1 Samuel 28:5 net — When Saul saw the camp of the Philistines, he was absolutely terrified.

NET Bible

"When Saul saw the camp of the Philistines, he was absolutely terrified."

— 1 Samuel 28:5, NET Bible

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1 Samuel 28:5 in Other Translations

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1 Samuel 28 — Context

2

David replied to Achish,“That being the case, you will come to know what your servant can do!” Achish said to David,“Then I will make you my bodyguard from now on.”

3

Now Samuel had died, and all Israel had lamented over him and had buried him in Ramah, his hometown. In the meantime Saul had removed the mediums and magicians from the land.

4

The Philistines assembled; they came and camped at Shunem. Saul mustered all Israel and camped at Gilboa.

5

When Saul saw the camp of the Philistines, he was absolutely terrified.

6

So Saul inquired of the LORD, but the LORD did not answer him– not by dreams nor by Urim nor by the prophets.

7

So Saul instructed his servants,“Find me a woman who is a medium, so that I may go to her and inquire of her.” His servants replied to him,“There is a woman who is a medium in En Dor.”

8

So Saul disguised himself and put on other clothing and left, accompanied by two of his men. They came to the woman at night and said,“Use your ritual pit to conjure up for me the one I tell you.”

1 Samuel 28:5 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does 1 Samuel 28:5 say?
1 Samuel 28:5 in the NET Bible reads: “When Saul saw the camp of the Philistines, he was absolutely terrified.”
Where is 1 Samuel 28:5 in the Bible?
1 Samuel 28:5 is found in the Old Testament, in the book of 1 Samuel, chapter 28, verse 5.
Who wrote 1 Samuel?
1 Samuel is traditionally attributed to Anonymous (traditionally Samuel, Nathan, and Gad). It was written c. 930–722 BC.
What is the book of 1 Samuel about?
1 Samuel marks Israel's transition from judges to kings. It traces the births and ministries of the prophet Samuel, the rise and tragic fall of Saul as Israel's first king, and the anointing of the shepherd boy David, whose faith makes him a man after God's own heart.
What are the major themes of 1 Samuel?
1 Samuel explores themes including Kingship, Prophet, Faith vs. Fear, God's Sovereign Choice, Anointing. These themes shape the meaning and context of 1 Samuel 28:5.
What translation should I read 1 Samuel 28:5 in?
1 Samuel 28:5 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize 1 Samuel 28:5?
1 Samuel 28:5 reads (NET): “When Saul saw the camp of the Philistines, he was absolutely terrified.” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
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