1 Samuel 28:4-25 ▼

4 And the Philistines gathered together, and they came and encamped at Shunem. And Saul gathered together all Israel, and they encamped at Gilboa.

5 And Saul saw the camp of the Philistines, and he was afraid, and his heart trembled greatly.

6 And Saul inquired of YHWH, and YHWH did not answer him either by dreams or by the Urim or by the prophets.

7 And Saul said to his servants, “Find me a woman who is a medium, that I may go to her and inquire of her.” And his servants said to him, “Behold, a woman of a mistress a familiar spirit is at Endor.”

8 And Saul disguised himself and put on other clothes, and he went, and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night. And he said, “Please divine for me the familiar spirit, and bring up for me whom I say to you.”

9 And the woman said to him, “Behold, you know what Saul has done, how he has cut off the mediums and the spiritists from the land. And why do you lay a snare for my life to cause me to die?”

10 And Saul swore to her by YHWH, saying, “As YHWH lives, punishment shall not come upon you for this thing.”

11 And the woman said, “Whom shall I bring up for you?” And he said, “Bring up Samuel for me.”

12 And the woman saw Samuel, and she cried out in a loud voice, and the woman spoke to Saul, saying, “Why have you deceived me? For you are Saul.”

13 And the king said to her, “Do not be afraid, for what did you see?” And the woman said to Saul, “I have seen a god ascending out of the earth.”

14 And he said to her, “What is his form?” And she said, “An old man is coming up, and he is covered with a mantle.” And Saul perceived that it was Samuel, and he stooped with his face to the ground, and bowed down.

15 And Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?” And Saul answered, deeply “I am distressed, for the Philistines are fighting against me, and God has departed from me and does not answer me anymore, neither by the prophets nor by dreams. And I have called to you, that you may reveal to me what I should do.”

16 And Samuel said, “And why do you ask me, since YHWH has turned aside from you and has become your enemy?

17 And YHWH has done for Himself as He spoke by me, for YHWH has torn the kingdom out of your hand and given it to your neighbor—to David.

18 Because you did not obey the voice of YHWH nor kill His fierce wrath upon Amalek, upon thus this thing YHWH has done to you this day.

19 And YHWH will deliver also Israel with you into the hand of the Philistines, and tomorrow you and your sons will be with me. And YHWH will deliver the army of Israel into the hand of the Philistines.”

20 And Saul hurried and fell—the fullness of his stature—to the earth, and he was afraid dreadfully because of the words of Samuel. And there was no power in him, for he had eaten no food all the day or all the night.

21 And the woman came to Saul and saw that he was troubled severely, and she said to him, “Behold, your maidservant has obeyed your voice, and I have put my life in my palm and heeded the words that you spoke to me.

22 And now listen, please, you also, to the voice of your maidservant, and let me set before you a piece of bread, and eat, that there may be to you power when you go in the way.”

23 And he refused and said, “I will not eat.” And his servants urged him, and also the woman, and he listened to their voice. And he arose from the ground and sat on the bed.

24 And to the woman was a calf of the stall in the house, and she hurried and slaughtered it, and she took flour and kneaded it and baked it as unleavened bread.

25 And she brought it before the face of Saul and his servants, and they ate. And they rose and went away that night.