1 Samuel (1 Kings) 28
Commentary from 8 fathers
And David said to Anchus, Thus now thou shalt know what thy servant will do. And Anchus said to David, So will I make thee captain of my body-guard continually.
καὶ εἶπε Δαυὶδ πρὸς ᾿Αγχοῦς· οὕτω νῦν γνώσῃ ἃ ποιήσει ὁ δοῦλός σου· καὶ εἶπεν ᾿Αγχοῦς πρὸς Δαυίδ· οὕτως ἀρχισωματοφύλακα θήσομαί σε πάσας τὰς ἡμέρας.
И҆ речѐ даві́дъ ко а҆гхꙋ́сꙋ: та́кѡ нн҃ѣ ᲂу҆разꙋмѣ́еши, ꙗ҆̀же сотвори́тъ ра́бъ тво́й. И҆ речѐ а҆гхꙋ́съ къ даві́дꙋ: тѣ́мже нача́льника храни́телей тѣ́лꙋ (моемꙋ̀) поста́влю тѧ̀ во всѧ̑ дни̑.
And David said to Achis: Now you will know, etc. It is clear according to the letter, because David, promising aid to the king, also promises to be his guardian, whether in the battle or after the victory. But according to the spiritual sense, the head of the strong brothers and those acting manfully is Christ. To whom, he saying, And behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age (Matthew XXVIII); they respond: And we have learned that no one should be our guardian of the grace leading us, by which you remain in us, other than yourself, not only on all the days of this age, but also in the future, where one day in your courts is better than thousands (Psalm LXXXIII).
Commentary on Samuel
And Samuel died, and all Israel lamented for him, and they bury him in his city, in Armathaim. And Saul had removed those who had in them divining spirits, and the wizards, out of the land.
Καὶ Σαμουὴλ ἀπέθανε, καὶ ἐκόψαντο αὐτὸν πᾶς ᾿Ισραὴλ καὶ θάπτουσιν αὐτὸν ἐν ᾿Αρμαθαὶμ ἐν πόλει αὐτοῦ. καὶ Σαοὺλ περιεῖλε τοὺς ἐγγαστριμύθους καὶ τοὺς γνώστας ἀπὸ τῆς γῆς.
И҆ самꙋи́лъ ᲂу҆́мре, и҆ рыда́ше по не́мъ ве́сь і҆и҃ль, и҆ погребо́ша є҆го̀ во а҆рмаѳе́мѣ во гра́дѣ є҆гѡ̀: и҆ саꙋ́лъ и҆збѝ чревоба́сники и҆ волхвы̀ землѝ своеѧ̀.
As has been said already, the sacred record, like a faithful mirror, has no flattery in its portraits and either itself passes sentence upon human actions as worthy of approval or disapproval or leaves the reader to do so. And not only does it distinguish people as blameworthy or praiseworthy, but it also takes notice of cases where the blameworthy deserved praise, and the praiseworthy blame. Thus, although Saul was blameworthy, it was not the less praiseworthy in him to examine so carefully who had eaten food during the curse and to pronounce the stern sentence in obedience to the commandment of God. So, too, he was right in banishing those that had familiar spirits and wizards out of the land. And although David was praiseworthy, we are not called on to approve or imitate his sins, which God rebukes by the prophet.
Against Faustus, a Manichaean 22.65
Now, Samuel was dead, etc. Josephus narrates that this happened two years before the death of Saul, writing thus (Antiq. VI, 14): "Saul reigned, with Samuel living for eighteen years, and for another two years after his death." Indeed, earlier in the order of history, the death and burial of Samuel are described in nearly the same words; but it is recapitulated here so that the necessity that prompted Saul to seek out the necromancer might be recalled to the readers. However, mystically, the death of Samuel, with the Lord suffering, indicates the cessation of the legal figures as well as the prophets, which foretold His future incarnation. The mourning of Israel signifies that not without great sorrow could the carnal ones be separated from the old institutions of the Lord. I believe that all of Israel, which was able to see the desolation of the temple of Jerusalem and the land of promise—both of which were given to the fathers as a type of heavenly grace—could not at all withhold their lamentation and tears. The burial, which took place after the death and mourning, signifies that time when the faithful Jews altogether ceased from the observation of legal shadows. For it is known that for a considerable time the early Church observed Jewish customs, until the evangelical doctrine gradually prevailed, and it itself completely abstained from legal observation. And fittingly, Samuel is buried in Ramah, his city where he was born, which is interpreted as "exalted": because the same Church of Christ, which once gave forth the beginnings of prophecy, concluded the fulfilled figures of prophecy with honorable devotion, as if they were the limbs of the dead Samuel.
Commentary on Samuel
And Saul removed all the magicians, etc. Magicians and soothsayers, the first of whom, commonly called sorcerers, use blood and sacrifices, and often touch the bodies of the dead, following (whom other translations call enchanters) accomplish their work with words; all these soothsayers and idolatries of the Gentiles are mystically designated, whom the people of the Jews, although more wise in earthly things than heavenly, removed completely at this time. For no one now dares to worship Baalim, or Astaroth, or any other monsters of the Gentiles, although they are not perfectly faithful to the Lord.
Commentary on Samuel
And the Philistines assemble themselves, and come and encamp in Sonam: and Saul gathers all the men of Israel, and they encamp in Gelbue.
καὶ συναθροίζονται οἱ ἀλλόφυλοι καὶ ἔρχονται καὶ παρεμβάλλουσιν εἰς Σωνάμ, καὶ συναθροίζει Σαοὺλ πάντα ἄνδρα ᾿Ισραήλ, καὶ παρεμβάλλουσιν εἰς Γελβουέ.
