1Now it happened in those days that the Philistines gathered their armies for war, to fight against Israel. And Achish said to David, “You know for certain that you will go out with me in the camp, you and your men.”
2And David said to Achish, “Very well, you yourself will know what your servant can do.” And Achish said to David, “Very well, I will make you my bodyguard for life.”
3Now Samuel had died, and all Israel had mourned for him and buried him in Ramah, his own city. And Saul had removed the mediums and the spiritists from the land.
4And the Philistines gathered and came and encamped at Shunem; and Saul gathered all Israel, and they encamped at Gilboa.
5When Saul saw the camp of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart trembled greatly.
6And Saul inquired of Yahweh, but Yahweh did not answer him, neither by dreams nor by the Urim nor by the prophets.
7Then Saul said to his servants, “Seek out for me a woman who is a medium, that I may go to her and inquire of her.” And his servants said to him, “Behold, there is a woman who is a medium at En-dor.”
8So Saul disguised himself and put on other clothes, and he went, he and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night. And he said, “Divine for me, please, by the medium spirit, and bring up for me the one whom I name to you.”
9And the woman said to him, “Behold, you yourself know what Saul has done, how he has cut off the mediums and the spiritists from the land. Why then are you laying a snare for my life, to bring about my death?”
10And Saul swore to her by Yahweh, saying, “As Yahweh lives, no guilt shall come upon you for this matter.”
11Then the woman said, “Whom shall I bring up for you?” And he said, “Bring up Samuel for me.”
12When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out with a loud voice; and the woman said to Saul, “Why have you deceived me? You are Saul!”
13And the king said to her, “Do not be afraid. What did you see?” And the woman said to Saul, “I see a divine being coming up out of the earth.”
14And he said to her, “What does he look like?” And she said, “An old man is coming up, and he is wrapped in a robe.” So Saul knew that it was Samuel, and he bowed his face to the ground and prostrated himself.
15And Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?” And Saul said, “I am in great distress, for the Philistines are fighting against me, and God has turned away from me and no longer answers me, neither by the hand of the prophets nor by dreams. So I have called you to make known to me what I should do.”
16And Samuel said, “Why then do you ask me, when Yahweh has turned away from you and become your adversary?
17Yahweh has done to himself just as he spoke by my hand, for Yahweh has torn the kingdom out of your hand and given it to your neighbor, to David.
18Because you did not obey the voice of Yahweh and did not carry out his burning anger against Amalek, therefore Yahweh has done this thing to you this day.
19Moreover, Yahweh will give Israel also, along with you, into the hand of the Philistines; and tomorrow you and your sons will be with me. Yahweh will also give the camp of Israel into the hand of the Philistines.”
20Then Saul hurried and fell full length on the ground and was greatly afraid because of the words of Samuel. There was no strength in him either, for he had eaten no food all that day and all that night.
21And the woman came to Saul and saw that he was greatly terrified, and she said to him, “Behold, your maidservant has obeyed your voice; I took my life in my hand and listened to your words which you spoke to me.
22So now, please, you also listen to the voice of your maidservant, and let me set a morsel of bread before you; eat, so that you may have strength when you go on your way.”
23But he refused and said, “I will not eat.” Then his servants, and the woman too, pressed him, and he listened to their voice. So he rose from the ground and sat on the bed.
24Now the woman had a fattened calf in the house, and she hurried and slaughtered it; and she took flour and kneaded it and baked unleavened bread from it.
25And she brought it before Saul and before his servants, and they ate. Then they rose and went away that same night.
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