Endor
The village of the necromancer.
Inhabitants or natives[edit | edit source]
Description[edit | edit source]
At the foot of Little Hermon, near Mount Tabor."It is a poor village [...] The houses cling to the slopes which, beyond the village become steeper. Poor people live in them. Most of them must be shepherds who pasture their flocks on the sides of the mountain and in the woods of old oak-trees. There are a few small fields of barley, or similar fodder grains, in favourable sites and some apple and fig-trees. There are only a few vines around the houses, decorating the walls, which are dark because the place is obviously a damp one."[1]
Necromancer's Cave[edit | edit source]
"Jesus with His apostles, passing over large stones which must have been part of very strong walls, upsetting green lizards and other ugly looking insects, enters a large smoky grotto, on the walls of which there are still graffiti signs of the zodiac and similar things. In a corner blackened by smoke there is a niche and under it a hole which looks like a gully-hole for water. Bats hanging in disgusting bunches decorate the ceiling and an owl, upset by the light of a branch which James has lit to ensure they do not tread on scorpions or asps, complains by flapping its wadded wings and closing its ugly eyes which cannot bear the light. It is perched in the niche, and the foul smell of dead mice, of weasels and birds in decomposition at its feet is mixed with the stench of dung and of the damp soil."[2]
Notable events[edit | edit source]
This is where Jesus and the apostles meet John of Endor for the first time. His conversation with Jesus leads him to leave definitely Endor and follow Jesus.
Judas insists on going into the necromancer's cave, and thus leads the apostolic group there. It will be an opportunity for Jesus to teach about the danger of summoning the dead.[3]
Name[edit | edit source]
Endor, Endur, Ein Dor, Eyn-Dor ('Èîn-Dor) means "Fountain of habitation" or "The source of Dor".
Where is it mentioned in the work?[edit | edit source]
GRM 188
GRM 301
GRM 566
Learn more about this place[edit | edit source]
The necromancer consulted by Saul resided here.[4]
Excerpt from the Geographical Dictionary of the Gospel According to Maria Valtorta, by Jean-François Lavère:The apostolic group comes from the Jordan and heads towards the Esdraelon Plain. “We will reach Tabor, we will coast part of it and will go to Nain via Endor"[5] announces Jesus. Judas proposes making a stop at Endor and asks: "Did Saul not go to Endor to consult the necromancer?" "Yes, he did. So?" "Well, Master, I would like to go there and hear You speak of Saul."[6] Maria Valtorta gives us a description of this cave: "They arrive at a cavern made of rubble and mountain caves. (...) Jesus with His apostles (...) enters a large smoky grotto, on the walls of which there are still graffiti signs of the zodiac and similar things. In a corner blackened by smoke there is a niche and under it a hole which looks like a gully-hole for water."[7] These details could prove decisive during archaeological excavations! The fame of this modest village is due to the visit that Saul paid to the witch.[8] But its exact location has been much debated. The most likely site is about 3 km east of Nain, at Tell Agol, and corresponds exactly to the description given by Maria Valtorta. Archaeologists have discovered tombs and a spring in a cave there. Already, in 1884 Guérin reported having explored the caves of Endor.[9]
Explore[edit | edit source]
• 32° 37’ 36’’ N / 35° 23’ 06’’ E
• +310m
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Notes and references[edit | edit source]
Article partially based on the Geographical Dictionary of the Gospel According to Maria Valtorta, by Jean-François Lavère.