The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Samuel — Section 512

up n f]"('sh sanctuary, perhaps at Gibcon, dismissed as due to tho imagination of '1ith Zadok, of the family of Elcazar, as high painters. As the journey was vory dan- priest. This would account for Zadok being gerous, Saul disguised himself, and went joined "·ith Ahimclech, the son of Abiathar, by night, accomp.'\uied 011ly by two men;. as one of two higl1 priests early in David's and, nothing could ruoro plainly set befor& reign (:2 Sam. viii. 17). It is remarkable, us his mental a.nguish, aud also his intense however, that Saul does not mention the desire to pry into the sncrcts of futurity, rrim himself in vcr. 15, and very probably than this strange journey. All faith and it is named here not because the ephod hope are goue, and a feverish excitement, ,n1s actually used, but ns enumerating all ready to catch at any aid, however lawless. the rnrious ways by which men inquired of and untrustworthy, had taken their place. .Tehonh. Nor by prophets. In his de· In this state of mind he arrives at the spair Saul may have turned to some reputed·· woman's dwelling, and says, Divine nnto· soothsa~·cr presentwith the host, but his wilful me by the 8b. Though divination was life had alienated both priest and prophet strictly forbidden (Deut. xviii. 10, 14), yet from him. And this is the meaning of the we find the diviner (A. V. prudent) in high passage in 1 Chron. x. 14: "Saul enquired popular estimation in Isa. iii. 2 ; and it was not of Jehovah; therefore he slew him." probably a lucrative profession, or this wo- He mny have gone through the form of man would not have been willing to incur so· inquiring, aud certainly now woulcl have great a danger as was involved in its prac- been glad of an answer, but his whole mind tice. Bring me him up, &c. The fancy irns determinately set upon carrying out his that we can see the spirits of the dead is a Jwn purposes, and he would never permit, most natural and enduring superstition, and o fter the first year or two of his reign, the it seems generally assumed that they must royal prerogative to bend to the will of have some knowledge not accessible to the Gou. living. It must be said for Saul that he did. Vers. 7, 8.-Seek me a woman that hath not become the victim of this folly until after a familiar spirit. Hebrew," owner of au 8b" his reason was disturbed, and as a punish- (see on ver. 3). This determination of Saul ment for heinous sins. p::oves how obstinate was his self-will. He Vers. 9, 10.-Thou kuowest what Saul wanted an answer simply that he might hath done. Not only had Saul in the earlier know what was about to happen, not that part of his reign been earnest in his zeal for he might receive guidance and counsel from the Mosaic law, but even now it seems as if God. From his bidding them seek him out a witch was in danger of death ; for he has '' a woman mistress of an 8b," we gather that to take an oath before she will acknowledge women were the usual claimants to these oc- that she practises any illicit art. cult powers, just a.snow they a.re the most suc- Ver. 11.-Whom shall I bring up to cessful clairvoyantes. Endor-" the spring thee t Assured by Saul's oath, the woman of the round," i. e. perhaps of the dwelling, now asserts her ability to call up the spirits- houses being originally circular in shape, like of the dead, and asks, just as would happen tents - lay a little to the north-east of now with those who claim similar powers, Shunem, and it was therefore a hazardous who it is to be. We need not suppose that me.tter for Saul to visit it. Conder (' Tent- she possessed either greater or less powers• Work,' i 122) s:1.ys, "East of Nain is a than those claimed or even exercised now ; village of mud huts, with hedges of prickly for many of the phenomena of clairvoyance, pear. This is Endor, famous in connection though undoubtedly natural, still belong to• with the tragic history of the death of Saul. an unscientific, and therefore vague and illu- The adventurous character of Saul's night sory, region. Perhaps on this very account journey is very striking when we consider these arts have always had an extraordinary that the Philistines pitched in Shunem on fascination for men, and been practised in all the southern slopes of the mountain, and ages and among all people with considerable that Saul's army was at Jezreel; thus, to skill. Bring me up Samuel. Samuel had arrive at Endor he had to pass the hostile been Saul's friend in his youth, and his guide camp, and would probably creep round the and counsellor in those happy days when the eastern shoulder of the hill, hidden by the young king walked uprightly, and all ~ent undulations of the plain, as an Arab will well with him. But gradually the light. often now advance nnseen close by you in a yoke of respect for one who loved him be- fold of the ground." He proceeds to specu- came too heavy for a despotic temperament, ~a.te upon the cave in which the sorceress which would brook no will but its own. may have lived, dismissing those in the town Now that self-will is broken; it had brought as too modern, but suggesting one on the the warrior king to a hopeless despair, and in nill-side. But there is nothing in the narra• his distress his mind once again returns to its tive to suggest that she lived in a cave, but old channels. Intense as was the degradation rather the contrary, arnl the idea may be for one so haughty, in disguise by night, a.t en. XXVIJI. 1-25.J THE FIRST BOOK OF SA:\IUEL. 523