1 Samuel 28

1NowH1961 in thoseH1992 daysH3117 the PhilistinesH6430 gatheredH6908 their forcesH4264 for warfareH6635H3898 against IsraelH3478. So AchishH397 saidH559 toH413 DavidH1732, “You must understandH3045 thatH3588 youH859 and your menH582 are to go outH3318 to battleH4264 with meH854.”

2DavidH1732 repliedH559, “ThenH3651 youH859 will come to knowH3045 whatH834 your servantH5650 can doH6213.”

“Very wellH3651,” saidH559 AchishH397. “I will make youH7760 my bodyguardH8104H7218 for lifeH3117.”

3Now by this time SamuelH8050 had diedH4191, and allH3605 IsraelH3478 had mournedH5594 for him and buried himH6912 in RamahH7414, his own cityH5892. And SaulH7586 had removedH5493 the mediumsH178 and spiritistsH3049 from the landH776.

4The PhilistinesH6430H935 gathered togetherH6908 and campedH2583 at ShunemH7766, while SaulH7586 gatheredH6908 allH3605 IsraelH3478 and campedH2583 at GilboaH1533. 5When SaulH7586 sawH7200 the PhilistineH6430 armyH4264, heH3820 was afraidH3372 and trembledH2729 violentlyH3966. 6He inquiredH7592H7586 of the LORDH3068, but the LORDH3068 did notH3808 answer himH6030 by dreamsH2472 orH1571 UrimH224H15711 orH1571 prophetsH5030.

Saul and the Medium of Endor

7Then SaulH7586 saidH559 to his servantsH5650, “FindH1245 me a womanH802 who isH1172 a mediumH178, so I can goH1980H413 and consultH1875 her.”

“ThereH2009 is a mediumH802H1172H178 at EndorH5874,” his servantsH5650H413 repliedH559.

8So SaulH7586 disguised himselfH2664 by putting onH3847 differentH312 clothesH899, and he set outH1980H1931 withH5973 twoH8147 of his menH582. They cameH935 toH413 the womanH802 at nightH3915, and Saul saidH559, “ConsultH7080H4994 a spiritH178 for me. Bring upH5927 for me the oneH834 I nameH559H413.”

9But the womanH802 repliedH559H413, “SurelyH2009 youH859 knowH3045 whatH834 SaulH7586 has doneH6213, howH834 he has killedH3772 the mediumsH178 and spiritistsH3049 inH4480 the landH776. WhyH4100 have youH859 set a trapH5367 to get me killedH5315H4191?”

10Then SaulH7586 sworeH7650 to her by the LORDH3068H559: “As surely as the LORDH3068 livesH2416, noH518 punishmentH5771 shall come upon youH7136 forH1697 thisH2088.”

11“WhomH4310 shall I bring upH5927 for you?” the womanH802 askedH559.

“Bring upH5927 SamuelH8050,” he repliedH559.

12But when the womanH802 sawH7200 SamuelH8050, she cried outH2199 in a loudH1419 voiceH6963 and saidH559 to SaulH7586H559, “WhyH4100 have you deceived meH7411? YouH859 are SaulH7586!”

13“Do notH408 be afraidH3372,” the kingH4428 repliedH559. “WhatH4100 do you seeH7200?”

“I seeH7200 a godH4302 coming upH5927 out ofH4480 the earthH776,” the womanH802 answeredH559.

14“WhatH4100 does he look likeH8389?” asked SaulH559.

“An oldH2205 manH376 is coming upH5927,” she repliedH559. “And he isH1931 wearingH5844 a robeH4598.”

So SaulH7586 knewH3045 thatH3588 itH1931 was SamuelH8050, and he bowedH6915 facedownH639H776 in reverenceH7812.

15Then SamuelH8050 saidH559 toH413 SaulH7586, “WhyH4100 have you disturbed meH7264 by bringing me upH5927?”

“I am deeplyH3966 distressedH6887,” repliedH559 SaulH7586. “The PhilistinesH6430 are fightingH3898 against me, and GodH430 has turned awayH5493 from meH5921. He noH3808 longerH5750 answers meH6030, eitherH1571 byH3027 prophetsH5030 orH1571 by dreamsH2472. So I have calledH7121 on you to tell meH3045 whatH4100 to doH6213.”

16“WhyH4100 do you consult meH7592,” askedH559 SamuelH8050, “since the LORDH3068 has turned awayH5493 from youH5921 and becomeH1961 your enemyH6145? 17He has doneH6213 exactly whatH834 He spokeH1696 through meH3027: The LORDH3068 has tornH7167 the kingdomH4467 out of your handH3027 and given itH5414 to your neighborH7453 DavidH1732. 18BecauseH834 you did notH3808 obeyH8085H6963 the LORDH3068 or carry outH6213 His burningH2740 angerH639 against AmalekH6002, the LORDH3068 has doneH6213 thisH2088 to you todayH3117H2088. 19MoreoverH1571, the LORDH3068 will deliverH5414 IsraelH3478 with youH5973 into the handH3027 of the PhilistinesH6430, and tomorrowH4279 youH859 and your sonsH1121 will be with meH5973. AndH1571 the LORDH3068 will deliverH5414 the armyH4264 of IsraelH3478 into the handH3027 of the PhilistinesH6430.”

20ImmediatelyH4116 SaulH7586 fellH5307 flatH4393H6967 on the groundH776, terrifiedH3372H3966 by the wordsH1697 of SamuelH8050. AndH1571 his strengthH3581 wasH1961 goneH3808, becauseH3588 he had notH3808 eatenH398 anythingH3899 all thatH3605 dayH3117 andH3605 nightH3915.

21When the womanH802 cameH935 toH413 SaulH7586 and sawH7200 howH3588 distraught he wasH926H3966, she saidH559 to himH413, “LookH2009, your maidservantH8198 has obeyedH8085 your voiceH6963. I tookH7760 my lifeH5315 in my handsH3709 and didH8085 asH834 you toldH1696 meH413. 22NowH6258 pleaseH4994H1571H859H6963 listenH8085 to your servantH8198 and let me setH7760 a morselH6595 of breadH3899 before youH6440 so you may eatH398 and haveH1961 the strengthH3581 toH3588 goH1980 on your wayH1870.”

23Saul refusedH3985, sayingH559, “I will notH3808 eatH398.” But his servantsH5650 joinedH1571 the womanH802 in urgingH6555 him, and he heededH8085 their voiceH6963. He got upH6965 from the groundH776 and satH3427 onH413 the bedH4296.

24The womanH802 had a fattenedH4770 calfH5695 at her houseH1004, and she quicklyH4116 slaughtered itH2076. She also tookH3947 flourH7058, kneaded itH3888, and bakedH644 unleavened breadH4682. 25She servedH5066 it toH6440 SaulH7586H6440 and his servantsH5650, and they ateH398. And thatH1931 nightH3915 they got upH6965 and leftH1980.