Commentary for I Samuel 28:3
וּשְׁמוּאֵ֣ל מֵ֔ת וַיִּסְפְּדוּ־לוֹ֙ כָּל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וַיִּקְבְּרֻ֥הוּ בָרָמָ֖ה וּבְעִיר֑וֹ וְשָׁא֗וּל הֵסִ֛יר הָאֹב֥וֹת וְאֶת־הַיִּדְּעֹנִ֖ים מֵהָאָֽרֶץ׃
Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel had lamented him, and buried him in Ramah, even in his own city. And Saul had put away those that divined by a ghost or a familiar spirit out of the land.
Rashi on I Samuel
Shmuel had died. It was already stated, "and Shmuel died,"1Above 25:1. but since [Scripture] came to speak about Shaul, that he had to ask of a medium of אוֹב,2See Maseches Sanhedrin 65b for description of אוֹב., it begins by stating, "and Shmuel had died," for had he been alive, Shaul would have inquired of him. But since Shaul had abolished the אוֹב mediums,3Pursuant to the prohibition stated in Vayikra 19:31. Shaul removed the mediums after Shmuel died. Before that, it was not necessary for him to do so because while Shmuel was alive, prophecy was widespread in Yisroel, so no one sought out the medium of אוֹב or יׅדְּעֹנִי. he had to seek out find an אוֹב medium.
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Rashi on I Samuel
And all of Yisroel mourned him and buried him in Romoh, in his city. And all Yisroel mourned him and buried him in Romoh, and each person mourned him in his own city; and 'in his city' is connected with 'and they mourned him,' i.e., they mourned and buried him in Romoh, and each person mourned him in his own city.4In the same manner as he was mourned in his home town of Romoh.
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