| [an error occurred while processing this directive] | New Living Translation |
| 1[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 1About that time the Philistines mustered their armies for another war with Israel. King Achish told David, “You and your men will be expected to join me in battle.” |
| 2[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 2“Very well!” David agreed. “Now you will see for yourself what we can do.” Then Achish told David, “I will make you my personal bodyguard for life.” |
| 3[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 3Meanwhile, Samuel had died, and all Israel had mourned for him. He was buried in Ramah, his hometown. And Saul had banned from the land of Israel all mediums and those who consult the spirits of the dead. |
| 4[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 4The Philistines set up their camp at Shunem, and Saul gathered all the army of Israel and camped at Gilboa. |
| 5[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 5When Saul saw the vast Philistine army, he became frantic with fear. |
| 6[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 6He asked the LORD what he should do, but the LORD refused to answer him, either by dreams or by sacred lots or by the prophets. |
| 7[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 7Saul then said to his advisers, “Find a woman who is a medium, so I can go and ask her what to do.” His advisers replied, “There is a medium at Endor.” |
| 8[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 8So Saul disguised himself by wearing ordinary clothing instead of his royal robes. Then he went to the woman’s home at night, accompanied by two of his men. “I have to talk to a man who has died,” he said. “Will you call up his spirit for me?” |
| 9[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 9“Are you trying to get me killed?” the woman demanded. “You know that Saul has outlawed all the mediums and all who consult the spirits of the dead. Why are you setting a trap for me?” |
| 10[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 10But Saul took an oath in the name of the LORD and promised, “As surely as the LORD lives, nothing bad will happen to you for doing this.” |
| 11[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 11Finally, the woman said, “Well, whose spirit do you want me to call up?” “Call up Samuel,” Saul replied. |
| 12[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 12When the woman saw Samuel, she screamed, “You’ve deceived me! You are Saul!” |
| 13[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 13“Don’t be afraid!” the king told her. “What do you see?” “I see a god coming up out of the earth,” she said. |
| 14[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 14“What does he look like?” Saul asked. “He is an old man wrapped in a robe,” she replied. Saul realized it was Samuel, and he fell to the ground before him. |
| 15[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 15“Why have you disturbed me by calling me back?” Samuel asked Saul. “Because I am in deep trouble,” Saul replied. “The Philistines are at war with me, and God has left me and won’t reply by prophets or dreams. So I have called for you to tell me what to do.” |
| 16[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 16But Samuel replied, “Why ask me, since the LORD has left you and has become your enemy? |
| 17[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 17The LORD has done just as he said he would. He has torn the kingdom from you and given it to your rival, David. |
| 18[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 18The LORD has done this to you today because you refused to carry out his fierce anger against the Amalekites. |
| 19[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 19What’s more, the LORD will hand you and the army of Israel over to the Philistines tomorrow, and you and your sons will be here with me. The LORD will bring down the entire army of Israel in defeat.” |
| 20[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 20Saul fell full length on the ground, paralyzed with fright because of Samuel’s words. He was also faint with hunger, for he had eaten nothing all day and all night. |
| 21[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 21When the woman saw how distraught he was, she said, “Sir, I obeyed your command at the risk of my life. |
| 22[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 22Now do what I say, and let me give you a little something to eat so you can regain your strength for the trip back.” |
| 23[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 23But Saul refused to eat anything. Then his advisers joined the woman in urging him to eat, so he finally yielded and got up from the ground and sat on the couch. |
| 24[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 24The woman had been fattening a calf, so she hurried out and killed it. She took some flour, kneaded it into dough and baked unleavened bread. |
| 25[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 25She brought the meal to Saul and his advisers, and they ate it. Then they went out into the night. |
| [an error occurred while processing this directive] | Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. |
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