Bible Word of the Day
Endor (En-Dor, Also Called Khirbet)
Meaning
Endor (En Dor) was a city located in the territory of the tribe of Issachar. However, it was owned by the tribe of Manasseh. Endor was located approximately four miles south of mount Tabor, near the city of Nain. Endor was located on the way to Scythopolis. Scythopolis was also known as Beth Shean and it was a major Biblical city, located on the crossroads between the Jordan Valley and the Jezreel Valley, south of the Sea of Galilee above the Jordan River. Endor was the scene of a great victory over Sisera the commander of King Jabin’s army. We can read about the victory of the judges Deborah and Barak in the book of Judges.
But it was most notable for the “Witch of Endor.” King Saul, who had become wicked was abandoned by God. So Saul went into a witch who lived in Endor. He wanted to know his future regarding a battle which he was about to fight against the Philistines. Even though communicating with spirits was expressly forbidden by God’s word Saul in typical fashion, ignored God and did what he wanted. And because of Saul’s wickedness, and because he went to a witch to communicate with spirits and the dead. God gave Saul and Israel into the hands of the Philistines. Therefore, because of Saul, Israel suffered a great defeat. And as a result Saul and his son Jonathan were killed in the battle. The city was also known to Eusebius an early church father, who described it as a large village four miles south of Tabor.
“And in Issachar and in Asher, Manasseh had Beth Shean and its towns, Ibleam and its towns, the inhabitants of Dor and its towns, the inhabitants of En Dor and its towns, the inhabitants of Taanach and its towns, and the inhabitants of Megiddo and its towns-three hilly regions.Yet the children of Manasseh could not drive out the inhabitants of those cities, but the Canaanites were determined to dwell in that land.” (Book of Joshua 17:11-12)
“Then Saul said to his servants, ‘Find me a woman who is a medium, that I may go to her and inquire of her.’ And his servants said to him, ‘In fact, there is a woman who is a medium at En Dor.’ So Saul disguised himself and put on other clothes, and he went, and two men with him; and they came to the woman by night. And he said, ‘Please conduct a seance for me, and bring up for me the one I shall name to you.’ Then the woman said to him, ‘Look, you know what Saul has done, how he has cut off the mediums and the spiritists from the land. Why then do you lay a snare for my life, to cause me to die?’ And Saul swore to her by the Lord, saying, ‘As the Lord lives, no punishment shall come upon you for this thing.’ Then the woman said, ‘Whom shall I bring up for you?’ And he said, ‘Bring up Samuel for me.’ When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out with a loud voice. And the woman spoke to Saul, saying, ‘Why have you deceived me? For you are Saul'” (Book of First Samel 28:7-12)
“And the king said to her, ‘Do not be afraid. What did you see?’ And the woman said to Saul, ‘I saw a spirit ascending out of the earth.’ So he said to her, ‘What is his form?’ And she said, ‘An old man is coming 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 down. Now Samuel said to Saul, ‘Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?’ And Saul answered, ‘I am deeply distressed; for the Philistines make war against me, and God has departed from me and does not answer me anymore, neither by prophets nor by dreams. Therefore I have called you, that you may reveal to me what I should do.’ Then Samuel said: ‘Why then do you ask me, seeing the Lord has departed from you and has become your enemy? ‘And the Lord has done for Himself as He spoke by me. For the Lord has torn the kingdom out of your hand and given it to your neighbor, David. ‘Because you did not obey the voice of the Lord nor execute His fierce wrath upon Amalek, therefore the Lord has done this thing to you this day. ‘Moreover the Lord will also deliver Israel with you into the hand of the Philistines. And tomorrow you and your sons will be with me. The Lord will also deliver the army of Israel into the hand of the Philistines.'” (Book of First Samel 28:13-19)