And Samuel said to Saul, Why hast thou disquieted me, to bring me up? And Saul answered, I am sore distressed; for the Philistines make war against me, and God is departed from me, and answereth me no more, neither by prophets, nor by dreams: therefore I have called thee, that thou mayest make known unto me what I shall do.
Samuel said to Saul, 'Why have you disturbed my rest by bringing me back from the dead?' Saul answered, 'I'm in terrible trouble! The Philistines are fighting against me, and God has left me. He won't answer me anymore—not through prophets or dreams. That's why I called you here, so you can tell me what I should do.'
This verse shows Saul desperately seeking guidance from the dead prophet Samuel because he feels completely abandoned by God and doesn't know how to face his enemies.
📚 Historical Context
This occurs near the end of Saul's reign when he consulted a medium at Endor to summon the spirit of the deceased prophet Samuel. Saul had been rejected by God for his disobedience and was facing a final battle with the Philistines. Samuel had been God's prophet who originally anointed Saul as king but later pronounced God's judgment on him for his repeated failures to obey.
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