1 Samuel 28:3 (KJV)

What does 1 Samuel 28:3 mean?

1 Samuel 28:3 explains that Samuel, the respected prophet, had died, and all Israel mourned for him and buried him in his hometown, Ramah. It also notes that King Saul had removed people who claimed to communicate with spirits and those practicing magic from the land.

This verse sets the stage for the events that follow by highlighting two important facts: Samuel, Israel’s spiritual leader, is gone, and Saul has tried to rid the country of occult practices. The verse is not spoken by a character but serves as a narrative summary, reminding readers of Samuel’s death and Saul’s earlier actions as background for the story about to unfold.

The Hebrew behind 1 Samuel 28:3

• "Samuel" (שְׁמוּאֵל, shemu'el) is named as the prophet whose death has left a spiritual gap in Israel, emphasizing the loss of godly guidance.
• "Lamented" (סָפַד, safad) means to mourn deeply, often with public displays of grief, showing that Samuel’s death affected the entire nation.
• "Put away" (סוּר, sur) means to remove or banish, underlining Saul’s effort to drive out those with "familiar spirits" (אוֹב, 'ov) and "wizards" (יִדְּעֹנִי, yidde'oni), both terms referring to people involved in seeking supernatural knowledge or power outside of God.

Why 1 Samuel 28:3 matters

• This verse clarifies that Samuel’s death left Saul without his most trusted spiritual advisor, which is crucial for understanding Saul’s desperation in the coming story.
• The mention of Saul removing occult practitioners shows his earlier commitment to following God’s laws, which forbade such practices, and sets up the irony of his later actions.
• By reminding readers of these two facts, the verse prepares us for Saul’s decision to seek out a medium, highlighting the tension between his past actions and his present choices.