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Difference between revisions of "Witch of Endor"
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The woman [[channeling|summons a spirit]], and when it appears, she works out who Saul is and screams, "Why have you deceived me? You are Saul!" Saul assures her that no harm will come to her, and asks what she sees. She says that she sees "elohim" rising. Then, Saul asks what "he" looks like, and she describes an old man wrapped in a robe. Saul bows down to the spirit, but is apparently unable to see it himself. The spirit complains of being disturbed, berates Saul for disobeying God, and predicts Saul's downfall. The living Samuel has already said Saul would have his kingship removed, but this spirit adds that Israel's army will be defeated, and Saul and his sons will be "with me" tomorrow. Saul collapses in terror; the woman comforts him, and prepares him a meal of a fatted calf to restore his strength. | The woman [[channeling|summons a spirit]], and when it appears, she works out who Saul is and screams, "Why have you deceived me? You are Saul!" Saul assures her that no harm will come to her, and asks what she sees. She says that she sees "elohim" rising. Then, Saul asks what "he" looks like, and she describes an old man wrapped in a robe. Saul bows down to the spirit, but is apparently unable to see it himself. The spirit complains of being disturbed, berates Saul for disobeying God, and predicts Saul's downfall. The living Samuel has already said Saul would have his kingship removed, but this spirit adds that Israel's army will be defeated, and Saul and his sons will be "with me" tomorrow. Saul collapses in terror; the woman comforts him, and prepares him a meal of a fatted calf to restore his strength. | ||
The following day, the [[Judaism|Israelite]] army is defeated as prophesied: Saul is wounded by the Philistines, and commits suicide by falling on his sword. In 1 Chronicles, it is stated that Saul's death was, in part, a punishment for seeking advice from a medium rather than from God. | The following day, the [[Judaism|Israelite]] army is defeated as prophesied: Saul is wounded by the Philistines, and commits suicide by falling on his sword. In 1 Chronicles, it is stated that Saul's death was, in part, a punishment for seeking advice from a [[Channeling|medium]] rather than from God. | ||
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The Church Fathers and some modern [[Christianity|Christian]] writers have debated the theological issues raised by this text, which would appear at first sight to affirm that it is possible (though forbidden) for humans to summon the spirits of the dead by [[ritual magic]]. | The Church Fathers and some modern [[Christianity|Christian]] writers have debated the theological issues raised by this text, which would appear at first sight to affirm that it is possible (though forbidden) for humans to summon the spirits of the dead by [[ritual magic]]. | ||
King James, in his philosophical treatise ''[[Daemonologie]]'' (1597), rejected the theory that the [[witch]] was performing an act of ventriloquism, but also denied that she had truly summoned the spirit of Samuel. He wrote that [[the Devil]] is permitted at times to take on the likeness of the saints, citing 2 Corinthians 11:14, which says that "[[Satan]] can transform himself into an Angel of light | King James, in his philosophical treatise ''[[Daemonologie]]'' (1597), rejected the theory that the [[witch]] was performing an act of ventriloquism, but also denied that she had truly summoned the spirit of Samuel. He wrote that [[the Devil]] is permitted at times to take on the likeness of the saints, citing 2 Corinthians 11:14, which says that "[[Satan]] can transform himself into an Angel of light." James describes the witch of Endor as "Saul's [[Python]]ese," likening her to the ancient Greek [[oracle]] Pythia. | ||
Other medieval glosses to the [[Bible]] also suggested that what the witch summoned was not the ghost of Samuel, but a [[demon]] taking his shape or an illusion crafted by the witch. Martin Luther, who believed that the dead were unconscious, read that it was "the Devil's ghost," whereas John Calvin read that "it was not the real Samuel, but a spectre." Since this passage states the witch made a loud cry in fear when she saw Samuel's spirit, some interpreters reject the suggestion that the witch was responsible for summoning Samuel's spirit, claiming instead that this was the work of God. | Other medieval glosses to the [[Bible]] also suggested that what the witch summoned was not the ghost of Samuel, but a [[demon]] taking his shape or an illusion crafted by the witch. Martin Luther, who believed that the dead were unconscious, read that it was "the Devil's ghost," whereas John Calvin read that "it was not the real Samuel, but a spectre." Since this passage states the witch made a loud cry in fear when she saw Samuel's spirit, some interpreters reject the suggestion that the witch was responsible for summoning Samuel's spirit, claiming instead that this was the work of God. | ||