I Samuelis 28
1 Factum est autem in diebus illis, congregaverunt Philisthiim agmina sua, ut præpararentur ad bellum contra Israël: dixitque Achis ad David: Sciens nunc scito quoniam mecum egredieris in castris, tu et viri tui.
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 Dixitque David ad Achis: Nunc scies quæ facturus est servus tuus. Et ait Achis ad David: Et ego custodem capitis mei ponam te cunctis diebus.
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 Samuel autem mortuus est, planxitque eum omnis Israël, et sepelierunt eum in Ramatha urbe sua. Et Saul abstulit magos et hariolos de terra.
[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 Congregatique sunt Philisthiim, et venerunt, et castrametati sunt in Sunam: congregavit autem et Saul universum Israël, et venit in Gelboë.
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 Et vidit Saul castra Philisthiim, et timuit, et expavit cor ejus nimis.
When Saul saw the army of Philistia, he became so afraid that his heart pounded/shook.
6 Consuluitque Dominum, et non respondit ei neque per somnia, neque per sacerdotes, neque per prophetas.
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 Dixitque Saul servis suis: Quærite mihi mulierem habentem pythonem, et vadam ad eam, et sciscitabor per illam. Et dixerunt servi ejus ad eum: Est mulier pythonem habens in Endor.
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 Mutavit ergo habitum suum, vestitusque est aliis vestimentis, et abiit ipse, et duo viri cum eo: veneruntque ad mulierem nocte, et ait illi: Divina mihi in pythone, et suscita mihi quem dixero tibi.
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 Et ait mulier ad eum: Ecce, tu nosti quanta fecerit Saul, et quomodo eraserit magos et hariolos de terra: quare ergo insidiaris animæ meæ, ut occidar?
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 Et juravit ei Saul in Domino, dicens: Vivit Dominus, quia non eveniet tibi quidquam mali propter hanc rem.
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 Dixitque ei mulier: Quem suscitabo tibi? Qui ait: Samuelem mihi suscita.
Then the woman said, “Whom do you want me to cause to appear?” Saul replied, “Cause Samuel to appear.”
12 Cum autem vidisset mulier Samuelem, exclamavit voce magna, et dixit ad Saul: Quare imposuisti mihi? tu es enim 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 Dixitque ei rex: Noli timere: quid vidisti? Et ait mulier ad Saul: Deos vidi ascendentes de terra.
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 Dixitque ei: Qualis est forma ejus? Quæ ait: Vir senex ascendit, et ipse amictus est pallio. Et intellexit Saul quod Samuel esset, et inclinavit se super faciem suam in terra, et adoravit.
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 Dixit autem Samuel ad Saul: Quare inquietasti me ut suscitarer? Et ait Saul: Coarctor nimis: siquidem Philisthiim pugnant adversum me, et Deus recessit a me, et exaudire me noluit neque in manu prophetarum, neque per somnia: vocavi ergo te, ut ostenderes mihi quid faciam.
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 Et ait Samuel: Quid interrogas me, cum Dominus recesserit a te, et transierit ad æmulum tuum?
Samuel said, “Yahweh has abandoned you and has become your enemy. So why do you ask me [what you should do]? [RHQ]
17 Faciet enim tibi Dominus sicut locutus est in manu mea, et scindet regnum tuum de manu tua et dabit illud proximo tuo 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 quia non obedisti voci Domini, neque fecisti iram furoris ejus in Amalec: idcirco quod pateris, fecit tibi Dominus hodie.
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 Et dabit Dominus etiam Israël tecum in manus Philisthiim: cras autem tu et filii tui mecum eritis: sed et castra Israël tradet Dominus in manus Philisthiim.
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 Statimque Saul cecidit porrectus in terram: extimuerat enim verba Samuelis, et robur non erat in eo, quia non comederat panem tota die illa.
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 Ingressa est itaque mulier illa ad Saul (conturbatus enim erat valde), dixitque ad eum: Ecce obedivit ancilla tua voci tuæ, et posui animam meam in manu mea: et audivi sermones tuos, quos locutus es ad 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 Nunc igitur audi et tu vocem ancillæ tuæ, et ponam coram te buccellam panis, ut comedens convalescas, et possis iter agere.
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 Qui renuit, et ait: Non comedam. Coëgerunt autem eum servi sui et mulier, et tandem audita voce eorum surrexit de terra, et sedit super lectum.
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 Mulier autem illa habebat vitulum pascualem in domo, et festinavit, et occidit eum: tollensque farinam, miscuit eam, et coxit azyma,
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 et posuit ante Saul et ante servos ejus. Qui cum comedissent, surrexerunt, et ambulaverunt per totam noctem illam.
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.
