A demon cannot know David’s kingdom or tomorrow’s death
But the Word is still being examined.
I say that both the story and the examination concerning it are necessary, so that we may see what holds us after the departure. “He has spoken by my hand, and the Lord will tear the kingdom from your hand and will give it to your neighbor, to David.” But a demon cannot know David’s kingdom, the one appointed by the Lord. “Because you did not hear the Lord’s voice, you did not execute the wrath of his anger on Amalek.” Are these not God’s words? Are they not true? For truly Saul did not do the Lord’s will, but “spared the king of Amalek,” for which Samuel reproached Saul both before his falling asleep and at the departure: “And because of this word the Lord has done this to you on this day; and the Lord will also give Israel into the foreigners’ hand.” Can a demon prophesy concerning the whole people of God that the Lord is about to hand Israel over? “And also the camp of Israel the Lord will hand over into the foreigners’ hand. Make haste, Saul; tomorrow you also and your sons with me.” And can a demon know this—concerning a king appointed with a prophetic act—that tomorrow Saul was about to leave life, and his sons with him? “Tomorrow you and your sons with me.”
Greek
ἀλλ’ ὁ λόγος ἔτι ἐξετάζεται.
Λέγω δὲ ὅτι ἀναγκαία καὶ ἡ ἱστορία καὶ ἡ ἐξέτασις ἡ περὶ αὐτῆς, ἵνα ἴδωμεν τί ἡμᾶς ἔχει μετὰ τὴν ἔξοδον. «λελάληκεν ἐν χειρί μου, καὶ διαρρήξει κύριος τὴν βασιλείαν ἐκ χειρός σου καὶ δώσει αὐτὴν τῷ πλησίον σου τῷ Δαβίδ. δαιμόνιον δὲ οὐ δύναται εἰδέναι τὴν βασιλείαν Δαβὶδ τὴν ὑπὸ τοῦ κυρίου χειροτονηθεῖσαν. «καθότι οὐκ ἤκουσας τὴν φωνὴν τοῦ κυρίου, οὐκ ἐποίησας ὀργὴν θυμοῦ αὐτοῦ ἐν Ἀμαλήκ. ταῦτα οὐκ ἔστι ῥήματα θεοῦ; οὐκ ἔστιν ἀληθῆ; ἀληθῶς γὰρ οὐκ ἐποίησεν τὸ θέλημα κυρίου Σαούλ, ἀλλὰ «περιεποιήσατο τὸν βασιλέα Ἀμαλὴκ ἐφ’ ᾡ καὶ πρὸ τῆς κοιμήσεως αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐπὶ τῆς ἐξόδου ὠνείδισεν Σαμουὴλ τῷ Σαούλ· «καὶ διὰ τοῦτο τὸ ῥῆμα τοῦτο ἐποίησέν σοι κύριος ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ταύτῃ· καὶ δώσει κύριος καίγε τὸν Ἰσραὴλ ἐν χειρὶ ἀλλοφύλων. περὶ ὅλου λαοῦ θεοῦ δύναται δαιμόνιον προφητεῦσαι ὅτι κύριος μέλλει παραδιδόναι τὸν Ἰσραήλ; «καίγε τὴν παρεμβολὴν Ἰσραὴλ παραδώσει κύριος αὐτὴν ἐν χειρὶ ἀλλοφύλων. τάχυνον δὲ Σαούλ· αὔριον καὶ σὺ καὶ οἱ υἱοί σου μετ’ ἐμοῦ. καὶ τοῦτο δύναται εἰδέναι δαιμόνιον, περὶ βασιλέα χειροτονηθέντα μετὰ προφητικοῦ, ὅτι αὔριον ἔμελλεν ἐξελεύσεσθαι ὁ Σαοὺλ τὸν βίον καὶ οἱ υἱοὶ αὐτοῦ μετ’ αὐτοῦ; «αὔριον σὺ καὶ οἱ υἱοί σου μετ’ ἐμοῦ.
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.