1 Samuel 28

₁At that time the Philistines called all their men together to go to war_against Israel. Achish said to David: ‘You must really understand. You and your men will now have to go with me to make war.’ ₂David said to Achish: ‘Yes, then you can see how I serve you.’ Achish said to David: ‘That is good. You must always guard me.’

₃Samuel had died and all the Israelites mourned for him and they buried him in Ramah, the town where he had lived. Before that time, Saul had chased all the mediums and spiritists out of the land. ₄The Philistines came together and they put up their tents at the town of Shunem. Saul told all the men of Israel to come together and they put up their tents at Gilboa. ₅When Saul saw all the tents of the Philistines, he became afraid and there was fear in his heart. ₆He asked the Lord what he must do, but the Lord did not answer him. The Lord did not speak to Saul in a dream or through the urim or through the prophets. ₇Then Saul said to his servants: ‘Go and find a woman who talks with the spirits of dead people. I want to ask her what I must do.’

His servants said to him: ‘There is a woman who is a medium in the town of Endor.’ ₈Saul put on ordinary clothes so that no one could see who he was and he and 2 men went to the woman in the night. Saul said to her: ‘You must help me. You must talk to the spirit of a dead man. I will tell you whom you must call up.’ ₉But the woman said to Saul: ‘Listen, you know what King Saul has done. He has chased away all the mediums and spiritists out of the land. Why do you want me to do something that he will kill me for doing?’

₁₀Saul promised her before the Lord and he said: ‘As sure as the Lord lives, no one will punish you for doing this.’

₁₁The woman asked Saul: ‘Whom must I call for you?’ And Saul said: ‘You must call Samuel for me.’ ₁₂When the woman saw Samuel, she shouted_loudly and said to Saul: ‘Why did you deceive me? You are Saul.’

₁₃The king said to her: ‘Do not be afraid. What do you see?’ The woman said: ‘I see a spirit coming out of the ground.’ ₁₄Saul asked her: ‘What does he look like?’ And she said: ‘He looks like an old man and he wears a cloak.’ Saul knew it was Samuel and he fell down and he bowed. ₁₅Samuel said to Saul: ‘Why are you calling me? Why do you bring me here?’ Saul said: ‘I have big problems. The Philistines started a war_against me and God went away from me. He does not answer me, not by the prophets or by dreams. That is why I have called you. You must tell me what I must do.’

₁₆Samuel said: ‘The Lord has gone away from you and now He is your enemy. Why do you ask me to help you? ₁₇The Lord did what He said He would do. He sent me to tell you that you would not be king anymore. He will make another man king and that man is David. ₁₈The Lord has done this because you did not listen to Him. He was very angry with the Amalekite people and you have not done what He told you to do. ₁₉The Lord will make the Philistines defeat the Israelites and you. Tomorrow you and your sons will be with me. The Lord will make the Philistines defeat the men of Israel.’

₂₀Saul fell on the ground. He was afraid because of what Samuel said. He was weak because he had not eaten all that day and all that night. ₂₁When the woman came to Saul, she saw how afraid he was. She said to him: ‘Listen to me. I did what you asked me. It was dangerous for me but I listened to you. ₂₂Now you must listen to me. I will give you some food so that you can eat and be strong before you go.’ ₂₃But Saul did not want to do it. He said: ‘No, I will not eat.’

But his men and the woman kept on saying that he must eat. Then Saul listened to them. He got up from the ground and sat on the bed. ₂₄The woman had a fat young cow at home and she quickly killed it. She took flour and mixed it and baked flat bread. ₂₅Then she gave it to Saul and his men. They ate and went away that night.