Stories & Legends

Saul & the Witch of Endor

Ven. Anne Catherine Emmerich

In Old Testament times, being a witch or a sorcerer was a capital crime. Thus had King Saul banned and expelled mediums and sorcerers. But, God had become silent to Saul’s pleas to know the final outcome of Israel’s battle against the Philistines because of his infidelity. Therefore, despite the ban, in desperation Saul sought out the Witch of Endor to conjure the spirit of Samuel to give him guidance.

Saul took off his royal robes, disguised his identity, and under the cover of darkness went to Endor with two other men to carry out this evil intent. The 18^th century mystic Ven. Anne Catherine Emmerich describes the scene as shown to her in vision.

The Israelites were drawn up before Endor near Jezrael, and the Philistines were marching against them from Sunem. The struggle had already begun when Saul, with two companions – all three disguised in the garb of prophets – went in the darkness of evening to the witch of Endor, who dwelt in some old ruins outside the city.

In disguise Saul seeks out the witch of Endor

She was a poor, despised creature still somewhat young. Her husband went around the country with a puppet show upon his back, practicing sorcery and exhibiting his wonders to the soldiers of the garrisons and other idlers.

When Saul resolved to consult the witch, he was already half-desperate. The witch at first was unwilling to satisfy his desire. She was afraid of its coming to the ears of King Saul, who had strictly prohibited all dealing in witchcraft. But Saul assured her with a solemn oath that that should not happen. Then she led him from the room in which they were, and which had nothing extraordinary in its appearance, to an obscure cellar.

Saul demanded that Samuel's spirit should be evoked. The witch drew a circle around Saul and his companions, traced signs around the circle, and spun threads of colored wool in all sorts of figures before and around Saul.

She stood at some distance in front of him, a basin of water on the ground before her, and plates like metallic mirrors in her hands. These latter she waved toward each other and over the water, muttering some words and at times calling something aloud. She had previously directed Saul through which part of the crossed threads he was to gaze.

saul falls prostrate before the prophet Samuel

By her diabolical skill, she was able to bring up before the eyes of her interrogators scenes of whole campaigns, battles, and the figures of those engaged in them. Such a delusion she was now preparing to evoke for Saul, when suddenly she beheld near her an apparition.

Out of herself with astonishment and dread, she let the mirror fall into the basin and cried out: "Thou hast deceived me! Thou art Saul!"

Saul bade her fear nothing, but tell him what she then saw. She replied: "I see a saint rising out of the earth."

Saul beheld nothing, and again he questioned: "What does he look like?"

The woman, trembling with fear, answered: "An old man in priestly robes!" And with these words she rushed past Saul and out of the cave.

When Saul beheld Samuel, he fell prostrate on his face.

Samuel spoke: "Why hast thou troubled my repose? The chastisement of God will soon fall upon thee! Tomorrow thou will be with me among the dead, the Philistines shall conquer Israel, and David will be King."

The three sons of Saul were also slayed by the Philistines

At these words Saul, overcome by grief and horror, lay on the ground like one dead. His companions raised him and placed him leaning against the wall. They tried to rouse him, the woman brought bread and meat, but he refused to eat. [But later he did as she said.]

The witch advised him not to engage in the battle, but to retire to Abez where the inhabitants, being Galaadites, would give him a good reception. Saul went thither next morning at dawn.

The Israelites were routed beyond Mount Gelboa. Saul himself was attacked not by the whole army of Philistines, but only by a roving party. He was at the moment seated in his chariot, with an officer standing behind him. The Philistines, rushing by, shot spears and arrows at him, though not dreaming that it was Saul himself.

He was grievously wounded, and his attendants led the chariot to the plain south of the valley and out of the road … Saul felt himself mortally wounded, he requested his officer to kill him at once, but the latter refused. Then Saul, supporting himself in the chariot, which had a railing in front, tried to fall on the point of his own sword, but he could not succeed.

The officer, seeing his determination, opened that swinging railing in front of the chariot, thus enabling Saul to fall on his sword, while at the same instant he pierced himself with his own.

An Amalecite passing at the moment recognized Saul, possessed himself of his regal ornament, and carried it to David. After the battle, Saul's body was laid beside his three sons, who had fallen to the east of the scene of slaughter. They had been killed before their father's death.

Endor where the witch lived in a cave;
site of Saul's last battle & his death

Taken from in The Life of Jesus Christ, Vol 2, p. 449
Posted February 28, 2026

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