The “Belly-Myther” of Endor

Interpretations of 1 Kingdoms 28 in the Early Church

Rowan A. Greer and Margaret M. Mitchell

• ISBN 978 90 04 13062 3

• List price EUR 99.- / US$ 142.-

• SBL - Writings from the Greco-Roman World, 16

The story of Saul and the woman at Endor in 1 Samuel 28 (LXX 1 Kingdoms 28) lay at the center of energetic disputes among early Christian authors about the nature and fate of the soul, the source of prophetic gifts, and biblical truth. In addition to providing the original texts and fresh translations of works by Origen, Eustathius of Antioch (not previously translated into English), and six other authors, Greer and Mitchell offer an insightful introduction to and detailed analysis of the rhetorical cast and theological stakes involved in early church debates on this notoriously difficult passage.