И҆ собра́шасѧ и҆ноплемє́нницы и҆ прїидо́ша и҆ ѡ҆полчи́шасѧ въ сѡна́мѣ: и҆ собра̀ саꙋ́лъ всѧ̑ мꙋ́жы і҆и҃лєвы, и҆ ѡ҆полчи́шасѧ въ гелвꙋѐ.
And the Philistines gathered together, etc. The Philistines in this place, inasmuch as they seek the aid of David and his men, represent the faithful from the Gentiles; but inasmuch as they scorn and reject him, they represent the unfaithful who oppose Christ. For they oppose both the unfaithful Jews and the heretically unfaithful, and the Catholics, Christians and pagans alike. Therefore it is fitting that the Philistines are said to have been encamped in Sunam, which is interpreted as 'crimson'. For crimson holds the appearance of fire. Indeed, the faithful, fervent with the love of Christ, and the pagans, raging with the fire of persecution, do not hesitate to fight against their adversaries. For the good fight against the evil; the evil fight among themselves; but the good cannot fight among themselves at all. Moreover, Israel, because it gathered under Saul who was dying and impious, not under David who was just and destined to rule, either signifies the present blindness of its own people, as we said above, or the heretical depravity; and thus rightly it is described to have gathered on the mountain of downfall, which the name Gelboe signifies, and to have fallen there.
Commentary on Samuel
And Saul saw the camp of the Philistines, and he was alarmed, and his heart was greatly dismayed.
καὶ εἶδε Σαοὺλ τὴν παρεμβολὴν τῶν ἀλλοφύλων καὶ ἐφοβήθη, καὶ ἐξέστη ἡ καρδία αὐτοῦ σφόδρα.
И҆ ви́дѣ саꙋ́лъ полкѝ и҆ноплемє́нничи, и҆ ᲂу҆боѧ́сѧ, и҆ ᲂу҆жасе́сѧ се́рдце є҆гѡ̀ ѕѣлѡ̀.
And Saul enquired of the Lord; and the Lord answered him not by dreams, nor by manifestations, nor by prophets.
καὶ ἐπηρώτησε Σαοὺλ διὰ Κυρίου, καὶ οὐκ ἀπεκρίθη αὐτῷ Κύριος ἐν τοῖς ἐνυπνίοις καὶ ἐν τοῖς δήλοις καὶ ἐν τοῖς προφήταις.
И҆ вопросѝ саꙋ́лъ гдⷭ҇а, и҆ не ѿвѣща̀ є҆мꙋ̀ гдⷭ҇ь ни во снѣ̀, ни во ꙗ҆вле́нїихъ, ни во проро́цѣхъ.
Then Saul said to his servants, Seek for me a woman who has in her a divining spirit, and I will go to her, and enquire of her: and his servants said to him, Behold, [there is] a woman who has in her a divining spirit at Aendor.
καὶ εἶπε Σαοὺλ τοῖς παισὶν αὐτοῦ· ζητήσατέ μοι γυναῖκα ἐγγαστρίμυθον, καὶ πορεύσομαι πρὸς αὐτὴν καὶ ζητήσω ἐν αὐτῇ· καὶ εἶπαν οἱ παῖδες αὐτοῦ πρὸς αὐτόν· ἰδοὺ γυνὴ ἐγγαστρίμυθος ἐν ᾿Αενδώρ.
И҆ речѐ саꙋ́лъ ѻ҆трокѡ́мъ свои̑мъ: поищи́те мѝ жены̀ волше́бницы, и҆ по́йдꙋ къ не́й, и҆ вопрошꙋ̀ є҆ѧ̀. И҆ рѣ́ша ѻ҆́троцы є҆гѡ̀ къ немꙋ̀: сѐ, жена̀ волше́бница во а҆ендѡ́рѣ.
And Saul said to his servants: Seek me a woman who has a familiar spirit, etc. Denied an answer by the Lord, Saul sought a woman with an unclean spirit, through whom he might inquire; and with the cessation of the prophets and the ceremonies of old after the Lord's passion, the people of the Jews consult and frequent the synagogue of Satan, such as today is their synagogue, having a familiar spirit, which in their language signifies the mouth of the abyss. Nor is anything understood better than entrance into eternal punishments. But even the name itself, customary from the meaning of the perfidious faction, does not differ. For it is said to be derived from Apollo Pythius, who was a diligent practitioner of these arts, who himself is said to have borrowed such a name from that place, because he struck the serpent Python in vengeance for his son being killed by him.
Commentary on Samuel
And his servants said to her, etc. Correctly it is narrated that the woman with a familiar spirit, whom some call a ventriloquist, lived in Endor, which means in the fountain or eye of generation, so that the very place of her habitation bears witness to the already lost Synagogue, which, deceived by the serpent's conversation, feigns to give light and the cup of wisdom to its listeners.
Commentary on Samuel
And Saul disguised himself, and put on other raiment, and he goes, and two men with him, and they come to the woman by night; and he said to her, Divine to me, I pray thee, by the divining spirit within thee, and bring up to me him whom I shall name to thee.
καὶ συνεκαλύψατο Σαοὺλ καὶ περιεβάλετο ἱμάτια ἕτερα καὶ πορεύεται αὐτὸς καὶ δύο ἄνδρες μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ καὶ ἔρχονται πρὸς τὴν γυναῖκα νυκτὸς καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῇ· μάντευσαι δή μοι ἐν τῷ ἐγγαστριμύθῳ καὶ ἀνάγαγέ μοι ὃν ἐὰν εἴπω σοι.
