 1 In those days, the Philistines gathered their armies for war to fight with Israel. Achish said to David, You surely know that you will go with me to battle, you and your men. 2 David said to Achish, Surely you will know what your servant can do. Achish said to David, I will make you keeper of my head forever. 3 Now Samuel was dead and all Israel had mourned him and buried him in Ramah in his own city and Saul had put away all who had mediums+ and the wizards out of the land. 4 The Philistines gathered and came and pitched in Shunem and Saul gathered all Israel and they pitched in Gilboa. 5 Saul saw the army of the Philistines and he was afraid and his heart greatly trembled. 6 When Saul inquired of the Lord, the Lord did not answer him, neither by dreams nor by Urim nor by prophets. 7 Saul said to his servants, Find a woman who is a medium+ so that I may go to her and inquire of her. His servant said to him, There is a woman who is a medium+ at Endor. 8 So Saul disguised himself, put on other clothing, and he and two men went with him to that woman by night. He said, Please divine for me calling up the dead and bring up the man whom I shall name to you. 9 The woman said to him, You know what Saul has done, how he has cut off all mediums+ and wizards out of the land. Why then do you lay a snare for my life to cause me to die? 10 Saul swore to her by the Lord saying, As the Lord lives, no punishment will come to you for this. 11 The woman said, Whom shall I bring up to you? He said, Bring up Samuel. 12 The woman saw Samuel and shouted with a loud voice to Saul saying, Why have you deceived me? For you are Saul. 13 The king said to her, Do not be afraid. For what did you see? The woman said to Saul, I saw gods coming up out of the earth. 14 He said to her, What is his form? She said, An old man comes and he is covered with a cloak. Saul saw that it was Samuel and he bowed his face to the ground and prostrated himself. 15 Samuel said to Saul, Why have you disturbed me to bring me here? Saul answered, I am grievously distressed, for the Philistines are warring against me. And God has left me and does not answer me any more. Not by prophets or by dreams. I have called you so that you may make known to me what I should do. 16 Samuel said, Why then do you ask me since the Lord has left you and has become your enemy? 17 The Lord has done for Himself as He spoke by me. For the Lord has torn the kingdom out of your hand and is giving it to your neighbor, to David. 18 Because you did not obey the voice of the Lord, nor execute his fierce wrath on Amalek, therefore the Lord has done this to you now. 19 The Lord will also deliver Israel with you into the hand of the Philistines. Tomorrow you and your sons will be with me. The Lord also will deliver the army of Israel into the hand of the Philistines. 20 Saul immediately fell headlong on the earth and was sorely afraid because of the words of Samuel. There was no strength in him for he had eaten no bread all day nor all night. 21 The woman came to Saul and saw that he was sorely troubled, and said to him, Behold, your handmaid has obeyed your voice and I have put my life in my hand and have listened to your words that you spoke to me. 22 Now please listen to the voice of your handmaid and let me set a bit of bread before you and eat so that you may have strength when you go on your way. 23 But he refused and said, I will not eat. But his servants forced him and the woman also. He listened to their voices and arose from the earth and sat on the bed. 24 The woman had a fat calf in the house. She hurried and killed it and took flour and kneaded it and baked unleavened bread with it. 25 She brought it before Saul and before his servants. They ate and rose and went away that night.
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