The Philistines Gather against Israel

1And it came to pass in those days that the Philistines gathered together their armies for the war, to fight with Israel. And Achish said to David, “You shall surely know that with me you will go out into the camp, you and your men.”

2And David said to Achish, “Surely you know what your servant can do.”

And Achish said to David, “Therefore I am appointing you the keeper of my head all the days.”

3And Samuel had died, and all Israel had lamented for him and buried him in Ramah, even in his city. And Saul had put the mediums and the spiritists out of the land.

4And the Philistines gathered together, and they came and encamped at Shunem. And Saul gathered together all Israel, and they encamped at Gilboa. 5And Saul saw the camp of the Philistines, and he was afraid, and his heart trembled greatly. 6And Saul inquired of YHWH, and YHWH did not answer him either by dreams or by the Urim† or by the prophets.

Saul and the Medium of En-dor

7And 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.”

8And 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.”

9And 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?”

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

11And the woman said, “Whom shall I bring up for you?”

And he said, “Bring up Samuel for me.”

12And 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.”

13And 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.”

14And 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.

15And 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.”

16And Samuel said, “And why do you ask me, since YHWH has turned aside from you and has become your enemy? 17And 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. 18Because 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. 19And 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.”

20And 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.

21And 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. 22And 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.”

23And 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.

24And 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. 25And she brought it before the face of Saul and his servants, and they ate. And they rose and went away that night.