Chapter 28

And Saul swore to her by the Lord, saying, As the Lord lives, there shall no punishment come to you for this. (1 Samuel 28:10)

This is religious nonsense at its best. Saul was doing the wrong thing, but still, he swore in the name of the Lord. Swearing in the name of the Lord to do evil.

When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out with a loud voice. (1 Samuel 28:12)

Some believe that this was a genuine (but strange) appearance of Samuel. This is the best explanation because it is supported by the reaction of the medium, who got more than she bargained for. It is also supported by the truth of what Samuel said (and the text says that Samuel said it). Some may say that it is impossible for Samuel to reappear in some way, coming from the world beyond back to this world. But Moses and Elijah also came from the world beyond back to this world when they appeared with Jesus at the Transfiguration (Matthew 17:3).

Clarke makes an additional valuable point: “I believe that the woman of En-dor had no power over Samuel; and that no incantation can avail over any departed saint of God, nor indeed over any disembodied human spirit.” Samuel really came, but not because the medium called for him. Samuel appeared because God had a special purpose for it.