And Saul sware to her by the Lord, saying, As the Lord liueth, there shall no punishment happen to thee for this thing. 1 Samuel 28:10 (KJV)
In 1 Samuel 28 we find King Saul in a dire situation. The Philistines, Israel’s long‑standing enemies, had gathered for war and Saul was filled with fear and desperation. Earlier in his reign he had been rejected by God for his disobedience, and God had chosen David to be the next king of Israel. As a result Saul’s relationship with the Lord had deteriorated and he no longer received prophetic guidance.
In his desperation Saul sought out a medium, the woman known as the Witch of Endor. He disguised himself and visited her to inquire about his future. The woman was hesitant to comply because consulting mediums or necromancers was expressly forbidden in Israel (see Deuteronomy 18:10‑12). Saul reassured her, urging her not to be afraid, but the biblical text does not record an oath by the Lord that she would be exempt from punishment. The wording “As the LORD liveth, there shall no punishment happen to thee for this thing” does not appear in standard translations such as the King James Version; the KJV records the woman’s question in verse 9 and Saul’s reply in verse 10 as simply “Samuel.”
The episode highlights several important themes. First, Saul’s actions in seeking a medium violated God’s commandments and reveal the depth of his fear and growing separation from divine guidance. Second, the narrative warns against invoking God’s name to legitimize disobedient behavior; making an oath in the Lord’s name to justify a forbidden act is not sanctioned by Scripture. Third, the consistent biblical prohibition against consulting mediums, necromancers, or practicing divination (Deuteronomy 18:10‑12) is underscored by Saul’s disregard for God’s authority.
In summary, this pivotal moment in Saul’s life serves as a cautionary example of the consequences of allowing fear and disobedience to drive one’s actions. It reminds readers of the importance of seeking the Lord wholeheartedly and of respecting the clear biblical commands against occult practices.
