1 Samuel

¹Around that time the Philistines mobilized their forces to go to war against Israel. Achish said to David, 'You understand, of course, that you and your men are to march out with me in battle.'

²David replied, 'Then you will see for yourself what your servant can do.' Achish said, 'Good — I will make you my permanent bodyguard.'

³Now Samuel had already died, and all Israel had mourned him and buried him in Ramah, his hometown. Saul had expelled the mediums and spiritists from the land.

⁴The Philistines assembled and set up camp at Shunem. Saul gathered all Israel and camped at Gilboa.

⁵When Saul saw the Philistine army, he was terrified and his heart shook with fear.

⁶He inquired of the LORD, but the LORD did not answer him — not through dreams, not through the Urim, and not through prophets.

⁷Saul said to his servants, 'Find me a woman who is a medium so I can consult her.' His servants replied, 'There is one at Endor.'

⁸Saul disguised himself, putting on other clothes, and went with two men to the woman that night. He said, 'Consult a spirit for me. Bring up the one I name.'

⁹The woman said, 'Surely you know what Saul has done — how he has expelled the mediums and spiritists from the land. Why are you trying to trap me and get me killed?'

¹⁰Saul swore to her by the LORD, 'As surely as the LORD lives, you will not be punished for this.'

¹¹'Whom shall I bring up for you?' the woman asked. 'Bring up Samuel,' he replied.

¹²When the woman saw Samuel, she shrieked and said to Saul, 'Why did you deceive me? You are Saul!'

¹³The king said, 'Don't be afraid. What did you see?' The woman replied, 'I see a ghostly figure coming up from the ground.'

¹⁴'What does he look like?' Saul asked. 'An old man wearing a robe,' she said. Saul recognized it was Samuel and bowed down, with his face to the ground.

¹⁵Samuel said, 'Why have you disturbed me by calling me up?' Saul replied, 'I am in great distress. The Philistines are at war with me, and God has abandoned me. He no longer answers me — not through prophets or dreams. So I have called on you to tell me what to do.'

¹⁶Samuel said, 'Why ask me, since the LORD has turned away from you and become your enemy?'

¹⁷'The LORD has done exactly what he told you through me — he has torn the kingdom out of your hands and given it to your neighbor David.'

¹⁸'Because you did not obey the LORD or carry out his fierce judgment against the Amalekites, he has done this to you today.'

¹⁹'The LORD will also give Israel over to the Philistines, along with you. Tomorrow you and your sons will be with me, and the LORD will give Israel's army into the hands of the Philistines.'

²⁰Saul immediately fell full length on the ground, paralyzed with fear from Samuel's words. He had no strength left, for he had eaten nothing all day and all night.

²¹The woman came to Saul and saw how badly shaken he was. She said, 'Look, your servant listened to you. I put my life in danger and did what you asked.'

²²'Now please listen to me. Let me bring you some food. Eat it, and you will have strength for your journey.'

²³He refused and said, 'I won't eat.' But his servants joined the woman in urging him, and he finally agreed. He got up from the ground and sat on the couch.

²⁴The woman had a fattened calf in the house. She quickly slaughtered it and took flour, kneaded it, and baked bread without yeast.

²⁵She set it all before Saul and his servants, and they ate. Then they left that same night.