1 Samuel 28
1 Now in those days the Philistines got their forces together to make war on Israel. And Achish said to David, Certainly you and your men are to go out with me to the fight.
And it came to pass, in those days, when the Philistines gathered together their hosts for war, to fight with Israel, that Achish said unto David, Thou must, know, that, with me, shalt thou go forth in the host, thou and thy men.
2 And David said to Achish, You will see now what your servant will do. And Achish said to David, Then I will make you keeper of my head for ever.
And David said unto Achish, Therefore, now, shalt thou know what thy servant can do. And Achish said unto David, Therefore, keeper of my head, will I appoint thee, all the days.
3 Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel, after weeping for him, had put his body in its last resting-place in Ramah, his town. And Saul had put away from the land all those who had control of spirits and who made use of secret arts.
Now, Samuel, was dead, and all Israel had lamented him, and buried him in Ramah, even in his own city, —Saul, moreover had put away them who had familiar spirits and them who were oracles, out of the land.
4 And the Philistines came together and put their forces in position in Shunem; and Saul got all Israel together and they took up their positions in Gilboa.
So then the Philistines gathered themselves together, and came in, and encamped in Shunem, —and Saul gathered together all Israel, and they encamped in Gilboa.
5 And when Saul saw the Philistine army he was troubled, and his heart was moved with fear.
And, when Saul saw the host of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart trembled exceedingly.
6 And when Saul went for directions to the Lord, the Lord gave him no answer, by a dream or by the Urim or by the prophets.
Then Saul enquired of Yahweh, but Yahweh answered him not, —neither by Dreams, nor by the Lights, nor by prophets.
7 Then Saul said to his servants, Get me a woman who has control of a spirit so that I may go to her and get directions. And his servants said to him, There is such a woman at En-dor.
Then said Saul unto his servants—Seek me out a woman that owneth a familiar spirit, that I may even go unto her, and enquire of her. And his servants said unto him, Lo! there is a woman that owneth a familiar spirit in En-dor.
8 So Saul, putting on other clothing, so that he might not be seen to be the king, took two men with him and went to the woman by night; and he said, Now, with the help of the spirit which you have, make the person whose name I will give you come up.
Saul therefore disguised himself, and put on other raiment, and departed—he and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night, —and he said—Divine for me, I pray thee, by the familiar spirit, and bring up for me—whomsoever I shall name unto thee.
9 And the woman said to him, But you have knowledge of what Saul has done, how he has put away out of the land those who have control of spirits and the users of secret arts: why would you, by a trick, put me in danger of death?
And the woman said unto him—Lo! thou, knowest what Saul hath done, how he hath cut off them who have familiar spirits and him who is an oracle, out of the land, —wherefore, then, art thou striking at my life, to put me to death?
10 And Saul made an oath to her by the Lord, saying, By the living Lord, no punishment will come to you for this.
So then Saul sware unto her by Yahweh, saying, —By the life of Yahweh, there shall no punishment befall thee for this thing.
11 Then the woman said, Who am I to let you see? And he said, Make Samuel come up for me.
Then said the woman, Whom shall I bring up for thee? And he said, Samuel, bring thou up for me.
12 And the woman saw that it was Saul, and she gave a loud cry, and said to Saul, Why have you made use of deceit? for you are Saul.
And, when the woman saw Samuel, she made outcry with a loud voice, —and the woman spake unto Saul, saying—Wherefore hast thou deceived me, thou thyself being Saul?
13 And the king said to her, Have no fear: what do you see? And the woman said to Saul, I see a god coming up out of the earth.
And the king said unto her—Be not afraid, but what sawest thou? And the woman said unto Saul, A god, saw I, coming up out of the earth.
14 And he said to her, What is his form? And she said, It is an old man coming up covered with a robe. And Saul saw that it was Samuel, and with his face bent down to the earth he gave him honour.
And he said to her—What was his form? And she said—An old man, coming up, he being wrapped about with a robe. Then Saul knew, that it was, Samuel, so he inclined his face to the earth, and bowed himself down.
15 And Samuel said to Saul, Why have you made me come up, troubling my rest? And Saul in answer said, I am in great danger; for the Philistines are making war on me, and God has gone away from me and will no longer give me any answer, by the prophets or by dreams: so I have sent for you to make clear to me what I am to do.
And Samuel said unto Saul, Wherefore hast thou disquieted me, by bringing me up? And Saul said—I am in sore distress, for, the Philistines, are making war against me, and, God, hath turned away from me, and answereth me no more—either by means of the prophets, or by dreams, therefore have I even called for thee, to let me know, what I am to do.
16 And Samuel said, Why do you put your questions to me, seeing that God has gone away from you and is on the side of him who is against you?
Then said Samuel, Wherefore, then, shouldst thou ask me, —when, Yahweh, hath turned away from thee, and hath come to be with thy neighbour?
17 And the Lord himself has done what I said: the Lord has taken the kingdom out of your hand and given it to your neighbour David;
Therefore hath Yahweh done for him, as he spake by me, —yea Yahweh hath rent the kingdom out of thy hand, and given it to a neighbour of thine—to David.
18 Because you did not do what the Lord said, and did not give effect to his burning wrath against Amalek. So the Lord has done this thing to you today.
As thou didst not hearken unto the voice of Yahweh, neither didst execute the glow of his anger upon Amalek, therefore, this thing, hath Yahweh done unto thee this day;
19 And more than this, the Lord will give Israel up with you into the hands of the Philistines: and tomorrow you and your sons will be with me: and the Lord will give up the army of Israel into the hands of the Philistines.
that Yahweh may deliver, Israel also, with thee, into the hand of the Philistines, and, to-morrow, thou and thy sons with thee are about to fall, —the host of Israel also, will Yahweh deliver, into the hand of the Philistines.
20 Then Saul went down flat on the earth, and was full of fear because of Samuel's words: and there was no strength in him, for he had taken no food all that day or all that night.
Then Saul hastened, and fell prostrate—the whole length of him—to the earth, and was sore afraid, at the words of Samuel, and indeed, no, strength, was left in him, for he had not eaten food all the day and all the night.
21 And the woman came to Saul and saw that he was in great trouble, and said to him, See now, your servant has given ear to your words, and I have put my life in danger by doing what you said.
And the woman came unto Saul, and, when she saw that he was greatly terrified, she said unto him—Lo! thy handmaid hearkened unto thy voice, and I put my life into my hand, and heard thy words which thou didst speak unto me.
22 So now, give ear to the voice of your servant, and let me give you a little bread; and take some food to give you strength when you go on your way.
Now, therefore, I pray thee, hearken, thou also, unto the voice of thy handmaid, and let me set before thee a morsel of food, and eat thou, —that there may be in thee strength, when thou goest on thy journey.
23 But he would not, saying, I have no desire for food. But his servants, together with the woman, made him take food, and he gave way to them. So he got up from the earth, and took his seat on the bed.
But he refused, and said—I will not eat. But, when his servants, and the woman also, strongly urged him, then hearkened he unto their voice, —and rose up from the earth, and sat on the bed.
24 And the woman had in the house a young cow, made fat for food; and she put it to death straight away; and she took meal and got it mixed and made unleavened bread;
Now, the woman, had a calf fattening, in the shed. So she hastened, and sacrificed it, —and took meal, and kneaded, and baked thereof, unleavened cakes;
25 And she put it before Saul and his servants, and they had a meal. Then they got up and went away the same night.
and brought near before Saul and before his servants, and they did eat. Then rose they up and departed, the same night.
