Saul meets the sorceress in 1 Samuel 28, 3-25. We read it in 1Chronicles 10:13-14 | Sirach 46:20. Analogies are found in 2 Kings 21:6 | Isaiah 8:19-20.
The story of Saul and his "many other" sins, as told in EMV 188.5 (as well as in other passages such as EMV 263.2) is found essentially in 1 Samuel 9-31.
The practice of divination (or magic, or necromancy) is forbidden in Leviticus 19, 26.31 | Leviticus 20, 6.27 | Deuteronomy 18, 9-14.
The name "pythoness" given to the magician goes back to a pagan god (Pythian Apollo). The "Pythian spirit" given to the magician is peculiar to pagans (as seen in EMV 59.4 and EMV 129.3). Satan "speaks through the lips of the Pythias" (as we read in EMV 420.10). It is clear from the Work that the Sadducean sect, strongly hostile to Jesus and opposed to his teaching (as can be seen in EMV 356.5 | EMV 409.6 and EMV 594.6/7), indulged in such practices, to which Judas Iscariot also felt drawn (as can be seen in EMV 334.8 and EMV 357.6). An invective against necromancers can be found in EMV 503.7.
Ingratitude towards David, who had rid him of Goliath and spared him in Engadi's cave (1 Samuel 24.1-23 ) and at Hakilah (1 Samuel 26.1-25).
It says: "When Eve saw that the fruit of the tree was good to eat and beautiful to look at, she picked it, ate some and gave some to her husband... Then their eyes were opened and they saw that they were naked, and they made themselves girdles... And God said: 'And who told you that you were naked? So you ate from the tree I forbade you to eat from. And he drove them out of the paradise of delights. "In Genesis 3:6.
It is written in the book of Saul: "Samuel said, appearing: 'Why have you troubled me by making me call? Why question me after the Lord has withdrawn from you? The Lord will deal with you as I have told you... because you have not obeyed the voice of the Lord. ' " In 1 Samuel 28:15-19.
In a few days, it will be Passover: 14 Nisan.
First book of Samuel 28, 3-25
1 Sam 28, 3-25: Samuel was dead; all Israel had mourned for him, and they had buried him in Ramah, in his city. And Saul had driven out of the land those who evoked the dead and the soothsayers.
And the Philistines gathered themselves together, and came and encamped at Sunam; and Saul gathered all Israel together, and they encamped at Gelboe. When Saul saw the Philistines' camp, he was afraid and his heart was greatly troubled. Saul consulted Yahweh, but Yahweh did not answer him, neither by dreams, nor by the Urim, nor by the prophets. Then Saul said to his servants, "Seek me out a woman who conjures up the dead, and I will go to her and consult with her." His servants told him, "There is a woman in Endor who conjures up the dead." Saul disguised himself and put on other clothes, and set off, accompanied by two men. They arrived at the woman's house by night, and Saul said to her, "Tell me the future by evoking a dead person, and bring me up whomever I tell you." The woman replied, "Behold, you know what Saul has done, how he has cut off from the land those who evoke the dead and diviners; why do you lay a trap for me, to kill me?" Saul swore to her by Yahweh, saying, "As Yahweh lives! no harm will come to you because of this." And the woman said, "Whom shall I bring you up?" He replied, "Bring me up Samuel."
At the sight of Samuel, the woman gave a great cry; and the woman said to Saul, "Why have you deceived me? You are Saul!" The king said to her, "Do not fear; but what did you see?" The woman said to Saul, "I see a god rising from the earth." He said to her, "What figure is he?" And she answered, "It is an old man ascending, and he is wrapped in a cloak." Saul understood that it was Samuel, and he threw himself with his face to the ground and bowed down.
Samuel said to Saul, "Why have you troubled me, bringing me up?" Saul answered, "I am in great distress: the Philistines make war on me, and God has withdrawn from me; he has not answered me either by prophets or by dreams. I have summoned you to let me know what I have to do." Samuel said, "Why do you consult me, since Yahweh has withdrawn from you and become your adversary? Yahweh has done as he foretold through me: Yahweh has snatched the kingship out of your hand, and given it to your companion, to David. Because you did not obey the voice of Yahweh, and did not deal with Amalek according to the fierceness of his anger, that is why Yahweh has done this to you this day. And even Yahweh will deliver Israel with you into the hands of the Philistines. Tomorrow you and your sons will be with me, and Yahweh will deliver the camp of Israel into the hands of the Philistines." Immediately Saul fell to the ground to his full height, for Samuel's words had filled him with dread; moreover, he lacked strength, for he had taken no food all day and all night.
