1 Samuel 28
1 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.
And it came to pass in those days, that the Philistines gathered together their armies to be prepared for war against Israel: and Achis said to David: Know thou now assuredly, that thou shalt go out with me to the war, thou, and thy men.
2 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.
And David said to Achis: Now thou shalt know what thy servant will do. And Achis said to David: And I will appoint thee to guard my life for ever.
3 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.
Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel mourned for him, and buried him in Ramatha his city. And Saul had put away all the magicians and soothsayers out of the land.
4 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.
And the Philistines were gathered together, and came and camped in Sunam: and Saul also gathered together all Israel, and came to Gelboe.
5 And, when Saul saw the host of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart trembled exceedingly.
And Saul saw the army of the Plilistines, and was afraid, and his heart was very much dismayed.
6 Then Saul enquired of Yahweh, but Yahweh answered him not, —neither by Dreams, nor by the Lights, nor by prophets.
And he consulted the Lord, and he answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by priests, nor by prophets.
7 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.
And Saul said to his servants: Seek me a woman that hath a divining spirit, and I will go to her, and inquire by her. And his servants said to him: There is a woman that hath a divining spirit at Endor.
8 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.
Then he disguised himself: and put on other clothes, and he went, and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night, and he said to her: Divine to me by thy divining spirit, and bring me up him whom I shall tell thee.
9 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?
And the woman said to him: Behold thou knowest all that Saul hath done, and how he hath rooted out the magicians and soothsayers from the land: why then dost thou lay a snare for my life, to cause me to be put to death?
10 So then Saul sware unto her by Yahweh, saying, —By the life of Yahweh, there shall no punishment befall thee for this thing.
And Saul swore unto her by the Lord, saying: As the Lord liveth there shall no evil happen to thee for this thing.
11 Then said the woman, Whom shall I bring up for thee? And he said, Samuel, bring thou up for me.
And the woman said to him: Whom shall I bring up to thee? And he said, Bring me up Samuel.
12 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?
And when the woman saw Samuel, she cried out with a loud voice, and said to Saul: Why hast thou deceived me? for thou art Saul.
13 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.
And the king said to her: Fear not: what hast thou seen? And the woman said to Saul: I saw gods ascending out of the earth.
14 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.
And he said to her: What form is he of? And she said: An old man cometh up, and he is covered with a mantle. And Saul understood that it was Samuel, and he bowed himself with his face to the ground, and adored.
15 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.
And Samuel said to Saul: Why hast thou disturbed my rest, that I should be brought up? And Saul said, I am in great distress: for the Philistines fight against me, and God is departed from me, and would not hear me, neither by the hand of prophets, nor by dreams: therefore I have called thee, that thou mayest shew me what I shall do.
16 Then said Samuel, Wherefore, then, shouldst thou ask me, —when, Yahweh, hath turned away from thee, and hath come to be with thy neighbour?
And Samuel said: Why askest thou me, seeing the Lord has departed from thee, and is gone over to thy rival:
17 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.
For the Lord will do to thee as he spoke by me, and he will rend thy kingdom out of thy hand, and will give it to thy neighbour David:
18 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;
Because thou didst not obey the voice of the Lord, neither didst thou execute the wrath of his indignation upon Amalec. Therefore hath the Lord done to thee what thou sufferest this day.
19 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.
And the Lord also will deliver Israel with thee into the hands of the Philistines: and tomorrow thou and thy sons shall be with me: and the Lord will also deliver the army of Israel into the hands of the Philistines.
20 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.
And forthwith Saul fell all along on the ground, for he was frightened with the words of Samuel, and there was no strength in him, for he had eaten no bread all that day.
21 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.
And the woman came to Saul (for he was very much troubled) and said to him: Behold thy handmaid hath obeyed thy voice, and I have put my life in my hand: and I hearkened unto the words which thou spokest to me.
22 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.
Now therefore hear thou also the voice of thy handmaid, and let me set before thee a morsel of bread, that thou mayest eat and recover strength, and be able to go on thy journey.
23 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.
But he refused, and said: I will not eat. But his servants and the woman forced him, and at length hearkening to their voice, he arose from the ground and sat upon the bed.
24 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;
Now the woman had a fatted calf in the house, and she made haste and killed it: and taking meal kneaded it, and baked some unleavened bread,
25 and brought near before Saul and before his servants, and they did eat. Then rose they up and departed, the same night.
And set it before Saul, and before his servants. And when they had eaten they rose up, and walked all that night.
