College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
1 Samuel 28:3-6
Saul Forsaken by God. 1 Samuel 28:3-6
3 Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel had lamented him, and buried him in Ramah, even in his own city. And Saul had put away those that had familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land.
4 And the Philistines gathered themselves together, and came and pitched in Shunem: and Saul gathered all Israel together, and they pitched in Gilboa.
5 And when Saul saw the host of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart greatly trembled.
6 And when Saul enquired of the Lord, the Lord answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets.
DAVID'S WANDERINGS
WHEN HE FLED FROM SAUL
(The places listed are shown on the map.)
1.
Gibeah; 1 Samuel 19:1-17.
a.
Jonathan intercedes for David; 1 Samuel 19:1-7.
b.
Saul tries to spear David; 1 Samuel 19:8-10.
c.
Michal helps David escape; 1 Samuel 19:11-17.
2.
Ramah; 1 Samuel 19:18-24; Psalms 59 (?).
a.
David visits Samuel; 1 Samuel 19:18-19.
b.
Saul and his messengers prophesy; 1 Samuel 19:20-24.
3.
Gibeah; 1 Samuel 20.
a.
David absent from feast of new moon; 1 Samuel 20:1-34.
b.
Jonathan warns David with arrows; 1 Samuel 20:35-42.
4.
Nob;[1] 1 Samuel 21:1-9.
[1] The location of Nob is uncertain. It is thought to he near the Mt. of Olives near Jerusalem.
a.
Ahimelech gives David food and weapons; 1 Samuel 21:1-6; 1 Samuel 21:8-9.
b.
Doeg the Edomite witnesses Ahimelech's Acts 21:7.
5.
Gath; 1 Samuel 21:10-15; Psalms 34, 56.
a.
David feigns madness.
6.
Adullam; 1 Samuel 22:1-2; Psalms 142.
a.
David gathers 400 followers.
7.
Mizpeh of Moab; 1 Samuel 22:3-5.
a.
David leaves his parents here for safety,
8.
Forest of Hareth; 1 Samuel 22:5-23; Psalms 52.
a.
Saul slays priests at Nob; 1 Samuel 22:5-19.
b.
Abiathar comes to David; 1 Samuel 22:20-23,
9.
Keilah; 1 Samuel 23:1-12.
a.
David saves Keilah from Philistines; 1 Samuel 23:1-6.
b.
Saul pursues David; 1 Samuel 23:7-12.
10.
Ziph; 1 Samuel 23:13-23.
a.
David escapes to the wilderness; 1 Samuel 23:13-14.
b.
Jonathan's last visit with David; 1 Samuel 23:15-18.
c.
Ziphites reveal David's hiding place to Saul; 1 Samuel 23:19-23.
11.
Maon; 1 Samuel 23:24-28.
a.
David narrowly escapes Saul.
12.
Engedi; 1 Samuel 23:29 to 1 Samuel 24:22.
a. David spares Saul.
13.
Carmel; 1 Samuel 25:1-44.
a.
Samuel's death; 1 Samuel 25:1.
b.
Nabal refuses food for David's men; 1 Samuel 25:2-13.
c.
Abigail's intercession; 1 Samuel 25:14-35.
d.
Death of Nabal; 1 Samuel 25:36-38.
e.
David marries Abigail; 1 Samuel 25:39-44.
14.
Ziph; 1 Samuel 26:1-25.
a.
Ziphites reveal David's hiding-place again; 1 Samuel 26:1-3.
b.
David spares Saul; 1 Samuel 26:4-25.
15.
Gath; 1 Samuel 27:1-4.
a.
David dwells with Achish.
16.
Ziklag; 1 Samuel 27:3-12.
a.
David receives Ziklag from Achish; 1 Samuel 27:6-7.
b.
David raids southern tribes; 1 Samuel 27:8-12.
3.
Why had Saul put away the witches? 1 Samuel 28:3
Saul had kept the Law as recorded in Leviticus 19:31; Leviticus 20:27; and Deuteronomy 18:10. Since Samuel was dead, Saul had no prophet to whom he could turn. He had chased out the people with familiar spirits and the wizards. He could not go to a false prophet. He could find no spiritual assistance of any kind, good or bad, valid or invalid.
4.
Where was Shunem? 1 Samuel 28:4
Shunem was a little town in the valley of Jezreel. The Philistines had marched to this far point between Mount Carmel on the west and Mt. Gilboa on the east. This was a famous battlefield, being the scene of the battle against Sisera in the days of Deborah (Judges 4:7). Gilboa was the mountain on the northeastern edge of the plain of Jezreel. Shunem was the modern Shulem or Solam, some eight miles away from Mt. Gilboa.
5.
Why was Saul so alarmed? 1 Samuel 28:5
Since he had met and defeated the Philistines in earlier battles, Saul's great alarm can be attributed only to the feeling that the Lord had forsaken him. No doubt the Philistine army was formidable, but he had met the armies of the Ammonites soon after he became king. He mustered 330,000 warriors out of Israel on that occasion. Using good military strategy and completely trusting in God, Saul had been victorious against these eastern enemies (1 Samuel 11:11). Throughout his career he had fought many battles against the Philistines, but his falling into the clutches of the evil spirit repeatedly must have enervated Israel's first king. He had been unsuccessful in his wicked attempt to kill David and David's continued wise behavior had convinced Saul that God was with David and not with him. All of these things combined left Saul a cringing coward.
6.
What were God's ways of revealing His will? 1 Samuel 28:6
Three of the various ways in which God revealed himself in ancient times are mentioned in connection with Saul's vain attempt to learn the will of God. God often spoke to people in dreams. This had been His way of indicating His will to Joseph (Genesis 37:5). The Urim was a part of the high priest's wearing apparel, and it was used to find out the Lord's will as the priests made inquiry of Him (Exodus 28:30). Prophets were active throughout most of Israel's history. There were bands of prophets in the days of Samuel, and God revealed His will through these men (1 Kings 13:1). We need to remember that God who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in times past unto the fathers by the prophets hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son (Hebrews 1:1-2). Saul's desolate condition is emphasized by the statement of the fact that God did not answer Saul by any of these means.