To: whatjewsbelieve@hotmail.com
Fr: BAN@S6K
Subject: I Samuel 28::8-20
Q: SHALOM RABBI FEDEROW—–
THE ACCOUNT OF SAUL ASKING THE WITCH OF ENDOR, TO CALL SAMUEL FROM THE DEAD, PUZZLES OUR SHABBAT TORAH STUDY GROUP A LOT. WE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY THE LORD GAVE THE WITCH THE POWER TO CALL SAMUEL FROM THE DEAD. WE HAVE STUDIED THAT NECROMANCY IS PROHIBETED BY GOD. SO WHY DID GOD PERMIT THIS?
—————————————————————————————————
A: First, the text never calls her a witch.
Second, the bible never says that that stuff doesnt work. It never says it about astrology, or any of that stuff. What the bible says is that it is not for Jews. We have Gd, let other faiths rely on humans like dying/saving pagan man/gods or astrologers.
Remember also that in the Christians’ New Testament, the wise men, who were astrologers, played an important role. They had to be astrologers so that they could understand what the star in the east was showing them. Of course the text says they were in the east and the star was in the east, so I guess it means they went the wrong direction all the way around the world. Of course in Luke the text says nothing of wise men coming to see Jesus, only shepherds came to see Jesus, because there was no need to have wise men find Jesus. In the Luke version, Mary and Joseph came from the north, Nazareth to Bethlehem. In Matthew, they were already home in their house, no need for an Inn, in Bethlehem, just another of the many internal contradiction of the Christian’s New Testament. At any rate, either way, Jews have Gd, others do what they wish, but it never says that the occult, astrology and horoscopes don’t work.
Third, please note the Hebrew of the text, she is a woman of “Ain Dor,” which means the “Fountain of Generation,” and this is also a name of a place in the Bible. perhaps they thought back then that the area was a gate to Sheol. She could be like a gate keeper to Sheol, which means “The Unknown,” which is the afterlife.
Note further that it does not mean “hell,” as many Christian translations translate it. The word ‘Sheol’ is from the same root as ‘question, sh’aylah.’ Furthermore, notice that Samuel is angry at Saul for making him leave Sheol! He basically asks Saul, “why are you bothering me?” If it was hell, then Samuel would have told Saul, “Oh Thank You, for getting me out of there for even just a few minutes!”
I think that Gd let Saul do this because Gd wanted Saul to understand why He had abandoned him. So, by letting Saul talk to Samuel, Samuel was able to convey to Saul the reasons for not being able to communicate with Gd. Samuel even reminds Saul that he had told Saul that Gd was going to abandon him for what he didn’t do, when he didn’t destroy the Amalekites. That is my guess.
