| New Living Translation | Berean Study Bible |
| 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.” | 1Now in those days the Philistines gathered their forces for warfare against Israel. So Achish said to David, “You must understand that you and your men are to go out to battle with me.” |
| 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.” | 2David replied, “Then you will come to know what your servant can do.” “Very well,” said Achish. “I will make you my bodyguard for life.” |
| 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. | 3Now by this time Samuel had died, and all Israel had mourned for him and buried him in Ramah, his own city. And Saul had removed the mediums and spiritists from the land. |
| 4The Philistines set up their camp at Shunem, and Saul gathered all the army of Israel and camped at Gilboa. | 4The Philistines came together and camped at Shunem, while Saul gathered all Israel and camped at Gilboa. |
| 5When Saul saw the vast Philistine army, he became frantic with fear. | 5When Saul saw the Philistine army, he was afraid and trembled violently. |
| 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. | 6He inquired of the LORD, but the LORD did not answer him by dreams or Urim or prophets. |
| 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.” | 7Then Saul said to his servants, “Find me a woman who is a medium, so I can go and consult her.” “There is a medium at Endor,” his servants replied. |
| 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?” | 8So Saul disguised himself by putting on different clothes, and he set out with two of his men. They came to the woman at night, and Saul said, “Consult a spirit for me. Bring up for me the one I name.” |
| 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?” | 9But the woman replied, “Surely you know what Saul has done, how he has killed the mediums and spiritists in the land. Why have you set a trap to get me killed?” |
| 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.” | 10Then Saul swore to her by the LORD: “As surely as the LORD lives, no punishment shall come upon you for this.” |
| 11Finally, the woman said, “Well, whose spirit do you want me to call up?” “Call up Samuel,” Saul replied. | 11“Whom shall I bring up for you?” the woman asked. “Bring up Samuel,” he replied. |
| 12When the woman saw Samuel, she screamed, “You’ve deceived me! You are Saul!” | 12But when the woman saw Samuel, she cried out in a loud voice and said to Saul, “Why have you deceived me? You are Saul!” |
| 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. | 13“Do not be afraid,” the king replied. “What do you see?” “I see a god coming up out of the earth,” the woman answered. |
| 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. | 14“What does he look like?” asked Saul. “An old man is coming up,” she replied. “And he is wearing a robe.” So Saul knew that it was Samuel, and he bowed facedown in reverence. |
| 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.” | 15Then Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?” “I am deeply distressed,” replied Saul. “The Philistines are fighting against me, and God has turned away from me. He no longer answers me, either by prophets or by dreams. So I have called on you to tell me what to do.” |
| 16But Samuel replied, “Why ask me, since the LORD has left you and has become your enemy? | 16“Why do you consult me,” asked Samuel, “since the LORD has turned away from you and become your enemy? |
| 17The LORD has done just as he said he would. He has torn the kingdom from you and given it to your rival, David. | 17He has done exactly what He spoke through me: The LORD has torn the kingship out of your hand and given it to your neighbor David. |
| 18The LORD has done this to you today because you refused to carry out his fierce anger against the Amalekites. | 18Because you did not obey the LORD or carry out His burning anger against Amalek, the LORD has done this to you today. |
| 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.” | 19Moreover, the LORD will deliver Israel with you into the hand of the Philistines, and tomorrow you and your sons will be with me. And the LORD will deliver the army of Israel into the hand of the Philistines.” |
| 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. | 20Immediately Saul fell flat on the ground, terrified by the words of Samuel. And his strength was gone, because he had not eaten anything all that day and night. |
| 21When the woman saw how distraught he was, she said, “Sir, I obeyed your command at the risk of my life. | 21When the woman came to Saul and saw how distraught he was, she said to him, “Look, your maidservant has obeyed your voice. I took my life in my hands and did as you told me. |
| 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.” | 22Now please listen to your servant and let me set a morsel of bread before you so you may eat and have the strength to go on your way.” |
| 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. | 23Saul refused, saying, “I will not eat.” But his servants joined the woman in urging him, and he heeded their voice. He got up from the ground and sat on the bed. |
| 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. | 24The woman had a fattened calf at her house, and she quickly slaughtered it. She also took flour, kneaded it, and baked unleavened bread. |
| 25She brought the meal to Saul and his advisers, and they ate it. Then they went out into the night. | 25She served it to Saul and his servants, and they ate. And that night they got up and left. |
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