The Medium of Endor

The First Biblical Reference to Mediums or Occult Powers

The Witch (Medium) of Endor is a biblical figure who appears in 1 Samuel 28:3-25.  In the scripture Saul has become the new king of Israel upon the death of Samuel, just as a massive army of Philistines is threatening to attack Isreal.  The King needed to understand God's will as to how he should respond to the threat, and as was the custom, King Saul consulted with his prophets and holy men.  But there was no answer from God.  In the historical context, when God did not answer the King and his prophets, it is due to the fact that God has been offended or displeased.  The use of Mediums or Sorcerers was forbidden, and it was the role of the King to seek, receive and follow the will of God.    

When Saul received no response from God, rather than trying to identify and repair the offense that he or his people had made to God, he instead sought the advice of a Medium.    Of course this was outlawed by his own law, and he was a hypocrite.  But in his desperation King Saul put on a disguise and travelled to a Medium, one who lived in Endor. 

He asked her to summon the spirit of Samuel, which she did.   When the spirit appeared he told Saul what Saul should have already known -- that he had displeased God who had now become his enemy.  That God would deliver defeat and death to Saul and his sons and armies.    Shortly thereafter the Mediums message became true as the Philistine Army overwhelmed the Isrealites and King Saul.

Does the Bible teach us that Mediums and Psychics powers are Real?

The passage seems to be self contradictory.  On the one hand, unquestionably Saul has made a grevious error by consulting with a Medium, when he should appeased God, rather than foolishly trying to outsmart God.  At the same time, the psychic/medium's vision speaks only the truth.  The passages seems to both confirm the belief of the reality of occult/psychic phenomenon, yet at the same time reminds us that victory can only come by aligning ourselves with God.

Fun Facts

In the Return of the Jedi, Endor is the name of a planet.

In the 60's TV sitcome Bewitched, Samantha the witch's mother was called Endora.