Key Verse Spotlight
1 Samuel 28:1 - Meaning and Application
Understand how this verse speaks to what you're facing-and how to apply it today
Translation: King James Version
" And it came to pass in those days, that the Philistines gathered ➔ their armies together for warfare, to fight with Israel. And Achish said unto David, Know thou assuredly, that thou shalt go out with me to battle, thou and thy men. "
1 Samuel 28:1
Verse in Context
Understanding the surrounding verses prevents misinterpretation:
And it came to pass in those days, that the Philistines gathered ➔ their armies together for warfare, to fight with Israel. And Achish said unto David, Know thou assuredly, that thou shalt go out with me to battle, thou and thy men.
And David said to Achish, Surely thou shalt know what thy servant can do. And Achish said to David, Therefore will I make thee keeper of mine head for ever.
Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel had lamented him, and buried him in Ramah, even in his own city. And Saul had put away those that had familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land.
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The fall of Babylon had been foretold often and long before it happened, while the city still seemed secure. In this chapter, we see that judgment carried out, and we also see a prediction of it made on the very night it happened. Belshazzar was now king in Babylon. Some say he had ruled for seventeen years, others for only three. This chapter tells of his end and the close of his kingdom.
We should also remember that about two years earlier, Cyrus, the king of Persia, a rising power, came against Babylon with a large army. Belshazzar went out to meet him, fought him, and was defeated in open battle. He and the rest of his scattered forces withdrew into the city, where Cyrus laid siege to it. They felt very safe because the Euphrates River protected the city, and they had enough food stored for twenty years. Yet in the second year of the siege, Cyrus captured the city, as this chapter records.
1. We are shown Belshazzar’s wild, idolatrous, and dishonoring feast, in which he brought his sin to full measure (Daniel 5:1-4).
2. We are shown the warning given to him in the middle of his celebration, by writing on the wall, which none of his wise men could read or explain (Daniel 5:5-9).
3. We are shown Daniel’s explanation of the mysterious writing, after he was finally brought in. He spoke plainly to the king and told him that his judgment had already been written out (Daniel 5:10-28).
4. We are shown the immediate fulfillment of that message, when the king was killed and the kingdom was taken (Daniel 5:30-31).
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From This Chapter
1 Samuel 28:2
"And David said to Achish, Surely thou shalt know what thy servant can do. And Achish said to David, Therefore will I make thee keeper of mine head for ever."
1 Samuel 28:3
"Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel had lamented him, and buried him in Ramah, even in his own city. And Saul had put away those that had familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land."
1 Samuel 28:4
"And the Philistines gathered themselves together, and came and pitched in Shunem: and Saul gathered ➔ all Israel together, and they pitched in Gilboa."
1 Samuel 28:5
"And when Saul saw the host of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart greatly trembled."
1 Samuel 28:6
"And when Saul enquired of the LORD, the LORD answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets."
1 Samuel 28:7
"Then said Saul unto his servants, Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and enquire of her. And his servants said to him, Behold, there is a woman that hath a familiar spirit at Endor."
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