1 Samuel 28 in the early church
[LXX: 1 Kingdoms; Vulgate: 1 Kings]
88 passages quote, allude to, or echo 1 Samuel 28, grouped by verse; passages on the same verse are in date order. Verse text from the Berean Standard Bible (public domain). References use the Protestant English Bible's numbering, with a writer's own numbering in brackets where it differs.
Verses: 2 · 3 · 6 · 7 · 8 · 9 · 11 · 12 · 13 · 14 · 15 · 16 · 17 · 18 · 19 · 20
1 Samuel 28:2
David replied, “Then you will come to know what your servant can do.” “Very well,” said Achish. “I will make you my bodyguard for life.”
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Sam 28:2 | On the Witch of Endor 1 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 240 |
1 Samuel 28:3
Now by this time Samuel had died, and all Israel had mourned for him and buried him in Ramah, his own city. And Saul had removed the mediums and spiritists from the land.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Sam 28:3–25 | On the Witch of Endor 1 · Eustathius of Antioch | allusion, high confidence | ca. 324–337 |
| 1 Sam 28:3–8 | On the Witch of Endor 2 · Eustathius of Antioch | allusion, high confidence | ca. 324–337 |
| 1 Sam 28:3 | Question 27, section 2 · Ambrosiaster | allusion, high confidence | ca. 370–384 |
| 1 Sam 28:3–14 | To Theodosius on the Witch of Endor, part 1 · Gregory of Nyssa | allusion, high confidence | ca. 380–394 |
| 1 Sam 28:3 | Homilies on Matthew 86.3 · John Chrysostom | allusion, high confidence | ca. 390 |
| 1 Sam 28:3 | Against Faustus the Manichaean 22.65 · Augustine of Hippo | allusion, high confidence | ca. 398–400 |
| 1 Sam 28:3 | Questions and Answers to the Orthodox 52 · Anonymous | allusion, high confidence | 5th century (disputed) |
1 Samuel 28:6
He inquired of the LORD, but the LORD did not answer him by dreams or Urim or prophets.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Sam 28:6 | On the Witch of Endor 2 · Eustathius of Antioch | allusion, high confidence | ca. 324–337 |
| 1 Sam 28:6 | Demonstration 2.17 · Aphrahat | allusion, high confidence | 337-345 |
| 1 Sam 28:6–7 | Commentary on Jeremiah 2.103 · Jerome | allusion, high confidence | ca. 414-419 |
1 Samuel 28:7
Then Saul said to his servants, “Find me a woman who is a medium, so I can go and consult her.” “There is a medium at Endor,” his servants replied.
1 Samuel 28:8
So Saul disguised himself by putting on different clothes, and he set out with two of his men. They came to the woman at night, and Saul said, “Consult a spirit for me. Bring up for me the one I name.”
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Sam 28:8 | On the Witch of Endor 2 · Eustathius of Antioch | quotation, high confidence | ca. 324–337 |
| 1 Sam 28:8 | On the Witch of Endor 26 · Eustathius of Antioch | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 324–337 |
1 Samuel 28:9
But the woman replied, “Surely you know what Saul has done, how he has killed the mediums and spiritists in the land. Why have you set a trap to get me killed?”
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Sam 28:9–14 | On the Witch of Endor 3 · Eustathius of Antioch | quotation, high confidence | ca. 324–337 |
1 Samuel 28:11
“Whom shall I bring up for you?” the woman asked. “Bring up Samuel,” he replied.
1 Samuel 28:12
But when the woman saw Samuel, she cried out in a loud voice and said to Saul, “Why have you deceived me? You are Saul!”
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Sam 28:12 | On the Witch of Endor 4 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 240 |
| 1 Sam 28:12 | On the Witch of Endor 6 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 240 |
1 Samuel 28:13
“Do not be afraid,” the king replied. “What do you see?” “I see a god coming up out of the earth,” the woman answered.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Sam 28:13 | On the Medium of Endor (spurious fragment) · Hippolytus of Rome | quotation, high confidence | ca. 200–235 |
| 1 Sam 28:13 | Commentary on John 20.393 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 230–248 |
| 1 Sam 28:13 | On the Witch of Endor 4 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 240 |
| 1 Sam 28:13 | On the Witch of Endor 7 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 240 |
| 1 Sam 28:13–14 | On the Witch of Endor 5 · Eustathius of Antioch | quotation, high confidence | ca. 324–337 |
| 1 Sam 28:13–14 | On the Witch of Endor 10 · Eustathius of Antioch | quotation, high confidence | ca. 324–337 |
| 1 Sam 28:13 | On the Witch of Endor 20 · Eustathius of Antioch | quotation, high confidence | ca. 324–337 |
| 1 Sam 28:13 | Letters 188, 189 · Basil of Caesarea | allusion, high confidence | ca. 357–378 |
| 1 Sam 28:13–14 | To Theodosius on the Witch of Endor, part 2 · Gregory of Nyssa | allusion, high confidence | ca. 380–394 |
1 Samuel 28:14
“What does he look like?” asked Saul. “An old man is coming up,” she replied. “And he is wearing a robe.” So Saul knew that it was Samuel, and he bowed facedown in reverence.
1 Samuel 28:15
Then Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?” “I am deeply distressed,” replied Saul. “The Philistines are fighting against me, and God has turned away from me. He no longer answers me, either by prophets or by dreams. So I have called on you to tell me what to do.”
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Sam 28:15 | On the Witch of Endor 4 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 240 |
| 1 Sam 28:15 | Commentary on Matthew 15.35 · Origen | allusion, high confidence | ca. 246–248 |
| 1 Sam 28:15–17 | On the Witch of Endor 11 · Eustathius of Antioch | quotation, high confidence | ca. 324–337 |
| 1 Sam 28:15 | Homilies on Matthew 62.5 · John Chrysostom | quotation, high confidence | ca. 390 |
| 1 Sam 28:15 | On Care for the Dead 18 · Augustine of Hippo | allusion, high confidence | ca. 421–422 |
1 Samuel 28:16
“Why do you consult me,” asked Samuel, “since the LORD has turned away from you and become your enemy?
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Sam 28:16 | On the Witch of Endor 4 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 240 |
| 1 Sam 28:16–19 | On the Witch of Endor 12 · Eustathius of Antioch | quotation, high confidence | ca. 324–337 |
1 Samuel 28:17
He has done exactly what He spoke through me: The LORD has torn the kingdom out of your hand and given it to your neighbor David.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Sam 28:17 | On the Witch of Endor 4 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 240 |
| 1 Sam 28:17 | On the Witch of Endor 5 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 240 |
| 1 Sam 28:17 | On the Witch of Endor 8 · Origen | allusion, high confidence | ca. 240 |
| 1 Sam 28:17 | On the Witch of Endor 23 · Eustathius of Antioch | quotation, high confidence | ca. 324–337 |
1 Samuel 28:18
Because you did not obey the LORD or carry out His burning anger against Amalek, the LORD has done this to you today.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Sam 28:18 | On the Witch of Endor 5 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 240 |
1 Samuel 28:19
Moreover, the LORD will deliver Israel with you into the hand of the Philistines, and tomorrow you and your sons will be with me. And the LORD will deliver the army of Israel into the hand of the Philistines.”
1 Samuel 28:20
Immediately Saul fell flat on the ground, terrified by the words of Samuel. And his strength was gone, because he had not eaten anything all that day and night.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Sam 28:20 | On the Witch of Endor 16 · Eustathius of Antioch | quotation, high confidence | ca. 324–337 |