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.”

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
1 Sam 28:2On the Witch of Endor 1 · Origenquotation, high confidenceca. 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.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
1 Sam 28:3–25On the Witch of Endor 1 · Eustathius of Antiochallusion, high confidenceca. 324–337
1 Sam 28:3–8On the Witch of Endor 2 · Eustathius of Antiochallusion, high confidenceca. 324–337
1 Sam 28:3Question 27, section 2 · Ambrosiasterallusion, high confidenceca. 370–384
1 Sam 28:3–14To Theodosius on the Witch of Endor, part 1 · Gregory of Nyssaallusion, high confidenceca. 380–394
1 Sam 28:3Homilies on Matthew 86.3 · John Chrysostomallusion, high confidenceca. 390
1 Sam 28:3Against Faustus the Manichaean 22.65 · Augustine of Hippoallusion, high confidenceca. 398–400
1 Sam 28:3Questions and Answers to the Orthodox 52 · Anonymousallusion, high confidence5th century (disputed)

1 Samuel 28:6

He inquired of the LORD, but the LORD did not answer him by dreams or Urim or prophets.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
1 Sam 28:6On the Witch of Endor 2 · Eustathius of Antiochallusion, high confidenceca. 324–337
1 Sam 28:6Demonstration 2.17 · Aphrahatallusion, high confidence337-345
1 Sam 28:6–7Commentary on Jeremiah 2.103 · Jeromeallusion, high confidenceca. 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.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
1 Sam 28:7–19On the Soul 57 · Tertullianallusion, high confidenceca. 210
1 Sam 28:7On the Witch of Endor 1 · Origenallusion, high confidenceca. 240
1 Sam 28:7–19Commentary on 1 Corinthians 10:14 · Ambrosiasterallusion, high confidenceca. 366–384
1 Sam 28:7Commentary on Romans 9:16 · Ambrosiasterallusion, medium confidenceca. 366–384
1 Sam 28:7–19Question 27, section 1 · Ambrosiasterallusion, high confidenceca. 370–384
1 Sam 28:7Letter 78.38 · Jeromeallusion, high confidenceca. 370–419
1 Sam 28:7–19Book of Heresies 26.1 · Philastrius of Bresciaallusion, high confidenceca. 380s
1 Sam 28:7Letter 43.23 · Augustine of Hippoallusion, high confidenceca. 386–430
1 Sam 28:7Homilies on Matthew 6.3 · John Chrysostomallusion, high confidenceca. 390
1 Sam 28:7Homilies on Matthew 86.3 · John Chrysostomallusion, high confidenceca. 390
1 Sam 28:7–19On Christian Doctrine 2.23 · Augustine of Hippoallusion, high confidenceBooks 1–3 ca. 396–397; completed 426–427
1 Sam 28:7–19Questions and Answers to the Orthodox 52 · Anonymousallusion, high confidence5th century (disputed)

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.”

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
1 Sam 28:8On the Witch of Endor 2 · Eustathius of Antiochquotation, high confidenceca. 324–337
1 Sam 28:8On the Witch of Endor 26 · Eustathius of Antiochallusion, medium confidenceca. 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?”

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
1 Sam 28:9–14On the Witch of Endor 3 · Eustathius of Antiochquotation, high confidenceca. 324–337

1 Samuel 28:11

“Whom shall I bring up for you?” the woman asked. “Bring up Samuel,” he replied.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
1 Sam 28:11Dialogue with Trypho 105.4 · Justin Martyrallusion, high confidenceca. 155–160
1 Sam 28:11–19On the Medium of Endor (spurious fragment) · Hippolytus of Romeallusion, high confidenceca. 200–235
1 Sam 28:11On the Witch of Endor 2 · Origenallusion, high confidenceca. 240
1 Sam 28:11On the Witch of Endor 3 · Origenquotation, high confidenceca. 240
1 Sam 28:11On the Witch of Endor 4 · Origenquotation, high confidenceca. 240
1 Sam 28:11Homilies on Jeremiah 18.2 · Origenallusion, high confidenceca. 240
1 Sam 28:11Martyrdom of Pionius and Companions 14 · Anonymousquotation, high confidence250 (the text may be later)
1 Sam 28:11Divine Institutes 7.13.7 · Lactantiusecho, low confidenceca. 303–311
1 Sam 28:11On the Witch of Endor 3 · Eustathius of Antiochquotation, high confidenceca. 324–337
1 Sam 28:11–12On the Witch of Endor 4 · Eustathius of Antiochquotation, high confidenceca. 324–337
1 Sam 28:11On the Witch of Endor 26 · Eustathius of Antiochquotation, high confidenceca. 324–337
1 Sam 28:11Oration 4.54 · Gregory of Nazianzusallusion, high confidenceca. 362–383
1 Sam 28:11–19Tractates 1.16.4 · Zeno of Veronaallusion, high confidenceca. 362-380
1 Sam 28:11Retractations 2.1 · Augustine of Hippoallusion, high confidence426-427

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!”