И҆ прикры́сѧ саꙋ́лъ и҆ ѡ҆блече́сѧ въ ри̑зы и҆́ны, и҆ и҆́де са́мъ и҆ два̀ мꙋ̑жа съ ни́мъ, и҆ прїи́де но́щїю къ женѣ̀ и҆ речѐ є҆́й: поволхвꙋ́й мѝ чревоволше́бствомъ, и҆ возведи́ ми, є҆го́же рекꙋ́ ти.
He therefore changed his appearance, etc. The people of the Jews, having changed their habit in worst either of their earthly kingdom or of faith and works, by which they ought to have been spiritually adorned and loved, came to the hearing of such a Synagogue, which the woman with a familiar spirit signifies, in the blindness of a darkened heart; with those who, transgressing the unity of the true faith or charity, have by no means come to the knowledge of the holy Trinity. For he knows that the number two is sometimes placed in evil, who knows on what account the work of the second day alone in the creation of the world did not deserve the blessing of divine vision, and that unclean animals entered the ark under this number, and he rightly understands innumerable other things of this kind in the Scriptures.
Commentary on Samuel
And the woman said to him, Behold now, thou knowest what Saul has done, how he has cut off those who had in them divining spirits, and the wizards from the land, and why dost thou spread a snare for my life to destroy it?
καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ ἡ γυνή· ἰδοὺ δὴ σὺ οἶδας ὅσα ἐποίησε Σαούλ, ὡς ἐξωλόθρευσε τοὺς ἐγγαστριμύθους καὶ τοὺς γνώστας ἀπὸ τῆς γῆς· καὶ ἱνατί σὺ παγιδεύεις τὴν ψυχήν μου θανατῶσαι αὐτήν;
И҆ речѐ є҆мꙋ̀ жена̀: сѐ, нн҃ѣ ты̀ са́мъ вѣ́си, є҆ли̑ка сотворѝ саꙋ́лъ, ка́кѡ и҆стребѝ чревоба́сники и҆ волхвы̀ ѿ землѝ, и҆ вскꙋ́ю ты̀ ло́виши дꙋ́шꙋ мою̀, є҆́же ᲂу҆мертви́ти ю҆̀;
And Saul swore to her, and said, [As] the Lord lives, no injury shall come upon thee on this account.
καὶ ὤμοσεν αὐτῇ Σαοὺλ λέγων· ζῇ Κύριος, εἰ ἀπαντήσεταί σοι ἀδικία ἐν τῷ λόγῳ τούτῳ.
И҆ клѧ́тсѧ є҆́й саꙋ́лъ, глаго́лѧ: жи́въ гдⷭ҇ь, а҆́ще срѧ́щетъ тѧ̀ непра́вда ѡ҆ словесѝ се́мъ.
And the woman said, Whom shall I bring up to thee? and he said, Bring up to me Samuel.
καὶ εἶπεν ἡ γυνή· τίνα ἀναγάγω σοι; καὶ εἶπε· τὸν Σαμουὴλ ἀνάγαγέ μοι.
И҆ речѐ жена̀ саꙋ́лꙋ: кого̀ возведꙋ́ ти; И҆ речѐ саꙋ́лъ: самꙋи́ла возведи́ ми.
Is it not the case then, if such a great man was under the earth and the medium did bring him up, that a little demon has sway over the soul of the prophet? What can I say? These things are recorded. Is it true or is it not true? To say that it is not true drives us to unbelief. It comes down on the heads of those who speak it. But to say it is true presents for us an enquiry and quandary.And we well know that some among our brothers look askance at the Scripture and say, I do not believe in the medium. The medium says that she saw Samuel. She is lying! Samuel was not brought up. Samuel does not speak. Just as there are false prophets who say, “Thus says the Lord,” and “The Lord did not speak,” so too this little demon lies when it proclaims that it brings up the one pointed out by Saul. For, “whom shall I bring up?” He says, “Bring up Samuel for me.” These things are said by those who state that this history is not true.
Homily on 1 Kings 28.2.2-3
For what is it which has been written? “And the woman said, Whom shall I bring up for you?” Whose expression is the one which says, “The woman said”? Is it the expression of the Holy Spirit, from whom the Scripture is believed to be recorded, or is it the expression of someone else? For the narrative expression, as those involved with all sorts of words also know, is above all the expression of the author. And the author for all of these words has not been believed to be a human, but the author is the Holy Spirit who moves humans.
Homily on 1 Kings 28.4.2
And the woman said to him: Whom shall I raise up for you? etc. And the people of the Jews, entering their synagogue, through the prophecies once summarized and completed in Christ, desire as if to be raised up from the dead for themselves, namely practicing so as to serve anew the shadows of sacrifices, the Sabbath, new moons, leprosy of houses and clothes, and the other literal observances.
Commentary on Samuel
And the woman said to Saul, etc. She calls one seen in the plural, as is very customary in Scripture, where often many are designated by the singular, and singular individuals by the plural number. Finally, when one calf was made, the people said: These are your gods, O Israel (Exodus 32). And not one frog or fly was sent against the wicked, but it is said: He sent among them the dog-fly, and it devoured them; the frog, and it destroyed them (Psalm 77); and countless others of this kind.
Commentary on Samuel
And the woman saw Samuel, and cried out with a loud voice: and the woman said to Saul, Why hast thou deceived me? for thou art Saul.
