1 It happened in those days, that the Philistines gathered their
hosts together for warfare, to fight with Israel. Achish said to David, Know
you assuredly, that you shall go out with me in the host, you and your men.
2 David said to Achish, Therefore you shall know what your servant will
do. Achish said to David, Therefore will I make you keeper of my head for
ever. 3 Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel had lamented him, and buried
him in Ramah, even in his own city. Saul had put away those who had familiar
spirits, and the wizards, out of the land. 4 The Philistines gathered
themselves together, and came and encamped in Shunem: and Saul gathered all
Israel together, and they encamped in Gilboa. 5 When Saul saw the host of
the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart trembled greatly. 6 When
Saul inquired of Yahweh, Yahweh didn’t answer him, neither by dreams, nor by
Urim, nor by prophets. 7 Then said Saul to his servants, Seek me a woman
who has a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and inquire of her. His
servants said to him, Behold, there is a woman who has a familiar spirit at
En-dor. 8 Saul disguised himself, and put on other clothing, and went, he
and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night: and he said,
Please divine to me by the familiar spirit, and bring me up whoever I shall
name to you. 9 The woman said to him, Behold, you know what Saul has done,
how he has cut off those who have familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of
the land: why then lay you a snare for my life, to cause me to die?
10 Saul swore to her by Yahweh, saying, As Yahweh lives, there shall no
punishment happen to you for this thing. 11 Then said the woman, Whom
shall I bring up to you? He said, Bring me up Samuel. 12 When the woman
saw Samuel, she cried with a loud voice; and the woman spoke to Saul, saying,
Why have you deceived me? for you are Saul. 13 The king said to her, Don’t
be afraid: for what do you see? The woman said to Saul, I see a god coming up
out of the earth. 14 He said to her, What form is he of? She said, An old
man comes up; and he is covered with a robe. Saul perceived that it was
Samuel, and he bowed with his face to the ground, and did obeisance.
15 Samuel said to Saul, Why have you disquieted me, to bring me up? Saul
answered, I am sore distressed; for the Philistines make war against me, and
God is departed from me, and answers me no more, neither by prophets, nor by
dreams: therefore I have called you, that you may make known to me what I
shall do. 16 Samuel said, Why then do you ask of me, seeing Yahweh is
departed from you, and is become your adversary? 17 Yahweh has done to
you, as he spoke by me: and Yahweh has torn the kingdom out of your hand, and
given it to your neighbor, even to David. 18 Because you didn’t obey the
voice of Yahweh, and didn’t execute his fierce wrath on Amalek, therefore has
Yahweh done this thing to you this day. 19 Moreover Yahweh will deliver
Israel also with you into the hand of the Philistines; and tomorrow shall you
and your sons be with me: Yahweh will deliver the host of Israel also into
the hand of the Philistines. 20 Then Saul fell immediately his full length
on the earth, and was sore afraid, because of the words of Samuel: and there
was no strength in him; for he had eaten no bread all the day, nor all the
night. 21 The woman came to Saul, and saw that he was sore troubled, and
said to him, Behold, your handmaid has listened to your voice, and I have put
my life in my hand, and have listened to your words which you spoke to me.
22 Now therefore, please listen also to the voice of your handmaid, and
let me set a morsel of bread before you; and eat, that you may have strength,
when you go on your way. 23 But he refused, and said, I will not eat. But
his servants, together with the woman, constrained him; and he listened to
their voice. So he arose from the earth, and sat on the bed. 24 The woman
had a fattened calf in the house; and she hurried, and killed it; and she
took flour, and kneaded it, and did bake unleavened bread of it: 25 and
she brought it before Saul, and before his servants; and they ate. Then they
rose up, and went away that night.
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