Original Douay–Rheims Annotations1 Samuel 28
English College of Douai–Rheims
Read 1 Samuel 28 in the BibleOriginal Douay–Rheims Annotations — English College of Douai–Rheims. CC0 1.0
English College of Douai–Rheims
Read 1 Samuel 28 in the BibleOriginal Douay–Rheims Annotations — English College of Douai–Rheims. CC0 1.0
1 Samuel 28:14
Saul understood that it was Samuel.
It is not defined nor certain, whether the soul of Samuel appeared, or an evil spirit took his shape, and spake to [1] Saul. S. Augustine (lib. 2. q. ad Simplician.) proposeth both the opinions as probable. Whether first he sheweth, that Samuel's soul might appear; either brought thither by the evil spirit, which is not so much to be marveled at, as that our Lord and Saviour suffered himself to be set upon the pinnacle of the temple, and to be carried into a high mountain by the devil; yea to be taken prisoner, bound, whipped, and crucified, by the devil's ministers: or else that the spirit of the holy Prophet, was not raised by force of the enchantment, or any power of the devil, but by God's secret ordinance, unknown to the pythonical woman and to Saul, and so appeared in the King's presence, and struck him with divine sentence. Again he answereth, that there may be a more easy and ready sense of this place, to wit, that Samuel's spirit (or soul) was not indeed raised, but an imaginary illusion made by the devil's enchantment, which seemed to be Samuel, and which the Scripture calleth by the name of Samuel, as pictures or images or commonly called those persons or things, which they represent. So when we behold pictures in a table, or on a wall, we say, this is Cicero, that is Salust, that Achilles, that is Rome. To this effect S. Augustin discourseth more at large in the place before cited. But in another work written after (de cura pro mortuis gerenda. c. 15.) teaching that souls of the dead appear sometimes to the living, he saith expressly, Samuel the prophet being dead, foretold future things to King Saul yet living. Though some be of opinion (saith he) that Samuel himself appeared not, but some evil spirit took his similitude. [2]
And this last judgement of S. Augustin is much confirmed; [1] first by the words of this text, literally and plainly affirming that Samuel appeared, and spake to Saul, and Saul to him, and that Saul understood ( or knew, not only thought, imagined, or supposed) that it was Samuel. [2] Secondly, this apparition came sooner, preventing the enchantment, & in better order, than the pythonical woman expected, as appeareth by her answer, saying she saw God (or an excellent person) ascending in comely manner and attire: whereas evil spirits used to appear (as the Rabbins testify) in ugly bodies, with the heels into the air, and head downward. [3] Thirdly, the Author of Ecclesiasticus (ch. 46.) amongst the praises of Samuel the Prophet, saith: He slept (or died) and certified the King, and shewed to him the end of his life. Where it seemeth clear, that the same person that died, denounced God's will and sentence to Saul. Moreover if it had been an illusion of an evil spirit, it would hardly seem any praise at all. [4] Fourthly, the devil could not naturally foretell that Saul and his sons, with many of the people, should be slain the next day, and David reign after him: neither is it probable that God revealed such secrets to evil spirits, whereby men might take more occasion to follow necromancy. [5] Fifthly, most Fathers and Doctors are of the same judgement. S. Iustinus Martyr, [6] Dialogo cum Triphone. S. Basil. Epist. 80. ad Eustathium. S. Ambrose li. 1. in Luc. 1. S. Hierom. in Isaiæ. 7. Josephus li. 6. c. 15. Antiq. and many other old and late writers. The chiefest argument for the other opinion is the authority of Tertullian. li. de anima. Procopius and Eucherius upon this place, and the uncertain authors, Questionum apud Iustinum, 1. 52. lib. de mirabil. Sac. Script. and Quest. vet. Testamenti, q. 27. apud Augustinum, tomo. 3. & 4. As for the Protestants denying, that souls once parted from their bodies, can appear to any alive, [7] [8] S. Augustin confuteth them, both by this example of Samuel, supposing the book of Ecclesiasticus to be Canonical Scripture, and of Moyses being dead, and Elias yet living (whom they hold also to be dead) both appearing with Christ in his transfiguration. Mat. 17.