1 Samuel 28:10

Arabic 2016 (الكِتاب المُقَدَّس: التَّرْجَمَةُ العَرَبِيَّةُ المُبَسَّطَةُ)

فَحَلَفَ شَاوُلُ لِلمَرْأةِ بِاسْمِ اللهِ وَقَالَ: «أُقْسِمُ بِاللهِ الحَيِّ، لَنْ تُعَاقَبِي عَلَى مَا أطلُبُهُ مِنْكَ.»

What Does This Mean?

In this verse, King Saul is speaking to a woman who has helped him contact a dead prophet named Samuel. Saul promises the woman that she won't be punished by God for what she has done.

Explained for Children

Imagine you helped your friend find a lost toy, and your friend promised you wouldn't get in trouble for it. That's like what King Saul is doing here. He's promising the woman he won't punish her for talking to a spirit.

Historical Background

1 Samuel was written by Samuel, Nathan, and Gad, likely in the late 11th century BC. This passage is part of a larger narrative about King Saul's decline and his desperate actions after losing favor with God. The audience would have been the Israelites, who valued obedience to God's laws.

Living It Out Today

Today, this verse can remind us of the importance of making good on our promises, especially when we ask for help. If you promise someone you won't tell on them for something small, it's important to keep that promise, just as Saul did here.

Topics

• faith
• obedience
• divination
• promises
• kingship
• spiritual practices

Related Verses

• Exodus 20:7
• Deuteronomy 18:10-12
• 1 Kings 22:19-23
• Matthew 5:33-37
• James 5:12

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did Saul make this promise?

Saul likely made this promise to reassure the woman that she would not be punished for her actions, which included divination, an act forbidden by God.

What was the woman's role in this interaction?

The woman played a role as a medium who helped Saul contact Samuel, a dead prophet, likely through supernatural means.

How does this fit into the larger story of Saul?

This event shows Saul's increasing desperation and his willingness to break God's laws, ultimately leading to his downfall as king.

What can we learn about Saul's character from this verse?

From this verse, we can see that Saul was willing to make promises to achieve his goals, even when it involved going against God's commands.