SAUL AND THE WITCH OF ENDOR.

WHEN Saul was menaced by the Philistine army, encamped at Shunem, a city belonging to the tribe of Issachar, fearing the issue, and apprehending, from his numerous delinquencies, that God had abandoned him, the dejected king adopted a singular expedient to ascertain the result of a conflict with the enemy. He had assembled his forces upon Mount Gilboa, whence he could overlook the encampment of the foe. Losing his confidence at the sight of their prodigious numbers, he determined to consult a celebrated sorceress living at Endor, a small town belonging to the tribe of Manasseh, and about eight miles from that part of Mount Gilboa where the army of Israel was encamped. In conformity with this resolution, Saul visited Endor in disguise, accompanied only by two attendants upon whose fidelity he could rely. Coming by night to the woman's house for the better security against surprise, Saul desired her Having to raise up him whom he should name unto her. assured her of indemnity against punishment for the exercising of her unlawful calling, he commanded that she should call up Samuel. This she immediately did, and learnt from the spectre that it was Saul who had commanded her to raise the dead prophet. "And the king said unto her, What sawest thou? And the woman said unto Saul, I saw gods ascending out of the earth. And he said unto her, What form is he of? And she said, An old man cometh up, and he is covered with a mantle. And Saul perceived that it was Samuel, and he stooped with his face to the ground, and bowed himself."* This fully explains the picture. The apparition inquiring why he was raised, was answered by the trembling king that he was about to be attacked by the Philistines, and being deserted by God in his distress, he desired to know of Samuel what he should do. The answer was wofully prophetic: he was told that the next day his army should be routed by the The prediction was enemy, and he and his sons slain. accomplished.