The Witch of Endor in History and Folklore

Abstract

The Old Testament account in 1 Samuel 28 of how the Woman or Witch of Endor apparently raised the spirit of the prophet Samuel has been a matter of much theological debate for many centuries. Hundreds of scholarly articles have also been written about it with regard to its significance in Biblical exegesis from late antiquity to the early modern period. Yet very little research has been done on the religious and cultural significance of the Endor story in the age of the folklorist. This lecture explores the influence of sermons and literary culture on folk beliefs, examines the theories of early folklorists and anthropologists regarding the Endor story, and charts the emergence of a positive view of the ‘Witch’.