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
1 Sam 28:12On the Witch of Endor 4 · Origenquotation, high confidenceca. 240
1 Sam 28:12On the Witch of Endor 6 · Origenquotation, high confidenceca. 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.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
1 Sam 28:13On the Medium of Endor (spurious fragment) · Hippolytus of Romequotation, high confidenceca. 200–235
1 Sam 28:13Commentary on John 20.393 · Origenquotation, high confidenceca. 230–248
1 Sam 28:13On the Witch of Endor 4 · Origenquotation, high confidenceca. 240
1 Sam 28:13On the Witch of Endor 7 · Origenquotation, high confidenceca. 240
1 Sam 28:13–14On the Witch of Endor 5 · Eustathius of Antiochquotation, high confidenceca. 324–337
1 Sam 28:13–14On the Witch of Endor 10 · Eustathius of Antiochquotation, high confidenceca. 324–337
1 Sam 28:13On the Witch of Endor 20 · Eustathius of Antiochquotation, high confidenceca. 324–337
1 Sam 28:13Letters 188, 189 · Basil of Caesareaallusion, high confidenceca. 357–378
1 Sam 28:13–14To Theodosius on the Witch of Endor, part 2 · Gregory of Nyssaallusion, high confidenceca. 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.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
1 Sam 28:14Dialogue with Trypho 105.4 · Justin Martyrallusion, high confidenceca. 155–160
1 Sam 28:14On the Witch of Endor 4 · Origenquotation, high confidenceca. 240
1 Sam 28:14On the Witch of Endor 6 · Origenallusion, high confidenceca. 240
1 Sam 28:14Martyrdom of Pionius and Companions 14 · Anonymousallusion, high confidence250 (the text may be later)
1 Sam 28:14Res. 3.17 · Methodius of Olympusallusion, high confidencelate 3rd cent. (disputed)
1 Sam 28:14On the Witch of Endor 6 · Eustathius of Antiochquotation, high confidenceca. 324–337
1 Sam 28:14On the Witch of Endor 7 · Eustathius of Antiochquotation, high confidenceca. 324–337
1 Sam 28:14On the Witch of Endor 11 · Eustathius of Antiochallusion, medium confidenceca. 324–337
1 Sam 28:14Question 27, section 3 · Ambrosiasterquotation, high confidenceca. 370–384
1 Sam 28:14Question 27, section 4 · Ambrosiasterallusion, high confidenceca. 370–384
1 Sam 28:14Letter 158.6 · Augustine of Hippoallusion, high confidenceca. 386–430
1 Sam 28:14On the Soul and Its Origin 4.29 · Augustine of Hippoallusion, high confidenceca. 419–420

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.”

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
1 Sam 28:15On the Witch of Endor 4 · Origenquotation, high confidenceca. 240
1 Sam 28:15Commentary on Matthew 15.35 · Origenallusion, high confidenceca. 246–248
1 Sam 28:15–17On the Witch of Endor 11 · Eustathius of Antiochquotation, high confidenceca. 324–337
1 Sam 28:15Homilies on Matthew 62.5 · John Chrysostomquotation, high confidenceca. 390
1 Sam 28:15On Care for the Dead 18 · Augustine of Hippoallusion, high confidenceca. 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?

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
1 Sam 28:16On the Witch of Endor 4 · Origenquotation, high confidenceca. 240
1 Sam 28:16–19On the Witch of Endor 12 · Eustathius of Antiochquotation, high confidenceca. 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.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
1 Sam 28:17On the Witch of Endor 4 · Origenquotation, high confidenceca. 240
1 Sam 28:17On the Witch of Endor 5 · Origenquotation, high confidenceca. 240
1 Sam 28:17On the Witch of Endor 8 · Origenallusion, high confidenceca. 240
1 Sam 28:17On the Witch of Endor 23 · Eustathius of Antiochquotation, high confidenceca. 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.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
1 Sam 28:18On the Witch of Endor 5 · Origenquotation, high confidenceca. 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.”

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
1 Sam 28:19Commentary on John 28.148 · Origenallusion, high confidenceca. 230–248
1 Sam 28:19Commentary on John 28.149 · Origenallusion, high confidenceca. 230–248
1 Sam 28:19On the Witch of Endor 5 · Origenquotation, high confidenceca. 240
1 Sam 28:19Martyrdom of Pionius and Companions 14 · Anonymousquotation, high confidence250 (the text may be later)
1 Sam 28:19–25On the Witch of Endor 13 · Eustathius of Antiochallusion, high confidenceca. 324–337
1 Sam 28:19On the Witch of Endor 13 · Eustathius of Antiochquotation, high confidenceca. 324–337
1 Sam 28:19On the Witch of Endor 14 · Eustathius of Antiochquotation, high confidenceca. 324–337
1 Sam 28:19On the Witch of Endor 15 · Eustathius of Antiochquotation, high confidenceca. 324–337
1 Sam 28:19Question 27, section 2 · Ambrosiasterallusion, high confidenceca. 370–384
1 Sam 28:19Question 27, section 3 · Ambrosiasterquotation, high confidenceca. 370–384
1 Sam 28:19Question 27, section 4 · Ambrosiasterallusion, high confidenceca. 370–384
1 Sam 28:19To Theodosius on the Witch of Endor, part 2 · Gregory of Nyssaquotation, high confidenceca. 380–394

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.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
1 Sam 28:20On the Witch of Endor 16 · Eustathius of Antiochquotation, high confidenceca. 324–337