Teks -- 1 Samuel 28:8 (NET)

28:8 So Saul disguised himself and put on other clothing and left, accompanied by two of his men. They came to the woman at night and said, “Use your ritual pit to conjure up for me the one I tell you.”

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per frasa)

Wesley: 1Sa 28:8 - Disguised

Both because he was ashamed to be known, or thought guilty of this practice; and because he suspected, the woman, had she known him, would not practice her art before him.

JFB: 1Sa 28:7-8 - Then said Saul unto his servants, Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit

From the energetic measures which he himself had taken for extirpating the dealers in magical arts (the profession having been declared a capital offense), his most attached courtiers might have had reason to doubt the possibility of gratifying their master's wish. Anxious inquiries, however, led to the discovery of a woman living very secluded in the neighborhood, who had the credit of possessing the forbidden powers. To her house he repaired by night in disguise, accompanied by two faithful servants.

JFB: 1Sa 28:7-8 - En-dor

"the fountain of the circle" (that figure being constantly affected by magicians) was situated directly on the other side of the Gilboa range, opposite Tabor; so that, in this midnight adventure, Saul had to pass over the shoulder of the ridge on which the Philistines were encamped.

JFB: 1Sa 28:8-14 - bring me him up, whom I shall name unto thee

This pythoness united to the arts of divination a claim to be a necromancer (Deu 18:11); and it was her supposed power in calling back the dead of which Saul was desirous to avail himself. Though she at first refused to listen to his request, she accepted his pledge that no risk would be incurred by her compliance. It is probable that his extraordinary stature, the deference paid him by his attendants, the easy distance of his camp from En-dor, and the proposal to call up the great prophet and first magistrate in Israel (a proposal which no private individual would venture to make), had awakened her suspicions as to the true character and rank of her visitor. The story has led to much discussion whether there was a real appearance of Samuel or not. On the one hand, the woman's profession, which was forbidden by the divine law, the refusal of God to answer Saul by any divinely constituted means, the well-known age, figure, and dress of Samuel, which she could easily represent herself, or by an accomplice--his apparition being evidently at some distance, being muffled, and not actually seen by Saul, whose attitude of prostrate homage, moreover, must have prevented him distinguishing the person though he had been near, and the voice seemingly issuing out of the ground, and coming along to Saul--and the vagueness of the information, imparted much which might have been reached by natural conjecture as to the probable result of the approaching conflict--the woman's representation--all of this has led many to think that this was a mere deception. On the other hand, many eminent writers (considering that the apparition came before her arts were put in practice; that she herself was surprised and alarmed; that the prediction of Saul's own death and the defeat of his forces was confidently made), are of opinion that Samuel really appeared.

Clarke: 1Sa 28:8 - Saul disguised himself

Saul disguised himself - That he might not be known by the woman, lest she, being terrified, should refuse to use her art.

TSK: 1Sa 28:8 - disguised // I pray thee // bring me

disguised : 1Ki 14:2, 1Ki 14:3, 1Ki 22:30, 1Ki 22:34; Job 24:13-15; Jer 23:24; Joh 3:19

I pray thee : Deu 18:11; 1Ch 10:13; Isa 8:19

bring me : 1Sa 28:15

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per Ayat)

Poole: 1Sa 28:8 - Saul disguised himself

Saul disguised himself both because he was ashamed to be known, or thought guilty of this practice; and because he suspected that the woman, had she known him, would not practise her art before him.

Haydock: 1Sa 28:8 - Clothes

Clothes, that he might not fill the woman or his army with dismay. (Calmet)

Gill: 1Sa 28:8 - 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 up whom I shall name unto thee

And Saul disguised himself, and put on other raiment,.... Stripped himself of his royal robes, or military apparel, as supreme commander, and clothed himself in the habit of a peasant or a common soldier; and this not only that he might not be known by the woman, but that he might pass from his army incognito, and it might not be known that he was gone, and especially whither he was gone:

and he went, and two men with him: these, according to the tradition of the Jews ^e, were Abner and Amasa; but it is not probable that Saul should leave his army destitute of their general at such a time as this:

and they came to the woman by night; not only that they might not be seen, but because it was a work of darkness they were going about, and it was only in the night season that such persons exercised their black art; though the Jews ^f say it was day, only because of their distress it was like tonight with them; but the literal sense is best:

and he said, I pray thee divine unto me by the familiar spirit; exercise her art of divination, by the assistance of the familiar spirit she conversed with:

and bring me up whom I shall name unto thee: that is, from the dead; for necromancy was the kind of divination she professed; and such persons pretended to have a power to bring up a deceased person, and consult with him about secret and future things.