The Witch of Endor is a figure mentioned in the Bible, specifically in the book of 1 Samuel. According to the narrative, she was a woman with the ability to communicate with the dead. In the story, King Saul of Israel seeks her out for counsel, as he is in distress and without guidance. The encounter between Saul and the Witch of Endor takes place at night, as Saul disguises himself and asks the Witch to conjure up the spirit of the prophet Samuel, who had already passed away. The Witch performs her ritual and is able to bring forth the spirit, much to her surprise. Samuel's spirit predicts Saul's downfall, as God has turned away from him and will give the kingdom to David instead.
Witch of Endor, in the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament; 1 Samuel 28:3–25), a female sorcerer who was visited by Saul, the first king of Israel. Although Saul had banished all sorcerers and conjurers from his kingdom, his concern about the final outcome of Israel’s battle against the Philistines caused him to seek the services of someone with “a familiar spirit.” When his servants told him of such a woman at Endor, he disguised himself and visited her that night. He asked her to conjure up the spirit of the prophet Samuel to tell his fortunes. When the woman reminded him of the law against practicing her art, he assured her that she would be protected. The woman accordingly conjured up a spirit identified by Saul as Samuel. The spirit informed Saul that he and his three sons would die in battle the next day and that the Israelites would fall to the Philistines.
Chaucer, for example, in the Friar s Tale of The Canterbury Tales , spoke of her as a pithonesse, and the 16th-century writer Guillaume de Salluste, seigneur du Bartas, suggested in La Semaine that she used a flambeau made from the fat of her own son in the necromantic art. In the context of Saul s narrative, the Woman at Endor seems to be an outlaw in enemy territory; nonetheless, she possesses the ability to communicate a crucial prophetic message from the Lord to Saul.
Samuel's spirit predicts Saul's downfall, as God has turned away from him and will give the kingdom to David instead. This prophecy ultimately comes true, as Saul dies in battle and David eventually becomes the next King of Israel. The identity and nature of the Witch of Endor is not explicitly described in the text, leaving room for interpretation and speculation.
Witch of Endor
While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.
Select Citation Style Copy Citation Share Share Share to social media Give Feedback External Websites Feedback Thank you for your feedbackOur editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.
External Websites- Biblical Cyclopedia - Witch of Endor (2)
- JewishEncyclopedia.com - The Witch of Endor
While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.
Select Citation Style Copy Citation Share Share Share to social media Feedback External Websites Feedback Thank you for your feedbackOur editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.
External Websites- Biblical Cyclopedia - Witch of Endor (2)
- JewishEncyclopedia.com - The Witch of Endor
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Last Updated: Article History Table of ContentsWitch of Endor, in the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament; 1 Samuel 28:3–25), a female sorcerer who was visited by Saul, the first king of Israel. Although Saul had banished all sorcerers and conjurers from his kingdom, his concern about the final outcome of Israel’s battle against the Philistines caused him to seek the services of someone with “a familiar spirit.” When his servants told him of such a woman at Endor, he disguised himself and visited her that night. He asked her to conjure up the spirit of the prophet Samuel to tell his fortunes. When the woman reminded him of the law against practicing her art, he assured her that she would be protected. The woman accordingly conjured up a spirit identified by Saul as Samuel. The spirit informed Saul that he and his three sons would die in battle the next day and that the Israelites would fall to the Philistines.
The story of the Witch of Endor has excited the creative imagination through the ages and has inspired further embellishment of her practices. Chaucer, for example, in the Friar’s Tale of The Canterbury Tales, spoke of her as a “pithonesse,” and the 16th-century writer Guillaume de Salluste, seigneur du Bartas, suggested in La Semaine that she used a “flambeau” made from the fat of her own son in the necromantic art.
This article was most recently revised and updated by Mindy Johnston.
Some believe that she possessed genuine supernatural powers, while others argue that she was a fraud or simply skilled in the art of deception. Either way, her encounter with Saul has become a famous and intriguing story within biblical literature..
Reviews for "The Witch of Wndor: An Undying Legacy in Name and Spirit"
1. Sarah - 2 stars
I did not enjoy "Witch of Wndor Name" at all. The storyline was confusing and hard to follow, and the characters were both uninteresting and poorly developed. I found myself constantly flipping back through the pages trying to figure out what was going on, which took away from my overall reading experience. The writing style was also quite dull and lacked any sense of excitement or intrigue. Overall, I was really disappointed with this book and wouldn't recommend it to others.
2. James - 1 star
I can't express how much I disliked "Witch of Wndor Name." It was a struggle to even finish reading it. The plot was incredibly predictable, with no surprises or twists to keep me engaged. The characters felt flat and one-dimensional, and I couldn't bring myself to care about any of them. The dialogue was stilted and unrealistic, making it difficult to connect with the story on any level. I found myself skimming through pages just to get it over with. This book was a major letdown, and I wouldn't waste my time on it again.
3. Emily - 2 stars
"Witch of Wndor Name" was a disappointment from start to finish. The pacing was extremely slow, and the plot felt aimless and meandering. I struggled to stay engaged with the story, as it lacked any real tension or suspense. The prose was also overly descriptive and at times, it felt like the author was trying too hard to create a mystical atmosphere. The characters didn't feel fleshed out, and their actions often didn't make sense. Overall, I found this book to be a tedious read that didn't live up to its potential.