1 Samuel 28
1NOW in those days when the Philistines were assembling in their camps to go out to war with Israel, Angchus said to David, Know assuredly that thou shalt go out with me to battle, both thou and thy men.
2Whereupon David said to Angchus, Thus thou shalt now know what thy servant can do. And Angchus said to David, Thus will I make thee captain of my bodyguard during thy life.
3Now Samuel was dead and all Israel had bewailed him, and buried him at Armathaim in his city. And Saul had driven from the land the belly speakers, and the diviners;
4and the Philistines assembled, and came and encamped at Sonam; whereupon Saul assembled all Israel, and they encamped at Gelbua.
5And when Saul saw the camp of the Philistines he was afraid, and his heart was exceedingly dismayed.
6And Saul inquired of the Lord; but the Lord did not answer him; neither by dreams, nor by manifestations, nor by prophets.
7Then Saul said to his servants, Seek out for me a woman who is a trance-speaker [i.e. who has a familiar spirit] and, I will go to her and consult her. And her servants said to him, Behold there is a woman, a trance-speaker, at Endor.
8Thereupon Saul disguised himself, and put on other clothes, and went, he and two men with him. And they came to the woman by night, and said to her, Consult for me, I pray thee, the trance-speaker, and bring up for me him whom I shall mention to thee.
9And the woman said to him, Behold thou knowest what Saul hath done; how he hath rooted out all the trance-speakers, and the diviners, out of the land; why then dost thou lay a trap for my life, to put me to death?
10And Saul swore to her saying, As the Lord liveth, there shall no mischief befall thee on this account.
11Then the woman said, Whom shall I bring up for thee? And when he had said, Bring up Samuel for me,
12the woman saw Samuel, and cried with a loud voice. And the woman said to Saul, Why hast thou deceived me? Thou indeed art Saul.
13And the king said to her, Fear not. Tell me, Whom hast thou seen? And the woman said to him, I saw gods coming up out of the earth.
14And he said to her, What didst thou discover? And she said to him, An erect man coming up out of the earth, and he had a mantle thrown around him. So Saul knew that this was Samuel, and he bowed down on his face to the ground, and made obeisance to him.
15And Samuel said, Why hast thou troubled me, that I should come up? And Saul said, I am in great affliction. The Philistines are making war on me, and God hath departed from me, and answereth me no more, neither by the agency of prophets, nor by dreams. Now therefore I have called thee, to let me know what I shall do.
16And Samuel said, Why dost thou ask me, seeing the Lord is departed from thee, and is with thy neighbour?
17The Lord indeed hath done to thee as the Lord spoke by my agency. And the Lord will rend the kingdom out of thy hand, and give it to thy neighbour, even to David.
18Because thou didst not hearken to the voice of the Lord, and didst not execute the fierceness of his wrath on Amelek, therefore the Lord hath done this thing to thee this day.
19And the Lord will deliver Israel with thee into the hands of the Philistines, and to-morrow thou, and thy sons with thee, shall fall, and the Lord will deliver the army of Israel into the hand of the Philistines.
20At this Saul shuddered, and fell at his full length on the ground, and was struck with horror at the words of Samuel, and there was no more any strength in him, for he had not eaten bread that whole day, and that whole night.
21Then the woman came to Saul, and when she saw that he was in great trepidation, she said to him, Behold I pray thee, thy servant hath hearkened to thy voice. I put my life in my hand, and heard the words which thou didst speak to me;
22now therefore, hearken, I pray thee, to the voice of thy servant, and let me set before thee a morsel of bread, and eat that thou mayst have strength; for thou art to travel.
23And when he declined eating, his servants and the woman pressed him; so he hearkened to their voice, and arose from the ground, and sat on a seat.
24Now the woman had a fatted calf in the house, so she hastened, and slew it, and she took flour, and mixed it, and baked unleavened cakes,
25and set them before Saul and his servants. And when they had eaten, they arose and departed that night.