SEV Biblia, Chapter 28:14
Y él le dijo: ¿Cuál es su forma? Y ella respondió: Un hombre anciano viene, cubierto de un manto. Saúl entonces entendió que era Samuel, y humillando el rostro a tierra, adoró.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 28:14
Verse 14. An old man cometh up, and he is covered with a mantle.] This seems to have been a second apparition; she cannot mean that she had seen gods ascending out of the earth, and these gods were like an old man with a mantle. The angelic appearance first mentioned prepared the way for Samuel; and the whole was done so as to show to the woman that her art had not prevailed in the present instance, and that what was now taking place was wholly independent of her incantations. Saul perceived that it was Samuel] The description was suitable to his person and clothing.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 14. And he said unto her, what form [is] he of ? etc.] Of what stature is he? or rather of what age does he seem to be? and what clothes has he on? as appears from the answer: and she said, an old man cometh up, and he is covered with a mantle ; such as either priests or judges wore, and Samuel did in his lifetime: and Saul perceived that it [was] Samuel ; by the description she gave of him, by his age and apparel; for as yet it is not certain that he himself saw him, though it should seem as if he did by what follows: it is in the original, “that it was Samuel himself”; which seems to make for those who think the real Samuel appeared, and no doubt Saul thought it was really he himself: and he stooped with [his] face to the ground, and bowed himself : either in reverence to Samuel, and from whom he hoped relief, and therefore was all obeisance; or he put himself in this posture, that he might listen and hear what should be said; it being a general notion that such spirits gave their responses whispering and muttering, ( Isaiah 8:19); though Abarbinel, as before observed, is of opinion, that this is to be understood of Samuel, that he bowed to Saul in reverence of him as a king; which does not so well agree with the connection of the words. Some have thought that it was the true Samuel, or the soul of Samuel, that appeared; so Josephus f545 , and many other writers; but to this may be objected, that that would not have ascended out of the earth, but come down from heaven; and that it cannot reasonably be supposed that it was in the power of the witch, by the assistance of the devil, to fetch it from heaven; nor be thought that God would send it from thence on such an errand, to give Saul an answer, when he would not answer him by any prophet on earth, nor in any other way; and especially it seems quite incredible that he should send it at the motion of a witch, and through her enchantments, who, according to a law of his, ought not to live; whereas nothing could have given greater countenance to such a wicked profession than this: nor would the true Samuel have admitted such worship and homage to be paid him, as is expressed in this last clause, which angelic spirits have refused, ( Revelation 19:10 22:9,10); though perhaps no more than civil respect is intended: but rather this was a diabolical spectre, or apparition, or the devil, that appeared in the form and shape of Samuel, and mimicked him; and was one of those deceiving spirits Porphyry speaks of, that appear in various shapes and forms, and pretend to be gods or demons, or the souls of the deceased.
Some think all this was the cunning and imposture of the woman alone, or that she was assisted with a confederate, who acted the part of Samuel; but this is not probable.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 7-19 - When we go from the plain path of duty, every thing draws us furthe aside, and increases our perplexity and temptation. Saul desires the woman to bring one from the dead, with whom he wished to speak; thi was expressly forbidden, De 18:11. All real or pretended witchcraft of conjuration, is a malicious or an ignorant attempt to gain knowledge of help from some creature, when it cannot be had from the Lord in the path of duty. While Samuel was living, we never read of Saul's going to advise with him in any difficulties; it had been well for him if he had. But now he is dead, "Bring me up Samuel." Many who despise an persecute God's saints and ministers when living, would be glad to have them again, when they are gone. The whole shows that it was no huma fraud or trick. Though the woman could not cause Samuel's being sent yet Saul's inquiry might be the occasion of it. The woman's surpris and terror proved that it was an unusual and unexpected appearance Saul had despised Samuel's solemn warnings in his lifetime, yet no that he hoped, as in defiance of God, to obtain some counsel an encouragement from him, might not God permit the soul of his departe prophet to appear to Saul, to confirm his former sentence, and denounc his doom? The expression, "Thou and thy sons shall be with me," mean no more than that they shall be in the eternal world. There appear much solemnity in God's permitting the soul of a departed prophet to come as a witness from heaven, to confirm the word he had spoken of earth.
Original Hebrew
ויאמר 559 לה מה 4100 תארו 8389 ותאמר 559 אישׁ 376 זקן 2205 עלה 5927 והוא 1931 עטה 5844 מעיל 4598 וידע 3045 שׁאול 7586 כי 3588 שׁמואל 8050 הוא 1931 ויקד 6915 אפים 639 ארצה 776 וישׁתחו׃ 7812
