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."
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.
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."
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.
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.
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.
4 The Philistines gathered themselves together, and came and camped in Shunem: and Saul gathered all Israel together, and they camped in Gilboa.
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.
5 When Saul saw the army of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart trembled greatly.
And when Saul saw the Philistine army he was troubled, and his heart was moved with fear.
6 When Saul inquired of YHWH, YHWH did not answer him, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets.
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.
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."
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.
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."
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.
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?"
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?
10 But Saul swore to her, saying, "As YHWH lives, no punishment will come upon you for this thing."
And Saul made an oath to her by the Lord, saying, By the living Lord, no punishment will come to you for this.
11 Then the woman said, "Whom shall I bring up to you?" He said, "Bring Samuel up for me."
Then the woman said, Who am I to let you see? And he said, Make Samuel come up for me.
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."
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.
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."
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.
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.
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.
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."
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.
16 Samuel said, "Why then do you ask of me, since YHWH has departed from you and is with your neighbor?
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?
17 YHWH has done to you as he spoke by me. YHWH has torn the kingdom out of your hand, and given it to your neighbor, even to David.
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;
18 Because you did not obey the voice of YHWH, and did not execute his fierce wrath on Amalek, therefore YHWH has done this thing to you this day.
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.
19 Moreover YHWH will deliver Israel also with you into the hand of the Philistines; and tomorrow you and your sons with you will fall. YHWH will deliver the army of Israel also into the hand of the Philistines."
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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."
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.
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 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.
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.
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;
25 She brought it before Saul, and before his servants; and they ate. Then they rose up, and went away that night.
And she put it before Saul and his servants, and they had a meal. Then they got up and went away the same night.
