Single lesson
Saul and the Medium at Endor
1 Samuel 28:1–25
On a fearful night before battle, Saul looked for help in a place he himself had once forbidden.
Before you teach
As the Philistines gathered for war, Achish told David that he and his men would go out with the army. The Philistines camped at Shunem, and Saul gathered Israel at Gilboa. When Saul saw the Philistine army, he was badly afraid. Samuel had already died, and Saul had earlier driven mediums and spiritists out of the land. Saul asked the LORD for guidance, but no answer came by dreams, by Urim, or by prophets. Then Saul told his servants to find a woman who could consult a spirit for him.…
Explain the central teaching of Saul and the Medium at Endor, using two details from the reading. On a fearful night before battle, Saul looked for help in a place he himself had once forbidden.
Welcome: Saul and the Medium at Endor
5 minIntroduce “Saul and the Medium at Endor” and locate 1 Samuel 28:1–25. On a fearful night before battle, Saul looked for help in a place he himself had once forbidden. Invite each learner to name a detail or question they will listen for.
1 Samuel 28:1, 1 Samuel 28:13, 1 Samuel 28:25
Read and explain the passage
12 minAs the Philistines gathered for war, Achish told David that he and his men would go out with the army. The Philistines camped at Shunem, and Saul gathered Israel at Gilboa. When Saul saw the Philistine army, he was badly afraid. Samuel had already died, and Saul had earlier driven mediums and spiritists out of the land.
She said she saw a being coming up out of the earth, then described an old man covered with a robe. Saul understood that it was Samuel and bowed down. Saul said he was in great trouble because the Philistines were attacking and God no longer answered him by prophets or dreams.
Saul fell full length to the ground, terrified by Samuel's words. He had no strength, because he had eaten nothing all day or all night. The woman urged him to eat. At first he refused, but his servants and the woman persuaded him. She prepared meat and unleavened bread, and Saul and his servants ate before leaving that night.
Read the selected verses together, pausing at “Saul and the Medium at Endor”. Use the source reading below and check the explanation against the words of the passage.
1 Samuel 28:1, 1 Samuel 28:4, 1 Samuel 28:5, 1 Samuel 28:14, 1 Samuel 28:15, 1 Samuel 28:13, 1 Samuel 28:20, 1 Samuel 28:25, 1 Samuel 28:23
Discuss the details and their meaning
8 minUse the three questions below. Begin with ““Saul asked the LORD for guidance, but no answer came by dreams, by Urim, or by prophets.” Which details explain how the account reaches this point?” and allow time to find the supporting verses. On a fearful night before battle, Saul looked for help in a place he himself had once forbidden. Ask learners to explain which details support their answer and to identify a question they would like to explore further.
1 Samuel 28:8, 1 Samuel 28:7, 1 Samuel 28:6, 1 Samuel 28:14, 1 Samuel 28:15, 1 Samuel 28:13, 1 Samuel 28:20, 1 Samuel 28:25, 1 Samuel 28:23
Make and respond: Choices and outcomes evidence map
12 minWork on “Saul and the Medium at Endor: Choices and outcomes evidence map”. Follow the materials and steps below, using “Saul and the Medium at Endor” as reading headings. Each learner should include at least two accurate details and their verse references. Share one observation from the finished sheet and explain how it connects with the central teaching.
1 Samuel 28:1, 1 Samuel 28:13, 1 Samuel 28:25
Closing: return to Saul and the Medium at Endor
3 minRevisit 1 Samuel 28:1–25. Invite a learner to summarise what the group has learned about Saul and the Medium at Endor and another to support the summary with a verse. Give learners a moment to complete their response sheet. They can share a question or, if appropriate for the group, join the optional prayer.
1 Samuel 28:1, 1 Samuel 28:13, 1 Samuel 28:25
Questions to explore
“Saul asked the LORD for guidance, but no answer came by dreams, by Urim, or by prophets.” Which details explain how the account reaches this point?
Saul asked the LORD for guidance, but no answer came by dreams, by Urim, or by prophets. Then Saul told his servants to find a woman who could consult a spirit for him. They said there was such a woman at Endor. Saul disguised himself, took two men, and went to her at night.
1 Samuel 28:8, 1 Samuel 28:7, 1 Samuel 28:6
How does this moment affect the rest of the account: “She said she saw a being coming up out of the earth, then described an old man covered with a robe.”?
She said she saw a being coming up out of the earth, then described an old man covered with a robe. Saul understood that it was Samuel and bowed down. Saul said he was in great trouble because the Philistines were attacking and God no longer answered him by prophets or dreams.
1 Samuel 28:14, 1 Samuel 28:15, 1 Samuel 28:13
“Saul fell full length to the ground, terrified by Samuel's words.” How does this ending connect with the beginning?
Saul fell full length to the ground, terrified by Samuel's words. He had no strength, because he had eaten nothing all day or all night. The woman urged him to eat. At first he refused, but his servants and the woman persuaded him. She prepared meat and unleavened bread, and Saul and his servants ate before leaving that night.
