1 Samuel 28

¹ In those days the Philistines gathered their forces for war to fight against Israel. Achish said to David, "You know for certain that you and your men are to go out with me in the army."

² David said to Achish, "Very well, you will see what your servant can do." Achish said to David, "Then I will make you my permanent bodyguard."

³ Now Samuel had died, and all Israel had mourned for him and buried him in Ramah, his own city. And Saul had expelled the mediums and the spiritists from the land.

⁴ The Philistines assembled and came and camped at Shunem. Saul gathered all Israel, and they camped at Gilboa.

⁵ When Saul saw the Philistine camp, he was afraid and his heart trembled greatly.

⁶ Saul inquired of the LORD, but the LORD did not answer him—not by dreams, not by Urim, not by prophets.

⁷ Saul said to his servants, "Find me a woman who is a medium, so that I may go to her and inquire through her." His servants said to him, "There is a woman who is a medium at En-dor."

⁸ Saul disguised himself and put on other clothes. He went with two men and came to the woman by night. He said, "Divine for me by a medium-spirit. Bring up for me the one I name to you."

⁹ The woman said to him, "Surely you know what Saul has done, how he has cut off the mediums and spiritists from the land. Why are you setting a trap for my life, to get me killed?"

¹⁰ Saul swore to her by the LORD, "As the LORD lives, no punishment will come upon you for this."

¹¹ The woman said, "Whom shall I bring up for you?" He said, "Bring up Samuel for me."

¹² When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out with a loud voice. The woman said to Saul, "Why have you deceived me? You are Saul!"

¹³ The king said to her, "Do not be afraid. What do you see?" The woman said to Saul, "I see a divine being coming up from the earth."

¹⁴ He said to her, "What is his appearance?" She said, "An old man is coming up, and he is wrapped in a robe." Saul knew that it was Samuel, and he bowed with his face to the ground and prostrated himself.

¹⁵ Samuel said to Saul, "Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?" Saul said, "I am in great distress. The Philistines are fighting against me, and God has turned away from me and no longer answers me—not by prophets or by dreams. So I have called you to let me know what I should do."

¹⁶ Samuel said, "Why do you ask me, since the LORD has turned away from you and has become your adversary?

¹⁷ "The LORD has done to you just as he spoke through me. The LORD has torn the kingdom from your hand and given it to your neighbor—to David.

¹⁸ "Because you did not obey the voice of the LORD and did not carry out his fierce anger against Amalek, therefore the LORD has done this thing to you today.

¹⁹ "Moreover, the LORD will give Israel along with you into the hand of the Philistines. Tomorrow you and your sons will be with me. The LORD will also give the army of Israel into the hand of the Philistines."

²⁰ Immediately Saul fell full length on the ground and was very afraid because of Samuel's words. There was no strength in him, for he had not eaten food all day and all night.

²¹ The woman came to Saul and saw that he was greatly terrified. She said to him, "Look, your servant has listened to your voice. I took my life in my hands and obeyed the words that you spoke to me.

²² "Now please, you also listen to the voice of your servant. Let me set a piece of bread before you. Eat, so that you will have strength when you go on your way."

²³ He refused and said, "I will not eat." But his servants, together with the woman, urged him. He listened to their voice, rose from the ground, and sat on the bed.

²⁴ The woman had a fattened calf in the house. She quickly slaughtered it, took flour, kneaded it, and baked unleavened bread.

²⁵ She set it before Saul and his servants, and they ate. Then they rose and went away that night.