Four readings; the bishop chooses the medium
The things read aloud are rather many, and since one must speak by cutting them short, there are four sections. There was read what follows after the matters concerning Nabal of Carmel. Then after that the story of David’s being hidden among the Ziphites and being slandered by them, and of Saul’s having come wanting to seize David and, having come, watching for a moment; and of David’s having come upon Saul and taken, while he and his guards were sleeping, “the spear and the water-flask,” and after that of his having brought a rebuke against those entrusted to guard him who had fallen asleep. Then next was the third story—that David fled “to Achish son of Maoch, king of Gath,” and how much favor he found with him after his many brave deeds, to whom Achish says, “I will make you chief of my bodyguard.”
Next after these was the notorious story concerning the medium and concerning Samuel—that the medium seemed to have brought Samuel up, and Samuel prophesies to Saul. There being four sections, each of which has no small matters, and matters able to occupy even those who can examine them for hours not of one assembly but of several—let the bishop propose whichever of the four he wills, so that we may be occupied about this. “Let the matters concerning the medium,” he says, “be examined.”
Greek
Τὰ ἀναγνωσθέντα πλείονά ἐστιν, καὶ ἐπεὶ χρὴ ἐπιτεμνόμενον εἰπεῖν, δ' εἰσὶν περικοπαί. ἀνεγνώσθη τὰ ἑξῆς τῶν περὶ Νάβαλ Καρμήλιον. εἶτα μετὰ τοῦτο ἡ ἱστορία ἡ περὶ τοῦ κεκρύφθαι τὸν Δαβὶδ παρὰ τοῖς Ζιφαίοις καὶ διαβεβλῆσθαι αὐτὸν ὑπ’ αὐτῶν, ἐληλυθέναι δὲ τὸν Σαοὺλ βουλόμενον λαβεῖν τὸν Δαβὶδ καὶ ἐληλυθότα ἐπιτηρῆσαι καιρόν, ἐπεληλυθέναι τε τῷ Σαοὺλ τὸν Δαβὶδ καὶ εἰληφέναι, κοιμωμένου αὐτοῦ καὶ τῶν φρουρούντων αὐτόν, «τὸ δόρυ καὶ τὸν φακὸν τοῦ ὕδατος« καὶ μετὰ τοῦτο ἔλεγχον προσενηνοχέναι τοῖς πεπιστευμένοις μὲν φυλάττειν αὐτόν, ἀποκοιμηθεῖσιν δέ. εἶτα τὰ] ἑξῆς ἡ ἱστορία ἦν ἡ τρίτη, ὅτι κατέφυγε «πρὸς Ἀγχοὺς υἱὸν Ἀμμὰχ βασιλέα Γὲθ« ὁ Δαβίδ, καὶ ὅσην εὗρε χάριν παρ’ αὐτῷ μετὰ τά πολλὰ ἀνδραγαθήματα ὁ Δαβίδ, πρὸς ὃν «ἀρχισωματοφύλακα θήσομαί σε« φησίν.
ἑξῆς τούτοις ἦν ἡ ἱστορία ἡ διαβόητος ἡ περὶ τῆς ἐγγαστριμύθου καὶ περὶ τοῦ Σαμουήλ, ὅτι ἔδοξεν ἀνενηνοχέναι ἡ ἐγγαστρίμυθος τὸν Σαμουὴλ καὶ ὁ Σαμουὴλ προφητεύει τῷ Σαούλ. τεσσάρων οὐσῶν περικοπῶν, ὧν ἑκάστη πράγματα οὐκ ὀλίγα ἔχει, ἀλλὰ καὶ τοὺς δυναμένους ἐξετάζειν δυνάμενα ἀσχολῆσαι ὥρας οὐ μιᾶς συνάξεως ἀλλὰ καὶ πλειόνων, ὁτίποτε βούλεται ὁ ἐπίσκοπος προτεινάτω τῶν τεσσάρων, ἴνα περὶ τοῦτο ἀσχοληθῶμεν. τὰ περὶ τῆς ἐγγαστριμύθου, φησίν, ἐξεταζέσθω.
About this text
Origen, Homily on 1 Samuel 28 (the medium). Original English Translation from the Greek (Klostermann).
English is newly prepared for study from the stated edition. Open Greek on each section for the source text. This is not a complete critical edition.