The woman came to Saul and, seeing his great trouble, said to him: "Your handmaid has obeyed your voice; I have laid down my life, obeying the words you spoke to me. Now you too must listen to the voice of your handmaid, and let me offer you a morsel of bread; eat of it, that you may have strength when you go on your way." But he refused, saying, "I will not eat." His servants and the woman urged him, and he complied. He got up from the ground and sat down on the couch. The woman had a fatted calf at home, so she hastened to kill it, and taking some flour, she kneaded it and baked unleavened bread from it. She set them before Saul and his servants, and they ate. Then they got up and left that same night.
First Book of Chronicles 10, 13-14
1 Ch 10, 13-14 : Saul died because of his transgression against Yahweh, for he had not kept Yahweh's word, and for asking and consulting those who call up the dead. So he did not consult Yahweh, and Yahweh put him to death, and transferred the kingship to David, son of Jesse.
Book of Sirach 46, 20
Si 46, 20: And when he had fallen asleep, he prophesied and told the king of his approaching end. From the earth he lifted up his voice in prophecy, that he might blot out the iniquity of the people.
Second Book of Kings 21, 6
2 Kings 21, 6: He made his son pass through the fire; he practiced augury and divination; he instituted necromancers and sorcerers: thus doing more and more what is evil in the eyes of Yahweh, so as to irritate him.
Isaiah 8, 19-20
Is 8, 19-20: When they say to you: "Consult those who call up the dead, and the diviners who murmur and whisper," answer: "Should not a people consult their God? Will they consult the dead for the sake of the living? Here's to teaching and witnessing! "If the people speak otherwise, there is no dawn for them.
First book of Samuel 9-31
Given the number of chapters (nearly 12), we will not reproduce them in this note.
Book of Leviticus 19, 26.31
Lev 19, 26.31: You shall eat nothing with blood. You shall not practice divination or magic. Do not speak to those who call up spirits, nor to diviners; do not consult them, so as not to be defiled by them. I am Yahweh, your God.
Book of Leviticus 20, 6.27
Lev 20, 6.27: If anyone speaks to those who call up spirits and diviners, to play the harlot after them, I will turn my face against that man and cut him off from among his people. Any man or woman who evokes spirits or engages in divination will be put to death; they will be stoned: their blood is on them.
Deuteronomy 18, 9-14
Dt 18, 9-14 : When you enter the land given to you by Yahweh, your God, you must not learn to imitate the abominations of those nations. Let no one be found among you who makes his son or daughter pass through the fire, who engages in divination, augury, superstition and enchantments, who resorts to charms, who consults evocators and sorcerers, and who questions the dead. For every man who does these things is an abomination to Yahweh, and because of these abominations Yahweh your God will drive out these nations from before you. You will be upright with Yahweh, your God. For these nations, whom you will drive out, listen to augurs and soothsayers; but Yahweh your God will not allow you to do so.
Book of Genesis 3, 6
Gn 3, 6 : The woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good to eat, pleasing to the eye and desirable for acquiring understanding; she took of its fruit and ate; she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.
First Book of Samuel 24, 1-23
1 Samuel 24, 1-23: David went up from there and settled in the strongholds of Engaddi. When Saul had returned from pursuing the Philistines, someone came and told him, "Behold, David is in the wilderness of Engaddi." Saul took three thousand elite men from among all Israel, and went in search of David and his men as far as the rocks of the wild goats. He came to the sheep pens by the road; there was a cave there, where Saul went in to cover his feet; and David and his men were sitting at the bottom of the cave. David's men said to him, "This is the day of which Yahweh said to you, 'Behold, I deliver your enemy into your hand; deal with him as you please." David got up and cut Saul's cloak by stealth. After that, David's heart pounded, because he had cut off the front of Saul's cloak. And he said to his men, "Yahweh forbid that I should do such a thing against my lord, Yahweh's anointed, as to lay my hand on him, for he is Yahweh's anointed!" With his words, David rebuked his men and did not allow them to throw themselves at Saul. Saul got up to leave the cave and continued on his way.
After this David got up and, coming out of the cave, began to shout at Saul, saying, "O king, my lord!" Saul looked behind him, and David bowed with his face to the ground and prostrated himself. And David said to Saul, "Why do you listen to the talk of people who say: Behold, David seeks to harm you? Behold, today your eyes have seen how Yahweh has delivered you into my hands this very day in the cave. They told me to kill you; but my eye had pity on you, and I said, I will not lay my hand on my lord, for he is Yahweh's anointed. See, then, my father, see in my hand the skirt of your cloak. Since I have cut off the edge of your cloak and have not killed you, acknowledge and see that there is no wickedness or rebellion in my conduct, and that I have not sinned against you. Yet you hunt for my life to take it from me. Let Yahweh be judge between me and you, and let Yahweh avenge me on you! But my hand will not be upon you. From the wicked comes wickedness, says the old proverb; so my hand will not be on you. After whom did the king of Israel set out? Who are you after? A dead dog? A flea? Let Yahweh judge and decide between you and me. Let him look on and defend my cause, and let his sentence deliver me from your hand!"
