I Samuel 27-28
Dear RTB’ers,
Today we see the end of David and his men running and of Saul’s pursuit: And when it was told Saul that David had fled to Gath, he no longer sought him. (v. 27:4) The Philistine king gives David his own city, Ziklag, a border city between the Philistines and Judah. Ziklag will remain as his home base until Saul’s death.
The story of Saul and the medium is a strange one. Although he has banned mediums and spiritists from the land, Saul disguises himself and visits a woman who has some strange powers and is able to call up Samuel’s spirit. The interchange between Saul and Samuel is less interesting than the fact that Saul is indeed communicating with the dead. I don’t believe there is anywhere else in the Bible where anyone is speaking with the dead. It is strictly forbidden in the Pentateuch. (See Leviticus 19:31, Deuteronomy 18:10-12.) Still, here it happens; Saul confronts an angry Samuel and receives the bad news of his future. We will read of that bad-news-future two days from now.
Blessings!
See also: March 31 (2023) / Psalm 54; I Samuel 26-30.