1 Samuel 28:20, 1 Samuel 28:25, 1 Samuel 28:23
Make, think or respond
Saul and the Medium at Endor: Choices and outcomes evidence map
What you’ll need
- plain paper or card
- pencils or pens
- a Bible or the source reading on this page
Try it together
- Fold a sheet into three panels or draw three columns. Label them “Words or actions”, “What happens next”, “Verse reference”.
- Read 1 Samuel 28:1–25. Use “Saul and the Medium at Endor” as your reading headings and add a short quotation or detail with its verse reference to each panel.
- Compare your notes with a partner. Check that every quotation is accurate and every conclusion has support in the passage.
- Compare two actions or statements in the account and explain their different outcomes.
The finished sheet keeps the details of Saul and the Medium at Endor connected to their Bible references and gives the group a way to explain what they noticed.
Adapt for your group
- For learners who need more support, prepare the reading headings “Saul and the Medium at Endor” and let them match short quotations to the correct heading.
- For confident readers, compare two sections of 1 Samuel 28:1–25. Ask for a written explanation with two supporting references and one question that the text leaves open.
An optional closing prayer
“God, help us listen carefully as we read 1 Samuel 28:1–25. Help us understand what we have read, ask thoughtful questions and respond with care for others. Amen.”
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
1 Samuel 28
1 In those days, the Philistines gathered their armies together for warfare, to fight with Israel. Achish said to David, “Know assuredly that you will go out with me in the army, you and your men.”
2 David said to Achish, “Therefore you will know what your servant can do.” Achish said to David, “Therefore I will make you my bodyguard forever.”
3 Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel had mourned for him and buried him in Ramah, even in his own city. Saul had sent away those who had familiar spirits and the wizards out of the land.
4 The Philistines gathered themselves together, and came and encamped in Shunem; and Saul gathered all Israel together, and they encamped in Gilboa.
5 When Saul saw the army of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart trembled greatly.
6 When Saul inquired of Yahweh, Yahweh didn’t answer him by dreams, by Urim, or by prophets.
7 Then Saul said to his servants, “Seek for me a woman who has a familiar spirit, that I may go to her and inquire of her.” His servants said to him, “Behold, there is a woman who has a familiar spirit at Endor.”
8 Saul disguised himself and put on other clothing, and went, he and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night. Then he said, “Please consult for me by the familiar spirit, and bring me up whomever I shall name to you.”
9 The woman said to him, “Behold, you know what Saul has done, how he has cut off those who have familiar spirits and the wizards out of the land. Why then do you lay a snare for my life, to cause me to die?”
10 Saul swore to her by Yahweh, saying, “As Yahweh lives, no punishment will happen to you for this thing.”
11 Then the woman said, “Whom shall I bring up to you?” He said, “Bring Samuel up for me.”
12 When the woman saw Samuel, she cried with a loud voice; and the woman spoke to Saul, saying, “Why have you deceived me? For you are Saul!”
13 The king said to her, “Don’t be afraid! What do you see?” The woman said to Saul, “I see a god coming up out of the earth.”
14 He said to her, “What does he look like?” She said, “An old man comes up. He is covered with a robe.” Saul perceived that it was Samuel, and he bowed with his face to the ground, and showed respect.
15 Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me, to bring me up?” Saul answered, “I am very distressed; for the Philistines make war against me, and God has departed from me, and answers me no more, by prophets, or by dreams. Therefore I have called you, that you may make known to me what I shall do.”
16 Samuel said, “Why then do you ask me, since Yahweh has departed from you and has become your adversary?
17 Yahweh has done to you as he spoke by me. Yahweh has torn the kingdom out of your hand and given it to your neighbor, even to David.
18 Because you didn’t obey Yahweh’s voice, and didn’t execute his fierce wrath on Amalek, therefore Yahweh has done this thing to you today.
19 Moreover Yahweh will deliver Israel also with you into the hand of the Philistines; and tomorrow you and your sons will be with me. Yahweh will deliver the army of Israel also into the hand of the Philistines.”
20 Then Saul fell immediately his full length on the earth, and was terrified, because of Samuel’s words. There was no strength in him, for he had eaten no bread all day long or all night long.
21 The woman came to Saul and saw that he was very troubled, and said to him, “Behold, your servant has listened to your voice, and I have put my life in my hand, and have listened to your words which you spoke to me.
22 Now therefore, please listen also to the voice of your servant, and let me set a morsel of bread before you. Eat, that you may have strength when you go on your way.”
23 But he refused, and said, “I will not eat.” But his servants, together with the woman, constrained him; and he listened to their voice. So he arose from the earth and sat on the bed.
24 The woman had a fattened calf in the house. She hurried and killed it; and she took flour and kneaded it, and baked unleavened bread of it.
25 She brought it before Saul and before his servants, and they ate. Then they rose up and went away that night.
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.