The Philistines Prepare to Fight against Israel

1At that time the Philistines assembled their army for war to fight against Israel. Achish told David, “You know, of course, that you and your men will go out with me into the battle.”

2David told Achish, “Very well, you will now seea what your servant will do.”

Achish told David, “Very well, I’ll appoint you as my permanent bodyguard.”

Saul and the Medium at Endor

3Now Samuel had died, and all Israel had mourned for him and buried him in his own town of Ramah. Saul had expelled the mediums and spiritists from the land.

4The Philistines assembled, moved out, and camped at Shunem, while Saul assembled all Israel and camped at Gilboa. 5When Saul saw the Philistine camp, he was afraid, and his heart trembled greatly. 6Saul inquired of the LORD, but the LORD did not answer him, either through dreams or Urimb or through prophets. 7Saul told his servants, “Find me a woman who is a medium so I can go to her and make my inquiry through her.”

His servants told him, “Look, there’s a woman at Endor who is a medium.”

8Saul disguised himself, putting on different clothes. He went along with two men to the woman at night. He said, “Consult a familiar spirit for me and bring up for me the one whom I tell you.”

9The woman told him, “Look, you know what Saul has done. He has removed mediums and spiritists from the land, so why are you trying to entrap me, so as to cause my death?”

10Saul swore to her by the LORD: “As surely as the LORD lives, no punishment will come on you for this thing.”

11The woman said, “Whom shall I bring up for you?”

Saulc said, “Bring up Samuel for me.”

12When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out loudly.d The woman told Saul, “Why have you deceived me? You are Saul!”

13The king told her, “Don’t be afraid; but what do you see?”

The woman told Saul, “I see a divine beinge coming up out of the ground.”

14Saulf told her, “What does he look like?”

She said, “An old man is coming up, and he’s wrapped in a robe.” Saul knew that it was Samuel, and he bowed low to the ground and prostrated himself.

Samuel’s Message to Saul

15Samuel told Saul, “Why did you disturb me by bringing me up?”

Saul said, “I’m in great distress. The Philistines are waging war against me. God has departed from me and won’t answer me anymore, either by messages written byg the hand of the prophets or by dreams. So I’ve summoned you to tell me what I should do.”

16Samuel said, “Why do you ask me, since the LORD has departed from you and become your enemy? 17The LORD has done to you exactly as he spoke through me.h The LORD has torn the kingdom away from youi and has given it to your colleague David. 18Because you didn’t obey the LORD and didn’t display his fierce anger against Amalek, therefore, the LORD will do this thing to you today. 19The LORD is giving both you, and Israel with you, into Philistine control. Tomorrow, the LORD will give you, your sons with you, and also the army of Israel into the controlj of the Philistines.”

The Medium Attends to Saul

20Saul immediately fell down full-length on the ground. He was terrified because of Samuel’s words, and he had no strength because he had not eaten food all day and all night. 21Then the woman came to Saul and saw that he was very disturbed. She told him, “Look, your servantk obeyed you. I put my life into your hands, and I listened to your words that you spoke to me. 22Now, please listen to your servant.l I’ll put a piece of bread before you so you can eat and have strength to go on your way.”m

23Sauln refused, saying, “I won’t eat!”

Both his servants and the woman urged him, and so he listened to them. He got up off the ground and sat on the bed. 24The woman had a fattened calf in the house, and she quickly slaughtered it. She took flour, kneaded it, and baked unleavened bread. 25She brought it to Saul and to his servants, and they ate. Then they got up and went out that night.