbidden knowledge, demonstrating that desperation can override established boundaries. It places the reader before the factual consequence of rejecting divine counsel for occult alternatives.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And Saul disguised himself, and put on other raiment, and he went, and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night: and he said, I pray thee, divine unto me by the familiar spirit, and bring me him up, whom I shall name unto thee.
Cross-references
- 1 Chronicles 10:13 So Saul died for his unfaithfulness to the LORD, because he did not keep the word of the LORD and even consulted a medium for guidance,
- Isaiah 8:19 When men tell you to consult mediums and spiritists who whisper and mutter, shouldn’t a people consult their God instead? Why consult the dead on behalf of the living?
- Deuteronomy 18:10 Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, practices divination or conjury, interprets omens, practices sorcery,
- 1 Kings 22:30 And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “I will disguise myself and go into battle, but you wear your royal robes.” So the king of Israel disguised himself and went into battle.
- 2 Chronicles 18:29 And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “I will disguise myself and go into battle, but you wear your royal robes.” So the king of Israel disguised himself and went into battle.
- 2 Chronicles 35:22 Josiah, however, did not turn away from him; instead, in order to engage him in battle, he disguised himself. He did not listen to Neco’s words from the mouth of God, but went to fight him on the Plain of Megiddo.
- 1 Kings 14:2 and Jeroboam said to his wife, “Now get up, disguise yourself so they will not recognize you as my wife, and go to Shiloh. For Ahijah the prophet is there; it was he who spoke about my kingship over this people.
- Job 24:13 Then there are those who rebel against the light, not knowing its ways or staying on its paths.
- Jeremiah 23:24 “Can a man hide in secret places where I cannot see him?” declares the LORD. “Do I not fill the heavens and the earth?” declares the LORD.
- John 3:19 And this is the verdict: The Light has come into the world, but men loved the darkness rather than the Light because their deeds were evil.