Saul and the witch of Endor

[James Haddad]

If we remember, Saul goes to the witch at endor to have Samuel raised from the dead in order to get some advice form him. Since, I dont think that the witch had the power to raise Samuel from the dead, what are people's(based on patristic understanding) interpretations of this event?

Who is Saul really speaking to? Samuel? Samuel's Spirit? A spirit of deception?

[Michael Stickles]

If we remember, Saul goes to the witch at endor to have Samuel raised from the dead in order to get some advice form him. Since, I dont think that the witch had the power to raise Samuel from the dead, what are people's(based on patristic understanding) interpretations of this event?

Who is Saul really speaking to? Samuel? Samuel's Spirit? A spirit of deception?

Sirach 46:23 seems to indicate that it really was Samuel.


And after this he [Samuel] slept, and he made known to the king, and showed him the end of his life, and he lifted up his voice from the earth in prophecy to blot out the wickedness of the nation.

I've read that Origen also believed that it was actually the spirit of Samuel that spoke, while his opponent Eustathius of Antioch argued that it was a phantasm conjured into the mind of Saul (I only have reports of commentaries, not quotes from the fathers, for these). My personal belief has been that it was truly the spirit of Samuel, but that he came by the will of God, not by any powers of the medium or of her familiar spirits. I've read that this is the more common opinion of the holy fathers as well, but I don't have any references for that.

In Christ,
Mike