καὶ εἶδεν ἡ γυνὴ τὸν Σαμουὴλ καὶ ἀνεβόησε φωνῇ μεγάλῃ· καὶ εἶπεν ἡ γυνὴ πρὸς Σαούλ· ἱνατί παρελογίσω με; καὶ σὺ εἶ Σαούλ.
И҆ ви́дѣ жена̀ самꙋи́ла, и҆ возгласѝ гла́сомъ ве́лїимъ, и҆ речѐ жена̀ къ саꙋ́лꙋ: почто̀ мѧ̀ прельсти́лъ є҆сѝ; и҆ ты̀ є҆сѝ саꙋ́лъ.
And the king said to her, Fear not; tell me whom thou hast seen. And the woman said to him, I saw gods ascending out of the earth.
καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῇ ὁ βασιλεύς· μὴ φοβοῦ, εἰπὸν τίνα ἑώρακας. καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ ἡ γυνή· θεοὺς ἑώρακα ἀναβαίνοντας ἐκ τῆς γῆς.
И҆ речѐ є҆́й ца́рь: не бо́йсѧ, рцы̀ кого̀ ви́дѣла є҆сѝ; И҆ речѐ є҆мꙋ̀ жена̀: бо́ги ви́дѣхъ восходѧ́щыѧ ѿ землѝ.
They [the Jews] reflected on the death of Abraham and the prophets, understanding that Samuel, too, when he was under the earth because of death, was brought up by a medium who thought the gods were somewhere below the earth and who said, “I saw gods ascending from the earth.” They had not, however, comprehended the life of Abraham and the prophets, nor that the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob was not the God of them as men who were dead, but as men who were alive.
Commentary on the Gospel of John 20.393
Samuel in hades! Samuel, he who was special among the prophets, who was dedicated to God from his birth, who before his birth is said to be in the temple, who at the same time he was weaned was clothed with the ephod and double cloak and became a priest of the Lord, the child to whom the Lord when he speaks uttered his messages, he was brought up by a medium?… Why is Samuel in hades?…Samuel comes up, and note that she does not say that she saw the soul of Samuel. She does not say she saw a man. She has been scared by this thing which she saw. What did she see? “I saw gods,” she says, “coming up from the earth.” And perhaps Samuel has not only come up in order just to prophesy to Saul, but it is likely, just as here “with the holy he will be holy, and with an innocent man he will be innocent,” and with the one of the chosen he will be as one of the chosen, and here the ways of the holy are with the holy but not with the sinners. And if then at some point the way of life of the holy is with the sinners for the purpose of saving the sinners, so perhaps also you may speculate whether either the holy souls of the other prophets in the coming up of Samuel come up together or perhaps whether they were angels of their spirits—the prophet says, “the angel who speaks in me”—or whether they were angels who came up together with the spirits. And every [place] is filled with those who need salvation, and “are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to serve for the sake of those who are to obtain salvation?” Why do you fear to say that every place has need of Jesus Christ? Those who have need of Christ have need of the prophets. But if he has no need of Christ, he has no need of those who prepare for the appearance and dwelling of Christ.
Homily on 1 Kings 28.3.2, 7.1
And he said to her, What didst thou perceive? and she said to him, An upright man ascending out of the earth, and he [was] clothed with a mantle. And Saul knew that this was Samuel, and he stooped with his face to the earth, and did obeisance to him.
καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῇ· τί ἔγνως; καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ· ἄνδρα ὄρθιον ἀναβαίνοντα ἐκ τῆς γῆς, καὶ οὗτος διπλοΐδα ἀναβεβλημένος. καὶ ἔγνω Σαούλ, ὅτι οὗτος Σαμουήλ, καὶ ἔκυψεν ἐπὶ πρόσωπον αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν καὶ προσεκύνησεν αὐτῷ.
И҆ речѐ є҆́й: что̀ позна́ла є҆сѝ; И҆ речѐ є҆мꙋ̀ (жена̀): (ви́дѣхъ) мꙋ́жа ста́ра восходѧ́ща ѿ землѝ, и҆ се́й ѡ҆болче́нъ ѡ҆дѣѧ́нїемъ до́лгимъ. И҆ ᲂу҆разꙋмѣ̀ саꙋ́лъ, ꙗ҆́кѡ се́й самꙋи́лъ (є҆́сть), и҆ преклонѝ лицѐ своѐ на зе́млю и҆ поклони́сѧ є҆мꙋ̀.
And that the souls survive, I have shown to you from the fact that the soul of Samuel was called up by the witch, as Saul demanded. And it appears also, that all the souls of similar righteous men and prophets fell under the dominion of such powers, as is indeed to be inferred from the very facts in the case of that witch. Hence also God by His Son teaches us for whose sake these things seem to have been done, always to strive earnestly, and at death to pray that our souls may not fall into the hands of any such power.
Dialogue with Trypho, Chapter CV
Why, even now the followers of Simon [Magus] are so confident of their art that they undertake to bring back the souls of the prophets from hell. And this, I believe, because their power lies in their ability to deceive. This power was actually granted to the witch of Endor, who brought back the soul of Samuel after Saul had consulted God in vain. Apart from that case, God forbid we should believe that any soul, much less a prophet, could be called forth by a demon. We are told that “Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light”—and more easily into a man of light—and that at the end he will work marvelous signs and show himself as God, so much so that, “if possible, he will deceive even the elect.” He hardly hesitated to declare to Saul that he was the prophet [Samuel] in whom the devil was then dwelling.So, you must not think that the spirit which created the apparition was different from the one who made Saul believe in it; but, the same spirit was in the witch of Endor and in the apostate [Saul], and so it was easy for him to suggest the lie that he had already made Saul believe. Saul’s treasure, indeed, was then where his heart was, where God most certainly was not. Thus, he saw only the devil, through whom he believed he would see Samuel, for he believed in the spirit who showed him the apparition.
