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The people fled from the cities； and the Philistines took undisturbed
possession。 Saul's reign； independent of God； had well…nigh proved the ruin
of his people。
On the day following the engagement； the Philistines； searching the
battlefield to rob the slain； discovered the bodies of Saul and his three
sons。 To complete their triumph； they cut off the head of Saul and stripped
him of his armor； then the head and the armor； reeking with blood； were sent
to the country of the Philistines as a trophy of victory； 〃to publish it in
the house of their idols； and among the people。〃 The armor was finally put
in 〃the house of Ashtaroth；〃 while the head was fastened in the temple of
Dagon。 Thus the glory of the victory was ascribed to the power of these
false gods； and the name of Jehovah was dishonored。
The dead bodies of Saul and his sons were dragged to Beth…shan； a city not
far from Gilboa； and near the river Jordan。 Here they were hung up in
chains； to be devoured by birds of prey。 But the brave men of Jabesh…gilead；
remembering Saul's deliverance of their city in his earlier and happier
years； now manifested their gratitude by rescuing the bodies of the king and
princes； and giving them honorable burial。 Crossing the Jordan by night；
they 〃took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons from the wall of
Beth…shan； and came to Jabesh； and burnt them there； And they took their
bones； and buried them under a tree at Jabesh； and fasted seven days。〃 Thus
the noble deed performed forty years before； secured for Saul and his sons
burial by tender and pitying hands in that dark hour of defeat and dishonor。
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Chapter 67
Ancient and Modern Sorcery
The Scripture account of Saul's visit to the woman of Endor has been a
source of perplexity to many students of the Bible。 There are some who take
the position that Samuel was actually present at the interview with Saul；
but the Bible itself furnishes sufficient ground for a contrary conclusion。
If； as claimed by some； Samuel was in heaven； he must have been summoned
thence； either by the power of God or by that of Satan。 None can believe for
a moment that Satan had power to call the holy prophet of God from heaven to
honor the incantations of an abandoned woman。 Nor can we conclude that God
summoned him to the witch's cave； for the Lord had already refused to
communicate with Saul； by dreams； by Urim； or by prophets。 1 Samuel 28：6。
These were God's own appointed mediums of communication； and He did not pass
them by to deliver the message through the agent of Satan。
The message itself is sufficient evidence of its origin。 Its object was not
to lead Saul to repentance； but to urge him on to ruin； and this is not the
work of God； but of Satan。 Furthermore； the act of Saul in consulting a
sorceress is cited in Scripture as one reason why he was rejected by God and
abandoned to destruction： 〃Saul died for his transgression which he
committed against the Lord； even against the word of the Lord； which he kept
not； and also for asking counsel of one that had a familiar spirit； to
inquire of it； and inquired not of the Lord： therefore He slew him； and
turned the kingdom unto David the son of Jesse。〃 1 Chronicles 10：13； 14。
Here it is distinctly stated that Saul inquired of the familiar spirit； not
of the Lord。 He did not communicate with Samuel； the prophet of God； but
through the sorceress he held intercourse with Satan。 Satan could not
present the real Samuel； but he did present a counterfeit； that served his
purpose of deception。
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Nearly all forms of ancient sorcery and witchcraft were founded upon a
belief in communion with the dead。 Those who practiced the arts of
necromancy claimed to have intercourse with departed spirits； and to obtain
through them a knowledge of future events。 This custom of consulting the
dead is referred to in the prophecy of Isaiah： 〃When they shall say unto
you； Seek unto them that have familiar spirits； and unto wizards that peep
and that mutter： should not a people seek unto their God？ for the living to
the dead？〃 Isaiah 8：19。
This same belief in communion with the dead formed the cornerstone of
heathen idolatry。 The gods of the heathen were believed to be the deified
spirits of departed heroes。 Thus the religion of the heathen was a worship
of the dead。 This is evident from the Scriptures。 In the account of the sin
of Israel at Bethpeor； it is stated： 〃Israel abode in Shittim； and the
people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab。 And they called
the people unto the sacrifices of their gods： and the people did eat； and
bowed down to their gods。 And Israel joined himself unto Baalpeor。〃 Numbers
25：1…3。 The psalmist tells us to what kind of gods these sacrifices were
offered。 Speaking of the same apostasy of the Israelites； he says； 〃They
joined themselves also unto Baalpeor； and ate the sacrifices of the dead〃
（Psalm 106：28）； that is； sacrifices that had been offered to the dead。
The deification of the dead has held a prominent place in nearly every
system of heathenism； as has also the supposed communion with the dead。 The
gods were believed to communicate their will to men； and also； when
consulted； to give them counsel。 Of this character were the famous oracles
of Greece and Rome。
The belief in communion with the dead is still held； even in professedly
Christian lands。 Under the name of spiritualism the practice of
communicating with beings claiming to be the spirits of the departed has
become widespread。 It is calculated to take hold of the sympathies of those
who have laid their loved ones in the grave。 Spiritual beings sometimes
appear to persons in the form of their deceased friends； and relate
incidents connected with their lives and perform acts which they performed
while living。 In this way they lead men to believe that their dead friends
are angels； hovering over them and communicating with
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them。 Those who thus assume to be the spirits of the departed are regarded
with a certain idolatry； and with many their word has greater weight than
the word of God。
There are many； however； who regard spiritualism as a mere imposture。 The
manifestations by which it supports its claims to a supernatural character
are attributed to fraud on the part of the medium。 But while it is true that
the results of trickery have often been palmed off as genuine
manifestations； there have also been marked evidences of supernatural power。
And many who reject spiritualism as the result of human skill or cunning
will； when confronted with manifestations which they cannot account for upon
this ground； be led to acknowledge its claims。
Modern spiritualism and the forms of ancient witchcraft and idol
worshipall having communion with the dead as their vital principleare
founded upon that first lie by which Satan beguiled Eve in Eden： 〃Ye shall
not surely die： for God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof； 。 。 。 ye
shall be as gods。〃 Ge