Preparations are herein making for that war which will put an end to the life and reign of Saul, and so make way for David to the throne. In this war, I. The Philistines are the aggressors and Achish their king makes David his confidant, 1 Sam. 28:1–2. II.

Here is, I. The design of the Philistines against Israel. They resolved to fight them, 1 Sam. 28:1. If the Israelites had not forsaken God, there would have been no Philistines remaining to molest them; if Saul had not forsaken him, they would by this time have been put out of all danger by them.

Here, I. Saul seeks for a witch, 1 Sam. 28:7. When God answered him not, if he had humbled himself by repentance and persevered in seeking God, who knows but that at length he might have been entreated for him? but, since he can discern no comfort either from heaven or earth , he resolves to knock…

We have here the conference between Saul and Satan. Saul came in disguise , but Satan soon discovered him, 1 Sam. 28:12. Satan comes in disguise, in the disguise of Samuel’s mantle, and Saul cannot discover him.

We are here told how Saul received this terrible message from the ghost he consulted. He desired to be told what he should do , but was only told what he had not done and what should be done to him.