Now it came about in those
days
that athe Philistines
gathered
their armed camps
for war
, to fight
against Israel
. And Achish
said
to David
, "Know
assuredly
that you will go
out with me in the camp
, you and your men
."
David said
to Achish
, "Very
well
, you shall know
what
your servant
can do
." So Achish
said
to David
, "Very
well
, I will make
you 1my bodyguard
afor life
."
Now aSamuel was dead
, and all
Israel
had lamented
him and buried
him bin Ramah
, his own city
. And Saul
had removed
from the land
those who cwere mediums
and spiritists
.
So the Philistines gathered
together and came
and camped
ain Shunem
; and Saul
gathered
all
Israel
together and they camped
in bGilboa
.
When Saul saw
the camp
of the Philistines
, he was afraid
and his heart
trembled
greatly
.
aWhen Saul inquired
of the LORD
, bthe LORD
did not answer
him, either
by cdreams
or
by dUrim
or
by prophets
.
Then Saul said
to his servants
, "Seek
for me a woman
who is a medium
, that I may go
to her and inquire
of her." And his servants
said
to him, "Behold
, athere is a woman
who is a medium
at bEn-dor
."
Then Saul adisguised
himself by putting
on other
clothes
, and went
, he and two
men
with him, and they came
to the woman
by night
; and he said
, " bConjure
up for me, please
, and cbring
up for me whom
I shall 1name
to you."
But the woman said
to him, "Behold
, you know
awhat
Saul
has done
, how
he has cut
off
those who are mediums
and spiritists
from the land
. Why
are you then laying
a snare
for my life
to bring
about my death
?"
Saul vowed
to her by the LORD
, saying
, "As the LORD
lives
, no
punishment
shall come
upon you for this
thing
."
Then the woman said
, "Whom
shall I bring
up for you?" And he said
, "Bring
up Samuel
for me."
When the woman saw
Samuel
, she cried
out with a loud
voice
; and the woman
spoke
to Saul
, saying
, "Why
have you deceived
me? For you are Saul
."
The king said
to her, "Do not be afraid
; but what
do you see
?" And the woman
said
to Saul
, "I see
a 1divine
being
coming
up out of the earth
."
He said to her, "What
is his form
?" And she said
, "An old
man
is coming
up, and ahe is wrapped
with a robe
." And Saul
knew
that it was Samuel
, and bhe bowed
with his face
to the ground
and did homage
.
Then Samuel said
to Saul
, "Why
have you disturbed
me by bringing
me up?" And Saul
answered
, "I am greatly
distressed
; for the Philistines
are waging
war
against me, and aGod
has departed
from me and bno
longer
answers
me, either
through
prophets
or
by dreams
; therefore I have called
you, that you may make
known
to me what
I should do
."
Samuel said
, "Why
then do you ask
me, since the LORD
has departed
from you and has become
your adversary
?
"The LORD has done
1accordingly
aas He spoke
through
me; for the LORD
has torn
the kingdom
out of your hand
and given
it to your neighbor
, to David
.
"As ayou did not 1obey the LORD
and did not execute
His fierce
wrath
on Amalek
, so
the LORD
has done
this
thing
to you this
day
.
"Moreover the LORD will also
give
over Israel
along
with you into the hands
of the Philistines
, therefore tomorrow
ayou and your sons
will be with me. Indeed
the LORD
will give
over the army
of Israel
into the hands
of the Philistines
!"
Then Saul immediately
fell
full
length
upon the ground
and was very
afraid
because
of the words
of Samuel
; also
there was no
strength
in him, for he had eaten
no
1food
all
day
and all
night
.
The woman came
to Saul
and saw
that he was terrified
, and said
to him, "Behold
, your maidservant
has 1obeyed
you, and aI have 2taken
my life
in my hand
and have listened
to your words
which
you spoke
to me.
"So now also
, please
listen
to the voice
of your maidservant
, and let me set
a piece
of bread
before
you that you may eat
and have
strength
when
you go
on your way
."
But he refused and said
, " aI will not eat
." bHowever, his servants
together
with the woman
urged
him, and he listened
to 1them. So he arose
from the ground
and sat
on cthe bed
.
The woman had a afattened
calf
in the house
, and she quickly
slaughtered
it; and she btook
flour
, kneaded
it and baked
unleavened
bread
from it.
She brought it before
Saul
and his servants
, and they ate
. Then they arose
and went
away that night
.