Endor

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Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary [1]

a city in the tribe of Manasseh, where the witch resided whom Saul consulted a little before the battle of Gilboa,  Joshua 17:11;  1 Samuel 28:13 . Mr. Bryant derives Endor from En-Ador, signifying fons pythonis, "the fountain of light," or oracle of the god Ador: which oracle was probably founded by the Canaanites, and had never been totally suppressed. The ancient world had many such oracles; the most famous of which were that of Jupiter-Ammon in Lybia, and that of Delphi in Greece: and in all of them, the answers to those who consulted them were given from the mouth of a female; who, from the priestess of Apollo at Delphi, has generally received the name of Pythia. That many such oracles existed in Canaan, is evident from the number which Saul himself is said to have suppressed; and such a one, with its Pythia, was this at Endor. At these shrines, either as mock oracles, contrived by a crafty and avaricious priesthood, to impose on the credulity and superstition of its followers; or, otherwise, as is more generally supposed, as the real instruments of infernal power, mankind, having altogether departed from the true God, were permitted to be deluded. That, in this case, the real Samuel appeared is plain both from the affright of the woman herself, and from the fulfilment of his prophecy. It was an instance of God's overruling the wickedness of men, to manifest his own supremacy and justice.

Fausset's Bible Dictionary [2]

("the spring of Dor".) In Issachar, yet Manasseh's possession. Here it was that Sisera and Jabin perished ( Psalms 83:9-10). Endor is not mentioned in Judges 4 as the scene of the Canaanites' overthrow; but Taanach and Megiddo are mentioned with Endor in  Joshua 17:11, and in Judges 4 they are represented as the scene of the battle with Sisera's host. Endor being near would naturally be the scene of many "perishing"; an undesigned coincidence between the psalm and the independent history, and so confirming both.

The good omen associated with the place may have lured Saul to his fatal visit to the witch ( 1 Samuel 28:7). Endur is still a village on the slope of a mountain to the N. of jebel Duhy, "the little Hermon." Caves abound there, in one of which probably the incantation took place; eight miles, over rugged ground, from the Gilboa heights; so that Saul must have passed the Philistine camp on his way from his own army to the witch, and the way the unhappy king crept round in the darkness may be traced step by step.

Morrish Bible Dictionary [3]

City with its towns, possessed by Manasseh though situated in Issachar. It was apparently the scene of the death of Sisera and of Jabin; and it was the residence of the woman with a familiar spirit consulted by Saul.  Joshua 17:11;  1 Samuel 28:7;  Psalm 83:9,10 . Identified with Endor, 32 38' N, 35 23' E . The rock on which it stands has many caves, in one of which the witch may have carried on her incantations. From Gilboa it is distant 7 or 8 miles across difficult ground.

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary [4]

A city of Manasseh,  Joshua 17:11 , four miles south of mount Tabor, near Nain, in the way to Scythopolis,  Psalm 83:9,10 . Here the witch lived whom Saul consulted,  1 Samuel 28:1-25 . The pretence of this sorceress that she could call up the spirits of the dead from their repose was evidently false. She was amazed and appalled when the form of Samuel really appeared, sent by God himself to put her to shame, and bring to king Saul his last warning.

People's Dictionary of the Bible [5]

Endor ( Ĕn'Dôr or Ĕn'Dor ), Spring Of Dor. A place in Issachar, possessed by Manasseh,  Joshua 17:11, where Sisera and Jabin were slain,  Psalms 83:9-10, and where Saul consulted the witch.  1 Samuel 28:7. It is now a miserable village called Endôr, about 6½ miles from Jezreel.

Holman Bible Dictionary [6]

 1 Samuel 28:7 Psalm 83:10  Judges 4-5 Joshua 17:11 Judges 1:27

Easton's Bible Dictionary [7]

 Joshua 17:11 Psalm 83:9,10 1 Samuel 28:7

Kitto's Popular Cyclopedia of Biblial Literature [8]

Endor (house-fountain); a town of Galilee, assigned to Manasseh, although lying beyond the limits of that tribe . It is mentioned in connection with the victory of Deborah and Barak but is chiefly memorable as the abode of the sorceress whom Saul consulted on the eve of the battle in which he perished (, sq.). The name is not found in the New Testament; but in the time of Eusebius and Jerome the place still existed as a large village, four miles south of Mount Tabor. At this distance, on the northern slope of the lower ridge of Hermon, a village with this name still exists.

The Nuttall Encyclopedia [9]

A place on the S. of Mount Tabor, in Palestine, where the sorceress lived who was consulted by Saul before the battle of Gilboa, and who professed communication with the ghost of Samuel (1Sam, xxviii. 7).

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