1 Samuel 28 25

1 Samuel 28:25 kjv

And she brought it before Saul, and before his servants; and they did eat. Then they rose up, and went away that night.

1 Samuel 28:25 nkjv

So she brought it before Saul and his servants, and they ate. Then they rose and went away that night.

1 Samuel 28:25 niv

Then she set it before Saul and his men, and they ate. That same night they got up and left.

1 Samuel 28:25 esv

and she put it before Saul and his servants, and they ate. Then they rose and went away that night.

1 Samuel 28:25 nlt

She brought the meal to Saul and his advisers, and they ate it. Then they went out into the night.

1 Samuel 28 verses

1 Samuel 28 25 Meaning

Saul, along with his accompanying servants, after being physically revived by the meal provided by the medium of Endor, immediately arose from their resting place and departed from the woman's dwelling. This departure took place under the cover of the very same night in which the illicit consultation had occurred, underscoring the clandestine and urgent nature of their mission and its conclusion.

1 Samuel 28 25 Context

1 Samuel Chapter 28 vividly portrays King Saul's terminal spiritual and mental decline before his final battle against the Philistines. God had withdrawn His Spirit from Saul and refused to answer him through legitimate means like dreams, the Urim (divine lots), or prophets. In utter desperation and profound fear of the Philistine army (1 Sam 28:5), Saul, contrary to his own prior decrees banning all mediums from Israel (1 Sam 28:3), disguised himself and sought a medium at Endor. He implored her to call up Samuel, who then prophesied Saul's impending defeat and death in battle, along with the deaths of his sons. Overwhelmed by this dire pronouncement, Saul collapsed. The medium and his servants compelled him to eat some food to regain strength, recognizing his extreme weakness and dejection. The verse under analysis, 1 Samuel 28:25, describes the immediate consequence of this "meal" and marks the physical end of the forbidden encounter. The entire episode highlights Saul's complete abandonment of God and his desperate embrace of forbidden practices in his final moments.

1 Samuel 28 25 Word analysis

• So (וַיְקַמּוּ - wa): This conjunctive prefix, typically translated "and" or "so," connects the action to the preceding events. Here, it implies that the act of rising and departing immediately followed their eating the medium's meal. It signifies a direct consequence and prompt action.
• they (הֵם - hem, implied by verb conjugation): Refers to Saul and his servants who accompanied him. The narrative emphasis remains on Saul's actions, yet his servants' presence and participation (as observers and facilitators) are implicit. They too had witnessed the terrifying pronouncement.
• rose up (וַיָּקֻמוּ - vayyakumu): From the Hebrew root קוּם (qum), meaning "to rise," "to stand up." The plural form indicates the collective action of Saul and his servants. This signifies an immediate physical movement, suggesting urgency and a desire to promptly leave the place of the harrowing prophecy.
• and went away (וַיֵּלְכוּ - vayyelḵū): From the Hebrew root הָלַךְ (halak), meaning "to walk," "to go," "to proceed." Again, the plural indicates the action of multiple individuals. This denotes their departure from the medium's house.
• that night (הַלַּיְלָה - halaylah): The definite article "the" combined with לַיְלָה (laylah) meaning "night." This specifies the very night the events transpired. The timing is crucial; it underscores the clandestine nature of the forbidden meeting (avoiding detection) and their hasty exit under the cloak of darkness after a divinely devastating encounter. Night often symbolizes the concealment of evil deeds, desperation, and spiritual darkness, reflecting Saul's internal state.

Word Groups Analysis:

• "So they rose up and went away": This phrase emphasizes the immediate, coordinated action of Saul and his companions. It suggests there was no lingering, no further discussion or consultation after the revelation from Samuel. The severity of the prophecy (Saul's imminent death) left no room for delay. The departure is swift and conclusive.
• "that night": The specification of time is significant. Their mission was clandestine, defying God's explicit commands and Saul's own laws. Conducting such an activity and departing under the cover of night preserved secrecy and prevented anyone from knowing Saul, the king, was engaged in this illicit practice. Furthermore, the darkness of the night aligns with the spiritual darkness and despair that enveloped Saul after the horrifying prophecy. It reflects the deep shadow that had fallen over his reign and his life.

1 Samuel 28 25 Bonus section

• The immediate departure of Saul and his servants signifies that there was no comfort, no hope, and no more to be sought or gained from the illicit encounter. Samuel's message was definitive and sealed Saul's fate.
• This verse starkly contrasts with proper seeking of God's will, emphasizing the futility and dangers of resorting to forbidden spiritual practices, especially when God has chosen to remain silent due to disobedience.
• The entire sequence in Endor, concluded by this verse, stands as a grave warning against fear overriding faith and the desperate pursuit of answers outside of divine authorization. Saul's physical departure under the shadow of night symbolizes his complete abandonment to the dark consequences of his actions.

1 Samuel 28 25 Commentary

1 Samuel 28:25 provides a terse but profoundly significant concluding act to one of the most tragic and illicit encounters in the Old Testament. Having witnessed a chilling confirmation of his doom, Saul, once God's anointed king but now a shell of his former self, physically rises from his despair and promptly departs. The hurried nature implied by "rose up and went away" suggests the overwhelming impact of Samuel's prophecy, leaving no room for further deliberation or negotiation. The choice to leave "that night" reinforces the clandestine and forbidden nature of the meeting. It speaks to Saul's desperation for secrecy and perhaps his wish to bury the memory of this horrifying confirmation under the veil of darkness. The verse encapsulates Saul's final desperate attempt to find guidance outside of God's will, ending not in peace or hope, but in a desolate retreat into the night, mirroring the spiritual darkness and finality that now consumed his life and reign. This departure is not of repentance or turning to God, but of a king speeding towards his ultimate demise.