1 SamuelChapter 28

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¹In those days the Philistines gathered their armies to go to war against Israel. So Achish said to David, "You must know that you and your men will go out to battle with me." ²David answered, "Then you'll see for yourself what I, your servant, can do." "Very well," Achish said. "I'll make you my bodyguard for life." ³By this time Samuel had died. All Israel had mourned for him. They had buried him in Ramah, his own town. And Saul had driven out of the land the people who talk with the dead and with spirits. ⁴The Philistines gathered and camped at Shunem. Saul gathered all Israel and camped at Gilboa. ⁵Saul saw the Philistine army. He was afraid, and his heart shook with terror. ⁶He asked the LORD what to do. But the LORD did not answer him. He did not answer by dreams or by the Urim or by prophets. ⁷Then Saul said to his servants, "Find me a woman who talks with the dead. I'll go and ask her what to do." His servants said, "There's a woman at Endor who talks with the dead." ⁸So Saul put on different clothes so no one would know him. He set out with two of his men. They came to the woman at night. Saul said, "Call up a spirit for me. Bring up for me the one I name." ⁹But the woman said to him, "Surely you know what Saul has done. He has cut off from the land those who talk with the dead and with spirits. Why have you set a trap to get me killed?" ¹⁰Then Saul made a promise to her by the LORD. "As surely as the LORD lives," he said, "you won't be punished for this." ¹¹The woman asked, "Who should I bring up for you?" "Bring up Samuel," he said. ¹²When the woman saw Samuel, she screamed. She said to Saul, "Why did you trick me? You are Saul!" ¹³The king said to her, "Don't be afraid. What do you see?" The woman said, "I see a god coming up out of the earth."a ¹⁴"What does he look like?" Saul asked. "An old man is coming up," she said. "He's wearing a robe." Then Saul knew it was Samuel. He bowed down with his face to the ground to honor him. ¹⁵Samuel said to Saul, "Why have you bothered me by bringing me up?" "I'm in deep trouble," Saul said. "The Philistines are fighting against me. And God has turned away from me. He doesn't answer me anymore, by prophets or by dreams. So I called on you to tell me what to do." ¹⁶Samuel said, "Why do you ask me? The LORD has turned away from you. He has become your enemy. ¹⁷The LORD has done just what he said through me. The LORD has torn the kingdom out of your hand. He has given it to your neighbor David. ¹⁸You did not obey the LORD. You did not carry out his burning anger against Amalek. That's why the LORD has done this to you today. ¹⁹Also, the LORD will hand you and Israel over to the Philistines. Tomorrow you and your sons will be with me. The LORD will also hand the army of Israel over to the Philistines." ²⁰Right away Saul fell flat on the ground. He was terrified by Samuel's words. He had no strength left, because he hadn't eaten anything all that day and all that night. ²¹The woman came to Saul. She saw how upset he was. She said to him, "Look, I, your servant, have obeyed you. I put my life in danger and did what you told me. ²²Now please listen to me, your servant. Let me give you a little bread. Eat it so you'll have the strength to go on your way." ²³But Saul refused. "I won't eat," he said. But his servants and the woman kept begging him. So he listened to them. He got up from the ground and sat on the bed. ²⁴The woman had a fat calf at her house. She quickly killed it. She also took flour and made dough. She baked bread without yeast. ²⁵She served it to Saul and his servants, and they ate. Then they got up and left that same night.