1 Samuel 28
1 It came about in those days that the Philistines gathered their armies together for battle to fight with Israel. Achish said to David, “Know for certain that you will go out with me in the host, you and your men.”
And it came to pass, in those days, when the Philistines gathered together their hosts for war, to fight with Israel, that Achish said unto David, Thou must, know, that, with me, shalt thou go forth in the host, thou and thy men.
2 David said to Achish, “So you will know what your servant can do.” Achish said to David, “So I will make you my bodyguard all your days.”
And David said unto Achish, Therefore, now, shalt thou know what thy servant can do. And Achish said unto David, Therefore, keeper of my head, will I appoint thee, all the days.
3 Now Samuel had died, and all Israel had lamented him and buried him in Ramah, in his own city. Also, Saul had banned from the land those who talked with the dead or with spirits.
Now, Samuel, was dead, and all Israel had lamented him, and buried him in Ramah, even in his own city, —Saul, moreover had put away them who had familiar spirits and them who were oracles, out of the land.
4 Then the Philistines gathered themselves together and came and camped at Shunem; and Saul gathered all Israel together, and they camped at Gilboa.
So then the Philistines gathered themselves together, and came in, and encamped in Shunem, —and Saul gathered together all Israel, and they encamped in Gilboa.
5 When Saul saw the army of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart trembled very much.
And, when Saul saw the host of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart trembled exceedingly.
6 Saul prayed to Yahweh for help, but Yahweh did not answer him—neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets.
Then Saul enquired of Yahweh, but Yahweh answered him not, —neither by Dreams, nor by the Lights, nor by prophets.
7 Then Saul said to his servants, “Find me a woman who talks with the dead, so that I may go to her and seek her advice.” His servants said to him, “See, there is a woman in Endor who claims to talk with the dead.”
Then said Saul unto his servants—Seek me out a woman that owneth a familiar spirit, that I may even go unto her, and enquire of her. And his servants said unto him, Lo! there is a woman that owneth a familiar spirit in En-dor.
8 Saul disguised himself, put on other clothing, and went, he and two men with him; they went to the woman by night. He said, “Divine for me, I beg you, with a spirit, and bring me up whomever I name to you.”
Saul therefore disguised himself, and put on other raiment, and departed—he and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night, —and he said—Divine for me, I pray thee, by the familiar spirit, and bring up for me—whomsoever I shall name unto thee.
9 The woman said to him, “See, you know what Saul has done, how he has banned from the land those who talk with the dead or with spirits. So why are you setting a trap for my life, to make me die?”
And the woman said unto him—Lo! thou, knowest what Saul hath done, how he hath cut off them who have familiar spirits and him who is an oracle, out of the land, —wherefore, then, art thou striking at my life, to put me to death?
10 Saul swore to her by Yahweh and said, “As Yahweh lives, no punishment will happen to you for this thing.”
So then Saul sware unto her by Yahweh, saying, —By the life of Yahweh, there shall no punishment befall thee for this thing.
11 Then the woman said, “Whom should I bring up to you?” Saul said, “Bring up Samuel for me.”
Then said the woman, Whom shall I bring up for thee? And he said, Samuel, bring thou up for me.
12 When the woman saw Samuel, she cried with a loud voice and spoke to Saul, saying, “Why have you deceived me? For you are Saul.”
And, when the woman saw Samuel, she made outcry with a loud voice, —and the woman spake unto Saul, saying—Wherefore hast thou deceived me, thou thyself being Saul?
13 The king said to her, “Do not be afraid. What do you see?” The woman said to Saul, “I see a god coming up out of the earth.”
And the king said unto her—Be not afraid, but what sawest thou? And the woman said unto Saul, A god, saw I, coming up out of the earth.
14 He said to her, “What does he look like?” She said, “An old man is coming up; he is clothed with a robe.” Saul perceived that it was Samuel, and he bowed with his face to the ground and showed respect.
And he said to her—What was his form? And she said—An old man, coming up, he being wrapped about with a robe. Then Saul knew, that it was, Samuel, so he inclined his face to the earth, and bowed himself down.
15 Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me and brought me up?” Saul answered, “I am very distressed, for the Philistines are waging war against me, and God has left me and does not answer me any more, neither by prophets, nor by dreams. Therefore I have called you, that you may make known to me what I will do.”
And Samuel said unto Saul, Wherefore hast thou disquieted me, by bringing me up? And Saul said—I am in sore distress, for, the Philistines, are making war against me, and, God, hath turned away from me, and answereth me no more—either by means of the prophets, or by dreams, therefore have I even called for thee, to let me know, what I am to do.
16 Samuel said, “What then do you ask me, since Yahweh has left you, and he has become your enemy?
Then said Samuel, Wherefore, then, shouldst thou ask me, —when, Yahweh, hath turned away from thee, and hath come to be with thy neighbour?
17 Yahweh has done to you what he said he would. Yahweh has torn the kingdom out of your hand and he has given it to someone else—to David.
Therefore hath Yahweh done for him, as he spake by me, —yea Yahweh hath rent the kingdom out of thy hand, and given it to a neighbour of thine—to David.
18 Because you did not obey the voice of Yahweh and did not carry out his fierce wrath on Amalek, he has therefore done this today to you.
As thou didst not hearken unto the voice of Yahweh, neither didst execute the glow of his anger upon Amalek, therefore, this thing, hath Yahweh done unto thee this day;
19 Yahweh will give Israel along with you into the hand of the Philistines, and tomorrow you and your sons will be with me. Yahweh will also give the army of Israel into the hand of the Philistines.”
that Yahweh may deliver, Israel also, with thee, into the hand of the Philistines, and, to-morrow, thou and thy sons with thee are about to fall, —the host of Israel also, will Yahweh deliver, into the hand of the Philistines.
20 Then Saul immediately fell his full length on the ground and was very afraid because of the words of Samuel. There was no strength in him, for he had eaten no food all that day, neither that whole night.
Then Saul hastened, and fell prostrate—the whole length of him—to the earth, and was sore afraid, at the words of Samuel, and indeed, no, strength, was left in him, for he had not eaten food all the day and all the night.
21 The woman came to Saul and saw that he was very troubled, She said to him, “See, your woman servant has listened to your voice; I have put my life in my hand and have listened to the words that you said to me.
And the woman came unto Saul, and, when she saw that he was greatly terrified, she said unto him—Lo! thy handmaid hearkened unto thy voice, and I put my life into my hand, and heard thy words which thou didst speak unto me.
22 Now therefore, I beg you, listen also to the voice of your woman servant, and let me set a little food in front of you. Eat so that you may gain strength for when you go on your way.”
Now, therefore, I pray thee, hearken, thou also, unto the voice of thy handmaid, and let me set before thee a morsel of food, and eat thou, —that there may be in thee strength, when thou goest on thy journey.
23 But Saul refused and said, “I will not eat.” But his servants, together with the woman, compelled him, and he listened to their voice. So he rose from the ground and sat on the bed.
But he refused, and said—I will not eat. But, when his servants, and the woman also, strongly urged him, then hearkened he unto their voice, —and rose up from the earth, and sat on the bed.
24 The woman had a fatted calf in the house; she hurried and killed it; she took flour, kneaded it, and baked unleavened bread with it.
Now, the woman, had a calf fattening, in the shed. So she hastened, and sacrificed it, —and took meal, and kneaded, and baked thereof, unleavened cakes;
25 She brought it before Saul and his servants, and they ate. Then they got up and left that night.
and brought near before Saul and before his servants, and they did eat. Then rose they up and departed, the same night.
