The Witch of Endor

The words

1. Disguise

   Saul changes his clothes and visits the woman by night with two men; she later recognizes him and protests his deception.

   1 Samuel 28:8 (opens a new tab) · 1 Samuel 28:12 (opens a new tab)

2. Disquieted

   In the narrated dialogue, Samuel asks why Saul has disturbed him; Saul answers that the Philistines fight against him and God no longer answers.

   1 Samuel 28:15 (opens a new tab)

3. Divination

   Saul asks the woman to bring up Samuel; she fears a trap because Saul himself has removed mediums from the land.

   1 Samuel 28:8–11 (opens a new tab) · NET Bible: 1 Samuel 28:7-9 (opens a new tab)

4. Endor

   Saul’s servants name Endor as the place to find a woman with a familiar spirit; he goes there at night.

   1 Samuel 28:7–8 (opens a new tab)

5. Familiar

   Saul seeks a woman with a “familiar spirit” in the KJV; the NET Bible calls her a woman who is a medium.

   1 Samuel 28:7 (opens a new tab) · NET Bible: 1 Samuel 28:7-9 (opens a new tab)

6. Fat Calf

   The woman hastily kills a calf and prepares it with unleavened bread; Saul and his servants eat before leaving that night.

   1 Samuel 28:24–25 (opens a new tab)

7. Gilboa

   Saul gathers Israel’s army at Gilboa, while the Philistines camp at Shunem; seeing their army leaves him afraid.

   1 Samuel 28:4–5 (opens a new tab)

8. Kneaded

   After Saul is persuaded to eat, the woman takes flour, kneads it and bakes unleavened bread to serve with the calf.

   1 Samuel 28:23–25 (opens a new tab)

9. Lamented

   The chapter recalls that Samuel has died: all Israel mourned him and buried him in Ramah, his own city.

   1 Samuel 28:3 (opens a new tab)

10. Old Man

    The woman describes an old man covered with a mantle; Saul identifies him as Samuel after hearing her description.

    1 Samuel 28:14 (opens a new tab)

11. Perceived

    After the woman describes the figure, Saul recognizes Samuel and bows with his face toward the ground.

    1 Samuel 28:14 (opens a new tab)

12. Shunem

    The Philistines gather and camp at Shunem before Saul seeks an answer through dreams, Urim and prophets.

    1 Samuel 28:4–6 (opens a new tab)

13. Sore Troubled

    Samuel predicts defeat and death for Saul and his sons; Saul falls to the ground afraid, and the woman finds him deeply distressed.

    1 Samuel 28:19–21 (opens a new tab) · 1 Samuel 28:21–25 (opens a new tab)

14. Urim

    A priestly means of seeking divine guidance.

    Before visiting Endor, Saul receives no answer from the LORD through dreams, Urim or prophets.

    Did you know?

    Exodus’s priestly instructions place Urim and Thummim in the breastplate of judgment, carried by Aaron over his heart.

    1 Samuel 28:6 (opens a new tab) · Numbers 27:21 (opens a new tab) · Exodus 28:30 (opens a new tab)

15. Witch

    This puzzle calls the unnamed woman “Witch”; the KJV describes her as a woman with a familiar spirit.

    1 Samuel 28:7 (opens a new tab)