How the Witch of Endor Knew Saul by Samuel Rising

Midrash Shmuel 24:4

Curated by Arthur·Translated by Maggid (Beta)·

"And she said, 'Samuel'" — [meaning, "Bring up] Samuel [for me]." The master of the prophets — bring him up for me! You said what you said, you did what you did — now ascend! "And the woman saw Samuel, and she cried out with a loud voice" (1 Samuel 28:12). From where did she know that it was Saul? Rather, it is not the same way that he comes up for a commoner as he comes up for a king. For a king he comes up with his face upward, and for a commoner he comes up with his face downward. "And the king said to her, 'Do not fear,' etc." (1 Samuel 28:13). "I saw a divine being coming up out of the earth" — once he heard "a divine being," he was afraid. And some say that many righteous ones also came up with him.

Retold in these myths

The Flask, the Horn, and the Face That Rose UpwardIsrael's first king was anointed from a fragile flask, and a medieval midrash insists the vessel itself already knew his crown would shatter.

Themes

ProphecyKingship

Biblical References

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