On the Soul 57.7-9
The question is raised, whether Samuel rose by the hand of the sorceress or not. And if, indeed, we were to allow that he did rise, we should be propounding what is false. For how could a demon call back the soul, I say not of a righteous man merely, but of any one whatever, when it had gone, and was tarrying one knew not where? But he says, how then was the woman dismayed, and how did she see in an extraordinary way men ascending? For if her vision had not been of an extraordinary kind, she would not have said, "I see gods ascending out of the earth." She invoked one, and how did there ascend many? What then? Shall we say that the souls of all who appeared ascended, and those, too, not invoked by the woman; or that what was seen was merely phantasms of them? Even this, however, will not suffice. How, he urges further, did Saul recognise (what appeared), and do obeisance? Well, Saul did not actually see, but only, on being told by the woman that the figure of one of those who ascended was the figure he desired, and taking it to be Samuel, he consulted it as such, and did it obeisance. And it could be no difficult matter for the demon to conjure up the form of Samuel, as it was known to him. How then, says he, did he foretell the calamities that were to befall Saul and Jonathan at the same time? He did foretell indeed the end of the war, and how Saul would be overcome, drawing that as an inference from the wrath of God against him. Just as a physician, who has no exact knowledge of the science, might yet, seeing a patient past cure, tell of his death, though he made an error as to the hour, so, too, the demon, knowing the wrath of God by Saul's deeds, and by this very attempt to consult the sorceress, foretells his defeat and his death at the same time, though in error as to the day of his death.
Exegetical Fragments
And, therefore, if we inquire regarding the “tongue,” and the “finger,” and “Abraham’s bosom,” and the reclining there, it may perhaps be that the soul receives a form similar in appearance to its earthly body in the change. If, then, any one of those who have fallen asleep is recorded as having reappeared, he is seen in the same way and in the form that he had when he was in the flesh. Besides, when Samuel appeared, it is clear that, being seen, he was clothed in a body; and this must especially be admitted, if we are pressed by arguments which prove that the essence of the soul is incorporeal and is manifested by itself.
On the Resurrection 3.2.19
Why, then, did the rich man in hell crave for the drop of water? Why did holy Samuel appear after his death (as you have yourself noticed) clothed in his usual garments? Did the one wish to repair the ruins of the soul, as of the flesh, by the aliment of water? Did the other quit life with his clothes on him? Now in the former case there was a real suffering, which tormented the soul, but not a real body, such as required food. The latter might have seemed to be clothed, not as being a true body but a soul only, having the semblance of a body with clothing. For although the soul extends and contracts itself to suit the members of the body, it does not similarly adapt itself to the clothes, so as to fit its form to them.
On the Soul and Its Origin 4.29
I see no objection to saying that each mind has another body [sōma pneumatikos] when it leaves this solid one, and so the mind always has a body to animate, and in it crosses over, if there is any place to which necessity compels it to go, since, indeed, the angels themselves cannot be enumerated if they are not counted by bodies, as truth itself says in the Gospel: “I could ask my Father to send me twelve legions of angels”; and also since it is evident that Samuel was seen in the body when he was raised by the incantation of Saul, and since it is clear, according to the Gospel, that Moses, whose body was buried, came to the Lord on the mount when they stood together.
Letter 158
And Samuel said, Why hast thou troubled me, that I should come up? And Saul said, I am greatly distressed, and the Philistines war against me, and God has departed from me, and no longer hearkens to me either by the hand of the prophets or by dreams: and now I have called thee to tell me what I shall do.
καὶ εἶπε Σαμουήλ· ἱνατί παρηνώχλησάς μοι ἀναβῆναί με; καὶ εἶπε Σαούλ· θλίβομαι σφόδρα, καὶ οἱ ἀλλόφυλοι πολεμοῦσιν ἐν ἐμοί, καὶ ὁ Θεὸς ἀφέστηκεν ἀπ᾿ ἐμοῦ καὶ οὐκ ἐπακήκοέ μοι ἔτι καὶ ἐν χειρὶ τῶν προφητῶν καὶ ἐν τοῖς ἐνυπνίοις· καὶ νῦν κέκληκά σε γνωρίσαι μοι τί ποιήσω.
И҆ речѐ є҆мꙋ̀ самꙋи́лъ: почто̀ понꙋ́дилъ є҆сѝ мѧ̀ взы́ти мѝ; И҆ речѐ саꙋ́лъ: скорблю̀ ѕѣлѡ̀, ꙗ҆́кѡ и҆ноплемє́нницы вою́ютъ на мѧ̀, и҆ бг҃ъ ѿстꙋпѝ ѿ менє̀, и҆ не ᲂу҆слы́ша менѐ ктомꙋ̀ ни въ рꙋка́хъ проро́ческихъ, ни во снѣ́хъ, ни во ꙗ҆вле́нїихъ: и҆ нн҃ѣ призва́хъ тѧ̀, да ска́жеши мѝ, что̀ сотворю̀.
If the prophets, the forerunners of Christ, all went down into hades before the Christ, so too Samuel has gone down there. For he does not merely go down, but he goes down as a holy man. Wherever the holy man may be, he is holy. Is Christ no longer Christ, since he was once in hades? Was he no longer Son of God, since he existed in an underworld place, “that every knee should bow in the name of Jesus Christ in heaven and on earth and under the earth”? So, Christ was Christ even when he was below; that is to say, while he was in the place below, he was above in purpose. So too, the prophets and Samuel, even if they go down below where the souls are, they are able to be in a place below, but they are not below in purpose.
