Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Samuel 28:17
And the LORD hath done to him, as he spoke by me: for the LORD hath rent the kingdom out of thine hand, and given it to thy neighbor, [even] to David:
17. to him ] i.e. if the Sept. reading is adopted in 1Sa 28:16, to David: or it may refer to God, and mean “for himself,” in fulfilment of His will. But the Sept. and Vulg. read “to thee.”
as he spake by me ] See 1Sa 15:28.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
To him – Better, for Himself, as in the margin.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 17. The Lord hath done to him] I believe these words are spoken of Saul; and as they are spoken to him, it seems evident that him should be thee. The Vulgate has tibi, the Septuagint , to THEE: and this is the reading of five of Kennicott’s and De Rossi’s MSS., as well as of both the Bibles printed at Venice in 1518, where we read lecha, to THEE, instead of lo, to HIM.
As he spake by me] Here was no illusion; none but Samuel could say this.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
The Lord hath done to him, i.e. to David, as it is explained in the following words; the pronoun relative put before the noun to which it belongs, as is usual in the Hebrew text, as Psa 87; 105:19; Pro 7:7,8; Jer 40:5. Otherwise, to him is put for to thee; such changes of persons being frequent among the Hebrews. Otherwise, for himself, i. e. for the accomplishment of his counsel, and prediction, and oath, and for the glory of his justice and holiness.
As he spake by me: still he nourisheth this persuasion in Saul, that it was the true Samuel that spake to him.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And the Lord hath done to him,…. To David, Saul’s enemy, as he insinuated he was:
as he spake by me; pretending to be the true Samuel, and wearing the guise of him, he speaks his very words, which he was well acquainted with, and could deliver exactly as he did:
for the Lord hath rent the kingdom out of thine hand, and given it to thy neighbour; which words are expressed by Samuel, 1Sa 15:28;
[even] unto David; which is added by the apparition, by way of explanation, interpreting the words of David; which he might safely venture to do, seeing such a train of circumstances had occurred since the delivery of these words, which plainly made it appear he was intended.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(17) And the Lord hath done to him.Render, as in margin of the English Version, the Lord hath done or performed for Himself. The LXX. and Vulg. here needlessly change the text into, the Lord hath done to thee.
And given it to thy neighbour . . . David.An evil spirit personating Samuel would not have spoken thus; he would not have wished to help David, the man after Gods own heart, to the throne of Israel; nor would an evil spirit have spoken in such solemn terms of the punishment due to rebellion against God.Bishop Wordsworth, who argues against the supposition that the shade of Samuel was an evil spirit.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
17. The Lord hath done to him Rather, for himself, as in the margin; that is, for the accomplishment of his own purposes. The Septuagint and Vulgate have thought to correct the text by reading to thee, instead of to him.
As he spake by me See 1Sa 15:18; 1Sa 15:26 ; 1Sa 15:28. These words, let it be noticed, were the last oracles Samuel uttered in Saul’s hearing, (compare 1Sa 15:35,) and they seem to have been ringing in his ears ever since that last solemn meeting with the prophet. What sufficient reason can be given for Samuel’s coming from the bosom of Abraham to repeat these words to Saul, who already had them deeply imprinted on his memory? If Lazarus could not revisit the world to warn the living of their danger because they had Moses and the prophets, (Luk 16:31,) still less can we suppose that a sainted prophet would be permitted to return and repeat to an incorrigible transgressor the very words of his earthly ministry.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
1Sa 28:17 And the LORD hath done to him, as he spake by me: for the LORD hath rent the kingdom out of thine hand, and given it to thy neighbour, [even] to David:
Ver. 17. And the Lord hath done to him, ] i.e., To him you knew of, to David his darling. Or, The Lord hath done for himself, that is, for the accomplishment of his own counsels.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
as = according as.
by me = by my hand.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
to him: or, for himself, The LXX read , and the Vulgate tibi, to thee; which is the reading of five of Dr. Kennicott’s and De Rossi’s manuscripts, as well as both the Bibles printed at Venice in 1518, where we read lecha, “to thee,” for lo, “to him;” and as the words are spoken to Saul, this seems to be evidently the correct reading. Pro 16:4
as he spake: 1Sa 13:13, 1Sa 13:14, 1Sa 15:27-29
me: Heb. mine hand
thy neighbour: 1Sa 15:28, 1Sa 16:13, 1Sa 24:20
Reciprocal: 2Sa 3:9 – as the Lord 1Ch 10:14 – turned 1Ch 11:3 – according
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1Sa 28:17-18. The Lord hath rent the kingdom out of thy hand, &c. Here the prophet foretels that Saul should that day be stripped of the kingdom, and that it should be given to David. Then follows what nothing but infinite, unerring prescience could predict; an exact, minute, precise account of all the circumstances of the then depending event! Because thou obeyedst not the voice of the Lord Sauls sin in killing the Lords priests, and in seeking to kill David, is not here mentioned, because the decree of taking the kingdom from him was passed before those sins were committed. Delaney asks here, Would an impostor (for such this apparition must have been, if it were not Samuel) have been so very zealous for a strict observance of the law and commands of God; and so rigid in pronouncing divine vengeance upon the violation of them; and in the depth of his cunning have limited that vengeance to time, place, and person; and all this at no greater distance than the next day? These suppositions are too wild to be seriously confuted; they are the very reverse of what should and would have been done on such an occasion, had imposture interfered in it. Every one knows the business of impostors is to flatter, to delude, to deceive, to answer doubtfully; to promise good and put off the evil; it was this womans business in a particular manner to act thus. Had she promised Saul victory, and the success had answered, she was sure of considerable advantage. He, who could have no benefit from priests or from prophets, would, doubtless, have had her in high honour, and with good reason. If he died in the battle, all was safe; and even if he escaped and was worsted, what she said would at least have been taken for an indication of good wishes to the king and to his people; and so would be more likely to escape any after inquiry. Whereas, if she prognosticated evil to the royal race, she was sure of destruction, if the event did not at once justify and save her.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
28:17 And the LORD hath done to {g} him, as he spake by me: for the LORD hath rent the kingdom out of thine hand, and given it to thy neighbour, [even] to David:
(g) That is, to David.