We have come to one of the strangest chapters in the whole Bible in which King Saul goes to medium (witch/necromancer) to make contact with Samuel, who was dead.
The theme of I Samuel is that Israel needs a leader. Saul was chosen as the first king and had been rejected by the LORD because of his disobedience. David was chosen and anointed to replace Saul.
The ending section of I Samuel records the final decline and death of Saul, along with the rise of David who will be elevated to the throne in II Samuel. In chapters 27-31, the author goes back and forth between Saul, who is desperate, forsaken, and defeated; and David who turns to the LORD and receives deliverance (in spite of his own failures). These chapters are not in strict chronological order. The action in chapter 28 takes place after the events of chapter 29 and simultaneously with chapter 30. We know this because in 28:4 the Philistines have moved north beyond Aphek (where they were when they sent David away 29:1) to Shunem which is near where the battle in chapter 31 takes place.
In chapter 28, Saul finds himself surrounded by the Philistines. He doesn't want to go into battle without divine guidance, but the LORD will not answer him. The silence of the LORD is judgment for Saul's disobedience. Saul then turns to a medium (witch) at Endor (a name used in the Star Wars movies) through whom he seeks to speak with (dead) Samuel. To our surprise (and that of the medium) Samuel appears only to rebuke Saul and to pronounce judgment upon him. Israel will be defeated in battle and Saul and his sons will die – tomorrow.
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