Homily on 1 Kings 28.8.1
But Samuel said to Saul: Why have you disturbed me? etc. And the books of the Old Testament, very full of the grace of prophecy, openly testify to readers that after the passion of the Lord they should not be raised again to the symbolic observance of the letter, but rather that the very ministers of prophecy are disturbed when they see what they wrote understood differently than they themselves sensed.
Commentary on Samuel
And Saul said: I am greatly distressed, etc. The Jews, abandoned by God, possess the gift of prophecy not by merit, attacked by all nations, follow, so to speak, a dead shadow of the law and the prophets under blind night. This, beset by miseries, they think should be consulted as to what should be done with them. Indeed, those same legal ceremonies, now celebrated in vain and in corners, signify that which was once shown publicly by the command and gracious acceptance of God, namely that the old things were to pass away, and all things were to be made new, that the kingdom of the Jews was to be utterly destroyed and the kingdom of Christians to be spread throughout the whole world, just as Samuel, though dead, but raised through impious art, revealed everything about the change of kingdom which he had foretold while alive. If anyone is indeed troubled by how a woman with demonic art could disturb and raise a prophet after death, let him know for certain either that the devil showed then a false shade to those seeking it, or if Samuel truly appeared, that the devil could only do as much as the Lord permitted. Nor is it surprising that such things are allowed to a malign spirit for certain secret reasons, since he set the Savior on the pinnacle of the temple, and asked for and received Job to tempt. But if we believe that it was rather the fantasy of an unclean spirit that appeared, this should not disturb as to how such a one could speak true and prophetic things. For we know that the devil often can foretell many future things which he has learned from holy angels, but thereby one ought to listen to his words the less, because all that he speaks or does among men, he does with the intention of deceiving. And what was said among other things:
Commentary on Samuel
And Samuel said, Why askest thou me, whereas the Lord has departed from thee, and taken part with thy neighbour?
καὶ εἶπε Σαμουήλ· ἱνατί ἐπερωτᾷς με; καὶ Κύριος ἀφέστηκεν ἀπὸ σοῦ καὶ γέγονε μετὰ τοῦ πλησίον σου·
И҆ речѐ самꙋи́лъ: почто̀ вопроша́еши мѧ̀, а҆ гдⷭ҇ь ѿстꙋпѝ ѿ тебє̀ и҆ бы́сть со бли́жнимъ твои́мъ;
And the Lord has done to thee, as the Lord spoke by me; and the Lord will rend thy kingdom out of thy hand, and will give it to thy neighbour David.
καὶ πεποίηκε Κύριός σοι καθὼς ἐλάλησε Κύριος ἐν χειρί μου, καὶ διαρρήξει Κύριος τὴν βασιλείαν σου ἐκ χειρός σου καὶ δώσει αὐτὴν τῷ πλησίον σου τῷ Δαυίδ.
и҆ сотворѝ гдⷭ҇ь тебѣ̀, ꙗ҆́коже гл҃а гдⷭ҇ь рꙋко́ю мое́ю, и҆ и҆сто́ргнетъ гдⷭ҇ь ца́рство твоѐ и҆з̾ рꙋкꙋ̀ твоє́ю и҆ вда́стъ є҆̀ бли́жнемꙋ твоемꙋ̀ даві́дꙋ,
17–19Is a little demon capable of prophesying concerning the entire people of God that the Lord is about to deliver Israel?…Can also a little demon know this, that after a king has been appointed with the anointing oil of a prophet, that tomorrow Saul and his sons with him will forfeit their lives?… But I cannot give to a little demon such a great power that he can prophesy concerning Saul and the people of God and he can prophesy concerning David that he will become king.
Homilies on 1 Kings 5.5, 5.8
Also, some can be sent to the living from the dead, just as in the opposite direction divine Scripture testifies that Paul was snatched from the living into paradise. Samuel the prophet, although dead, predicted future events to King Saul, who was alive, although some think that it was not Samuel himself who was able to be called forth by some magic, but that some spirit so allied with evil works had feigned a likeness to him—yet the book of Ecclesiasticus, which Jesus the son of Sirach is said to have written, but because of some similarity of style is thought to be the work of Solomon, contains in praise of the fathers the fact that Samuel prophesied even though dead. If there is objection to this book on the ground that it is not in the canon of ancient Hebrew Scripture, what are we going to say of Moses, who in Deuteronomy is certainly recorded as dead and again in the Gospel of Matthew is reported to have appeared to the living along with Elijah who did not die.
On the Care of the Dead 15.18
because thou didst not hearken to the voice of the Lord, and didst not execute his fierce anger upon Amalec, therefore the Lord has done this thing to thee this day.
διότι οὐκ ἤκουσας φωνῆς Κυρίου καὶ οὐκ ἐποίησας θυμὸν ὀργῆς αὐτοῦ ἐν ᾿Αμαλήκ, διὰ τοῦτο τὸ ῥῆμα ἐποίησε Κύριός σοι ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ταύτῃ.
