1 Samuel 28
1 It happened in those days, that the Philistines gathered their armies together for warfare, to fight with Israel. Achish said to David, "Know assuredly that you are to go out with me to battle, you and your men."
Around that time the Philistines called up their armies to go to war against Israel. So Achish told David, “You do realize that you and your men must accompany me as part of the army.”
2 David said to Achish, "Therefore you shall know what your servant will do." Achish said to David, "therefore I will make you my bodyguard for ever."
“That's fine!” David replied. “Then you yourself will discover what I, your servant, can do.” “That's fine too,” Achish responded. “I'll make you my bodyguard for life.”
3 Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel had lamented him, and buried him in Ramah, even in his own city. Saul had removed the mediums, and spiritists, from the land.
By now Samuel had died, and all of Israel had mourned for him and buried him in Ramah, his home town. Saul had got rid of mediums and spiritists from the country.
4 The Philistines gathered themselves together, and came and camped in Shunem: and Saul gathered all Israel together, and they camped in Gilboa.
The Philistine armies gathered and set up camp at Shunem. Saul called up all the Israelite army and set up camp at Gilboa.
5 When Saul saw the army of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart trembled greatly.
When Saul saw the Philistine army, he was terrified, shaking with fear.
6 When Saul inquired of the LORD, The LORD did not answer him, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets.
He asked advice from the Lord, but the Lord didn't answer him either by dreams or by Urim or by prophets.
7 Then Saul said to his servants, "Find for me a woman who is a medium, that I may go to her and inquire of her." His servants said to him, "Look, there is a woman who is a medium at Endor."
So Saul told his officers, “Find me a woman who is a medium so I can go and ask her advice.” “There's a woman who is a medium at Endor,” his officers replied.
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, "Divine a spirit for me, please, and bring up for me the one whom I name to you."
Saul disguised himself by wearing different clothes. He went with two of his men to the woman at night. Saul told her, “Bring up a spirit for me so I can ask some questions. I'll give you the name.”
9 The woman said to him, "Look, you know what Saul has done, how he has cut off the mediums and spiritists out of the land. Why then do you lay a snare for my life, to cause me to die?"
“Don't you know what Saul has done,” she replied. “He's got rid of the mediums and spiritists from the country. Are you trying to set a trap for me and get me killed?”
10 But Saul swore to her, saying, "As the LORD lives, no punishment will come upon you for this thing."
Saul swore an oath to her by the Lord, “As the Lord lives, you won't be held guilty for doing this.”
11 Then the woman said, "Whom shall I bring up to you?" He said, "Bring Samuel up for me."
“Who do you want me to bring up for you?” the woman asked. “Bring up Samuel,” he replied.
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."
But when the woman saw Samuel, she shouted loudly, and said to Saul, “Why have you tricked me? You're Saul!”
13 The king said to her, "Do not be afraid. For what do you see?" The woman said to Saul, "I see a god coming up out of the earth."
“Don't be scared,” The king told her. “What can you see?” “I see a god coming up out of the ground,” the woman replied.
14 He said to her, "What does he look like?" She said, "An old man comes up. He is covered with a robe." Saul perceived that it was Samuel, and he bowed with his face to the ground, and showed respect.
“What does he look like?” Saul asked. “An old man is coming up,” she replied. “He has a robe wrapped around him” Saul thought it must be Samuel, and he bowed facedown in respect.
15 And Samuel said, "Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?" And Saul answered, "I am very distressed, for the Philistines are fighting against me, and God has turned away from me and no longer answers me, either by prophets, or by dreams. So therefore I have called on you, that you may make known to me what I should do."
Samuel said to Saul, “Why are you bothering me by bringing me up?” “I'm in terrible trouble,” Saul replied. “The Philistines are attacking me, and God has abandoned me. He doesn't answer me anymore, either by prophets or by dreams. That's why I have called you up so you tell me what to do.”
16 Samuel said, "Why then do you ask of me, since the LORD has departed from you and is with your neighbor?
“Why come and ask me when the Lord has abandoned you and has become your enemy?” Samuel asked.
17 The LORD has done to you as he spoke by me. The LORD has torn the kingdom out of your hand, and given it to your neighbor, even to David.
“The Lord has done to you exactly what he said through me, for Lord has ripped the kingdom from you and has given it to your neighbor, David.
18 Because you did not obey the voice of the LORD, and did not execute his fierce wrath on Amalek, therefore the LORD has done this thing to you this day.
The Lord has done this to you today because you did not do what the Lord commanded and you did not execute his furious anger on the Amalekites.
19 Moreover the LORD will deliver Israel also with you into the hand of the Philistines; and tomorrow you and your sons with you will fall. The LORD will deliver the army of Israel also into the hand of the Philistines."
The Lord will hand over Israel and you yourself to the Philistines. Tomorrow you and your sons will die and be with me. The Lord will also hand over the Israelite army of Israel to the Philistines.”
20 Then Saul fell immediately his full length on the earth, and was terrified, because of the words of Samuel. There was no strength in him; for he had eaten no bread all the day, nor all the night.
Saul collapsed face down on the ground, terrified at what Samuel had said. He had no strength, because he hadn't eaten anything all that day and night.
21 And the woman came to Saul and saw that he was terrified, and said to him, "Look, your servant has obeyed you, and I have put my life in my hand and have listened to your words which you spoke to me.
The woman came over to Saul and saw that he was absolutely terrified. She told him, “Look, sir, I did what you asked. I risked my life and did what you told me.
22 Now therefore, please listen also to the voice of your servant, and let me set a morsel of bread before you; and eat, that you may have strength, when you go on your way."
Now please do what I tell you. Let me bring you a little bit of food. Eat it, and you'll have the strength to go on your way.”
23 But he refused, and said, "I will not eat." But his servants, together with the woman, pressed him; and he listened to their voice. So he arose from the ground, and sat on the bed.
But he refused, saying, “I can't eat anything.” But his men and the woman encouraged him to eat, and he did what they said. He got up from the ground and sat on the bed.
24 The woman had a fattened calf in the house. She hurried and killed it; and she took flour, and kneaded it, and baked unleavened bread of it.
The woman had a fattened calf at the house, and she quickly went and slaughtered it. She also got some flour, kneaded it, and baked some unleavened bread.
25 She brought it before Saul, and before his servants; and they ate. Then they rose up, and went away that night.
She served the meal to Saul and his men, and they ate it. Then they got up and left, the same night.
