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.
Some time later, the people of Philistia gathered their army to attack the Israelis [again]. King Achish told David, “I am expecting that you and your men will join with my men to attack [the Israelis].”
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.
David replied, “[We will go with you, and then] you will see for yourself what we can do!” Achish said, “Okay, I will appoint you to be my bodyguard permanently.”
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.
[While Samuel was still alive, Saul did many things that pleased Yahweh. One of the good things that] Saul [did was to] expel from Israel all the people who were fortune-tellers or who talked to the spirits of dead people. But Samuel had died, and all the Israeli people had mourned for him. Then they had buried him in Ramah, his hometown. [After that, Saul did not try to please Yahweh any more].
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.
The army of Philistia gathered and set up their tents at Shunem [city, in the north of Israel]. Saul gathered the Israeli army and set up their tents at Gilboa [in the eastern part of the same valley].
5 And, when Saul saw the host of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart trembled exceedingly.
When Saul saw the army of Philistia, he became so afraid that his heart pounded/shook.
6 Then Saul enquired of Yahweh, but Yahweh answered him not, —neither by Dreams, nor by the Lights, nor by prophets.
He prayed to Yahweh, but Yahweh did not answer him. Yahweh did not [tell Saul what he should do by] giving him a dream, or by [having the priest throw] the marked stones [that were in his sacred vest], or by [giving a message about Saul to] any prophet.
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.
Then Saul said to his servants, “Find for me a woman who talks to the spirits of dead people, in order that I can ask her [what will happen].” His servants replied, “There is a woman in Endor [town] who does that.”
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.
So Saul [took off the clothes that showed that he was the king, and he] put on ordinary clothes (to disguise himself/so that people would not recognize who he was). Then he and two of his men went during the night to talk to that woman. Saul said to her, “I want you to talk to a spirit [of someone who has died]. Cause to appear the person whose name I will [give to you].”
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?
But the woman replied, “You surely know what Saul has done. He expelled from this land all the people who talk to spirits of dead people and all fortune-tellers. I think that you are trying to trap me, in order that I will be executed [for doing something that is not permitted].”
10 So then Saul sware unto her by Yahweh, saying, —By the life of Yahweh, there shall no punishment befall thee for this thing.
Saul replied, solemnly asking Yahweh to listen to what he was saying, “Just as surely as Yahweh lives, you will not be punished for doing this.”
11 Then said the woman, Whom shall I bring up for thee? And he said, Samuel, bring thou up for me.
Then the woman said, “Whom do you want me to cause to appear?” Saul replied, “Cause Samuel to appear.”
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?
[So] the woman [did that. But] when she saw Samuel, she screamed. She said, “You have tricked me [RHQ]! You are Saul! [You will execute me for doing this]!”
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.
Saul said to her, “Do not be afraid. What do you see?” The woman said, “I see a god/spirit coming up out of the ground.”
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.
Saul said, “What does he look like?” The woman replied, “An old man wearing a robe is appearing.” Then Saul knew that it was Samuel. So he bowed down with his face touching the ground.
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.
Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you bothered/disturbed me by causing me to appear?” Saul said, “I am very worried. The army of Philistia is about to attack my army, and God has abandoned me. He does not answer my questions any more. He does not give me dreams [to tell me what to do] or give messages to prophets [to tell me what to do]. That is the reason that I came to see you. So you tell me what I should 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?
Samuel said, “Yahweh has abandoned you and has become your enemy. So why do you ask me [what you should do]? [RHQ]
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.
He has done what he told me [previously] that he would do to you. He has torn the kingdom away from you, and he is giving it to someone who is another Israeli—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;
You did not obey Yahweh. Yahweh was very angry with the Amalek people-group. You did not [kill all of their animals], with the result that you did not show that he was very angry with them. That is the reason that he has done this to you today.
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.
Yahweh will enable the Philistia army to defeat you and all the other Israeli soldiers. And tomorrow you and your sons will be with me [in the place where spirits of dead people are]. Yahweh will cause the whole Israeli army to be defeated by the Philistia army.” [And after Samuel said that, he disappeared].
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.
Saul immediately fell flat on the ground. He was so afraid because of what Samuel had said that he became paralyzed. He was also very weak because he had not eaten anything all that day and night.
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.
The woman saw that he was extremely worried/terrified. She said to him, “Listen to me! I have done what you requested me to do. I could be executed for doing that.
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.
So now please pay attention to what I say. Allow me to give you some food, in order that you will [eat it and] get enough strength to go back [to your army].”
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 Saul refused. He said, “No, I will not eat anything.” Then Saul’s servants also urged him [to eat something], and finally he heeded what they said. He got up from the ground and sat on 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;
The woman had a fat calf close to her house. She quickly slaughtered it [and cooked it]. She took some flour and mixed it [with olive oil], and baked it without putting in any yeast.
25 and brought near before Saul and before his servants, and they did eat. Then rose they up and departed, the same night.
She placed the food in front of Saul and his servants, and they ate some of it. Then that night they got up and left.