поне́же не послꙋ́шалъ є҆сѝ гла́са гдⷭ҇нѧ и҆ не и҆спо́лнилъ є҆сѝ гнѣ́ва ꙗ҆́рости є҆гѡ̀ на а҆мали́кѣ, глаго́ла ра́ди тогѡ̀ сотворѝ тебѣ̀ гдⷭ҇ь въ де́нь се́й:
The need of severe measures tends to crush all gentleness and compassion of heart. The testimony of Scripture supports my assertion. We read that a sovereign sinned who spared an enemy appointed by heaven to be slain. His leniency brought upon him the penalty which his severity should have inflicted upon another. He who refuses to take vengeance, himself becomes its victim. He who, having an enemy in his power, pardons him, either makes light of or despises the weight of God’s judgment. Rightly do they suffer punishment who have done wrong. He who pardons present faults transmits them to posterity. As for … the patience of our Redeemer mercy and grace embrace those whom the severity of the law forms. Never has a doctor restored a sick person to perfect health without first cutting away the putrid members and drawing out the filth hidden deep within. He who lets the guilty go unpunished urges the innocent to commit crimes.
Life of St. Epiphanius
And the Lord shall deliver Israel with thee into the hands of the Philistines, and to-morrow thou and thy sons with thee shall fall, and the Lord shall deliver the army of Israel into the hands of the Philistines.
καὶ παραδώσει Κύριος τὸν ᾿Ισραὴλ μετὰ σοῦ εἰς χεῖρας ἀλλοφύλων, καὶ αὔριον σὺ καὶ οἱ υἱοί σου μετὰ σοῦ πεσοῦνται, καὶ τὴν παρεμβολὴν ᾿Ισραὴλ δώσει Κύριος εἰς χεῖρας ἀλλοφύλων.
и҆ преда́стъ гдⷭ҇ь і҆и҃лѧ съ тобо́ю въ рꙋ́ки и҆ноплемє́нничи, и҆ заꙋ́тра ты̀ и҆ сы́нове твоѝ падꙋ́тъ съ тобо́ю, и҆ по́лкъ і҆и҃левъ преда́стъ гдⷭ҇ь въ рꙋ́ки и҆ноплемє́нничи.
Tomorrow you and your sons will be with me, whether Samuel said it, or an evil spirit, it is understood no otherwise than without a body, that is, in another life. For by no means could wicked Saul be there after death, where good Jonathan could be received, indeed a great chasm is established between them, where one is received into the bosom of Abraham with Samuel, the other buried in the flame of hell with the devil. However, both are taken from the conversation of this life, which the devil always lacked. Nor does anything hinder the understanding, if we believe these things fantastically said and shown by the devil, that the evil one wanted to mix falsehoods among the truths he would speak; and saying under the person of Samuel to the wicked one, You and your sons will be with me. To secretly persuade sinners that after death, even the worst sins being put to sleep and dismissed, they can then live blessedly with those who lived well before death.
Commentary on Samuel
And Saul instantly fell at his full length upon the earth, and was greatly afraid because of the words of Samuel; and there was no longer any strength in him, for he had eaten no bread all that day, and all that night.
καὶ ἔσπευσε Σαοὺλ καὶ ἔπεσεν ἑστηκὼς ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν καὶ ἐφοβήθη σφόδρα ἀπὸ τῶν λόγων Σαμουήλ· καὶ ἐν αὐτῷ οὐκ ἦν ἰσχὺς ἔτι, οὐ γὰρ ἔφαγεν ἄρτον ὅλην τὴν ἡμέραν καὶ ὅλην τὴν νύκτα ἐκείνην.
И҆ потща́сѧ саꙋ́лъ, и҆ падѐ стоѧ́щь на зе́млю, и҆ ᲂу҆боѧ́сѧ ѕѣлѡ̀ ѿ слове́съ самꙋи́ловыхъ, и҆ не бы́сть ктомꙋ̀ крѣ́пости въ не́мъ: ꙗ҆́кѡ не ꙗ҆дѐ хлѣ́ба во ве́сь де́нь то́й и҆ во всю̀ но́щь тꙋ̀.
And immediately Saul fell full length on the ground, etc. Reading the words of the prophets, the people of the Jews celebrating vain sacrifices, indeed the wretched suffer terror, but they do not have the strength of faith by which they may be blessed, because the grace of evangelical preaching has been shining around the world for such a long time, and they did not know how to eat the living bread that came down from heaven.
Commentary on Samuel
And the woman went in to Saul, and saw that he was greatly disquieted, and said to him, Behold now, thine handmaid has hearkened to thy voice, and I have put my life in my hand, and have heard the words which thou has spoken to me.
καὶ εἰσῆλθεν ἡ γυνὴ πρὸς Σαοὺλ καὶ εἶδεν ὅτι ἔσπευσε σφόδρα, καὶ εἶπε πρὸς αὐτόν· ἰδοὺ δὴ ἤκουσεν ἡ δούλη σου τῆς φωνῆς σου καὶ ἐθέμην τὴν ψυχήν μου ἐν τῇ χειρί μου καὶ ἤκουσα τοὺς λόγους, οὓς ἐλάλησάς μοι·
И҆ вни́де жена̀ къ саꙋ́лꙋ, и҆ ви́дѣ є҆го̀, ꙗ҆́кѡ смѧте́сѧ ѕѣлѡ̀, и҆ речѐ къ немꙋ̀: сѐ, нн҃ѣ послꙋ́ша раба̀ твоѧ̀ гла́са твоегѡ̀, и҆ положи́хъ дꙋ́шꙋ мою̀ въ рꙋ́цѣ моѝ, и҆ послꙋ́шахъ слове́съ, ꙗ҆̀же мѝ глаго́лалъ є҆сѝ:
Therefore that woman came in to Saul, etc. And that faithless people, oppressed by so many calamities among the nations today, is troubled on all sides, so that not even the very words of sacred reading, which they still perceive in the darkness of ignorance, would delight it, though perceiving by reading or hearing them, compelled by its own synagogue.