When David had finished speaking these words to Saul, Saul said, "Is this your voice, my son David?" And Saul lifted up his voice and wept. And he said to David, "You are more righteous than I. For you have done me good, and I have done you evil. You have shown kindness to me today, for Yahweh has delivered me into your hands and you have not killed me. If someone meets his enemy, does he let him go on his way in peace? May Yahweh do you good in return for what you have done to me this day! Now, behold, I know that you will be king and that the kingship of Israel will be stable in your hands. So swear to me by Yahweh that you will not destroy my descendants after me, nor cut off my name from my father's house." David swore to Saul. And Saul went to his house, and David and his men went up to the strong place.
First Book of Samuel 26, 1-25
1 Sam 26:1-25: The Ziphaeans came to Saul at Gabaa, and said, "David is hidden on the hill of Hachilah, east of the moor." Saul arose and went down to the wilderness of Ziph with three thousand of Israel's elite men, to search for David in the wilderness of Ziph. Saul camped on the hill of Hachilah, east of the heath, near the road, and David dwelt in the desert. When David realized that Saul was searching for him in the desert, he sent spies and learned that Saul had really arrived. David got up and came to the place where Saul was camped. David saw the place where Saul was lying, with Abner, son of Ner, chief of his army: - now Saul was lying in the middle of the camp, and the people were encamped around him. - So David addressed Ahimelech the Hittite and Abisai, son of Sarvia and brother of Joab, and said, "Who wants to go down with me to the camp to Saul?" And Abisai answered, "I will go down with you."
David and Abisai came to the people by night, and behold, Saul was lying in the middle of the camp and sleeping, his spear stuck in the ground at his bedside; Abner and the people were lying around him. Abisai said to David, "God has locked up your enemy in your hands today; now, I beg you, let me strike him with the spear and nail him to the ground with a single blow, without my having to return." But David said to Abisai, "Don't kill him! For who would lay hands on Yahweh's anointed and go unpunished?" And David said, "As true as Yahweh lives! It will only be Yahweh who strikes him; either his day will come and he will die, or he will go down to war and perish; but may Yahweh preserve me from laying hands on Yahweh's anointed! Now, take the spear that is at his bedside, with the pitcher of water, and let us go."
And David took the spear and the pitcher of water that were at Saul's bedside, and they went. No one saw, no one knew, no one awoke, for they were all asleep, Yahweh having caused a deep slumber to fall upon them.
David passed over to the other side, and stood far away on the top of the mountain; a great space separated them. And David cried out to the people and to Abner, son of Ner, saying, "Will you not answer, Abner!" Abner answered, saying, "Who are you, you who cry out to the king?" David said to Abner, "Are you not a man? And who is like you in Israel? Why then have you not kept the king, your lord? For one of the people has come to kill the king, your lord. What you have done here is not right. As Yahweh lives! You have deserved death, for not keeping your master, Yahweh's anointed. Now look where the king's spear and the jug of water that was at his bedside are."
Saul recognized David's voice and said, "Is this your voice, my son David?" And David answered, "It is my voice, O king, my lord." He added: "Why does my lord pursue his servant? What have I done, and what crime has my hand committed? Let the king, my lord, now deign to hear the words of your servant: if it is Yahweh who stirs you up against me, let him accept the fragrance of an offering; but if it is men, let them be accursed before Yahweh, since they have driven me out now, to take away my place from Yahweh's inheritance, saying: Go serve foreign gods! And now let not my blood fall upon the earth, far from the face of Yahweh! For the king of Israel has set out to seek a flea, as one would pursue a partridge in the mountains."
Saul said, "I have sinned; return, my son David, for I will harm you no more, since my life has been precious in your sight this day. Behold, I have acted foolishly and made a great mistake." David replied, "Here is the spear, O king; let one of your young men come and take it. Yahweh will render to every man according to his righteousness and faithfulness; for Yahweh had delivered you into my hand this day, and I would not lay hands on Yahweh's anointed. Behold, as your life was this day of great price in my sight, so shall my life be of great price in Yahweh's sight, and he shall deliver me from all anguish!" Saul said to David: "Blessed be my son, David! You will surely succeed in your endeavors." David went on his way, and Saul returned home.