1 Samuel 28
1 Around that time the Philistines called up their armies to go to war against Israel. So Achish told David, “You do realize that you and your men must accompany me as part of the army.”
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 “That's fine!” David replied. “Then you yourself will discover what I, your servant, can do.” “That's fine too,” Achish responded. “I'll make you my bodyguard for life.”
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 By now Samuel had died, and all of Israel had mourned for him and buried him in Ramah, his home town. Saul had got rid of mediums and spiritists from the country.
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 The Philistine armies gathered and set up camp at Shunem. Saul called up all the Israelite army and set up camp 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 Philistine army, he was terrified, shaking with fear.
And, when Saul saw the host of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart trembled exceedingly.
6 He asked advice from the Lord, but the Lord didn't answer him either by dreams or by Urim or by prophets.
Then Saul enquired of Yahweh, but Yahweh answered him not, —neither by Dreams, nor by the Lights, nor by prophets.
7 So Saul told his officers, “Find me a woman who is a medium so I can go and ask her advice.” “There's a woman who is a medium at Endor,” his officers replied.
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 by wearing different clothes. He went with two of his men to the woman at night. Saul told her, “Bring up a spirit for me so I can ask some questions. I'll give you the name.”
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 “Don't you know what Saul has done,” she replied. “He's got rid of the mediums and spiritists from the country. Are you trying to set a trap for me and get me killed?”
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 an oath to her by the Lord, “As the Lord lives, you won't be held guilty for doing this.”
So then Saul sware unto her by Yahweh, saying, —By the life of Yahweh, there shall no punishment befall thee for this thing.
11 “Who do you want me to bring up for you?” the woman asked. “Bring up Samuel,” he replied.
Then said the woman, Whom shall I bring up for thee? And he said, Samuel, bring thou up for me.
12 But when the woman saw Samuel, she shouted loudly, and said to Saul, “Why have you tricked me? You're 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 “Don't be scared,” The king told her. “What can you see?” “I see a god coming up out of the ground,” the woman replied.
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 “What does he look like?” Saul asked. “An old man is coming up,” she replied. “He has a robe wrapped around him” Saul thought it must be Samuel, and he bowed facedown in 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 are you bothering me by bringing me up?” “I'm in terrible trouble,” Saul replied. “The Philistines are attacking me, and God has abandoned me. He doesn't answer me anymore, either by prophets or by dreams. That's why I have called you up so you tell me what to 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 “Why come and ask me when the Lord has abandoned you and has become your enemy?” Samuel asked.
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 “The Lord has done to you exactly what he said through me, for Lord has ripped the kingdom from you and has given it to your neighbor, 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 The Lord has done this to you today because you did not do what the Lord commanded and you did not execute his furious anger on the Amalekites.
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 The Lord will hand over Israel and you yourself to the Philistines. Tomorrow you and your sons will die and be with me. The Lord will also hand over the Israelite army of Israel to 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 Saul collapsed face down on the ground, terrified at what Samuel had said. He had no strength, because he hadn't eaten anything all that day and 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 over to Saul and saw that he was absolutely terrified. She told him, “Look, sir, I did what you asked. I risked my life and did what you told 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 please do what I tell you. Let me bring you a little bit of food. Eat it, and you'll have the strength to 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 he refused, saying, “I can't eat anything.” But his men and the woman encouraged him to eat, and he did what they said. He got up 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 fattened calf at the house, and she quickly went and slaughtered it. She also got some flour, kneaded it, and baked some unleavened bread.
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 served the meal to Saul and his men, and they ate it. Then they got up and left, the same night.
and brought near before Saul and before his servants, and they did eat. Then rose they up and departed, the same night.