Commentary on Samuel
And now hearken, I pray thee, to the voice of thine handmaid, and I will set before thee a morsel of bread, and eat, and thou shalt be strengthened, for thou wilt be going on thy way.
καὶ νῦν ἄκουσον δὴ φωνῆς τῆς δούλης σου, καὶ παραθήσω ἐνώπιόν σου ψωμὸν ἄρτου, καὶ φάγε, καὶ ἔσται σοι ἰσχύς, ὅτι πορεύῃ ἐν ὁδῷ.
и҆ нн҃ѣ послꙋ́шай гла́са рабы̀ твоеѧ̀, и҆ положꙋ̀ пред̾ тобо́ю ᲂу҆крꙋ́хъ хлѣ́ба, и҆ ꙗ҆́ждь, и҆ бꙋ́детъ въ тебѣ̀ крѣ́пость, ꙗ҆́кѡ и҆́деши въ пꙋ́ть.
But he would not eat; so his servants and the woman constrained him, and he hearkened to their voice, and rose up from the earth, and sat upon a bench.
καὶ οὐκ ἐβουλήθη φαγεῖν· καὶ παρεβιάζοντο αὐτὸν οἱ παῖδες αὐτοῦ καὶ ἡ γυνή, καὶ ἤκουσε τῆς φωνῆς αὐτῶν καὶ ἀνέστη ἀπὸ τῆς γῆς καί ἐκάθισεν ἐπὶ τὸν δίφρον.
И҆ не хотѧ́ше ꙗ҆́сти: и҆ понꙋ́диша є҆го̀ ѻ҆́троцы є҆гѡ̀ и҆ жена̀, и҆ послꙋ́ша гла́са и҆́хъ, и҆ воста̀ ѿ землѝ, и҆ сѣ́де на сѣда́лищи.
And the woman had a fat heifer in the house; and she hasted and slew it; and she took meal and kneaded it, and baked unleavened cakes.
καὶ τῇ γυναικὶ ἦν δάμαλις νομὰς ἐν τῇ οἰκίᾳ, καὶ ἔσπευσε καὶ ἔθυσεν αὐτὴν καὶ ἔλαβεν ἄλευρα καὶ ἐφύρασε καὶ ἔπεψεν ἄζυμα
Женѣ́ же бѧ́ше ю҆́ница пито́маѧ въ домꙋ̀: и҆ потща́сѧ, и҆ закла̀ ю҆̀: и҆ взѧ̀ мꙋкꙋ̀ и҆ смѣсѝ, и҆ и҆спечѐ ѡ҆прѣсно́ки,
But that woman had a Paschal calf in her house, etc. The most tender and excellent calf, and fine flour bread, which Abraham and Sarah prepared to refresh the Lord during the fervent midday sun (Gen. XVIII), implies the faith in the Lord's incarnation and the perfection of devout humility, with which the holy Church, together with its spiritual teachers glowing with the light of love and wisdom, placates the Lord. But on the other hand, this Paschal calf, and the flour which the demon-possessed woman cooked for Saul who was about to die, and presented for his servants to eat in the middle of the night, express the birth and reign of the Antichrist, and the breaking of the hearts of those who serve him with foolish humility: which the synagogue of Satan, enveloped in the darkness of impiety, suggests to its hearers who are wretched and condemned to eternal death as things to be believed and hoped for, as if it refreshes them with sweet feasts from the fear of surrounding troubles; so that the hearts nourished with this food, progressing in wickedness, go darkly through the shadow under the solitary night.
Commentary on Samuel
And she brought [the meat] before Saul, and before his servants; and they ate, and rose up, and departed that night.
καὶ προσήγαγεν ἐνώπιον Σαοὺλ καὶ ἐνώπιον τῶν παιδῶν αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἔφαγον. καὶ ἀνέστησαν καὶ ἀπῆλθον τὴν νύκτα ἐκείνην.
и҆ принесѐ пред̾ саꙋ́ла и҆ пред̾ ѻ҆́троки є҆гѡ̀: и҆ ꙗ҆до́ша, и҆ воста́ша и҆ ѿидо́ша въ но́щь ѻ҆́нꙋ.
And it came to pass in those days that the Philistines gathered themselves together with their armies to go out to fight with Israel; and Anchus said to David, Know surely, that thou shalt go forth to battle with me, [thou], and thy men.
ΚΑΙ ἐγενήθη ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις ἐκείναις καὶ συναθροίζονται ἀλλόφυλοι ἐν ταῖς παρεμβολαῖς αὐτῶν ἐξελθεῖν πολεμεῖν μετὰ ᾿Ισραήλ, καὶ εἶπεν ᾿Αγχοῦς πρὸς Δαυίδ· γινώσκων γνώσῃ ὅτι μετ᾿ ἐμοῦ ἐξελεύσῃ εἰς πόλεμον σὺ καὶ οἱ ἄνδρες σου.
И҆ бы́сть во дни̑ ѡ҆́ны, и҆ собра́шасѧ и҆ноплемє́нницы въ полкѝ своѧ̑ и҆зы́ти бра́тисѧ со і҆и҃льтѧны. И҆ речѐ а҆гхꙋ́съ къ даві́дꙋ: разꙋмѣ́ѧ разꙋмѣ́й, ꙗ҆́кѡ со мно́ю и҆зы́деши на бра́нь ты̀ и҆ мꙋ́жїе твоѝ.