1 Samuel 28
28
Saul and the Medium of Endor
1Later, the Philistines gathered their armies to fight against Israel. Achish said to David, “You understand that you and your men must join with me in my army.”
2David answered, “Certainly! Then you can see for yourself what I, your servant, can do!”
Achish said, “Fine, I’ll make you my bodyguard for life.”
3Now Samuel was dead, and all the Israelites had shown their sadness for him. They had buried Samuel in his hometown of Ramah.
And Saul had forced out the mediums and fortune-tellers from the land of Israel.
4The Philistines came together and made camp at Shunem. Saul gathered all the Israelites and made camp at Gilboa. 5When he saw the Philistine army, he was afraid. His heart pounded with fear. 6He prayed to the Lord, but the Lord did not answer him through dreams, Urim or prophets. 7Then Saul said to his servants, “Find me a woman who is a medium. I’ll go and ask her what will happen.”
His servants answered, “There is a medium in Endor.”
8Then Saul put on other clothes so no one would know who he was. At night Saul and two of his men went to see the woman. Saul said to her, “Talk to a spirit for me. Call up the person I name.”
9But the woman said to him, “Surely you know what Saul has done. He has forced the mediums and fortune-tellers out from the land of Israel. You are trying to trap me and kill me.”
10Saul made a promise to the woman in the name of the Lord. He said, “As surely as the Lord lives, you won’t be punished for doing this.”
11The woman asked, “Whom do you want me to bring up for you?”
He answered, “Bring up Samuel.”
12When the woman saw Samuel, she screamed loudly. She said, “Why have you tricked me? You are Saul!”
13The king said to the woman, “Don’t be afraid! What do you see?”
The woman said, “I see a spirit coming up out of the ground.”
14Saul asked, “What does he look like?”
The woman answered, “An old man wearing a coat is coming up.”
Then Saul knew it was Samuel, and he bowed facedown on the ground.
15Samuel asked Saul, “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?”
Saul said, “I am greatly troubled. The Philistines are fighting against me. God has left me. He won’t answer me anymore, either by prophets or in dreams. That’s why I called you. I want you to tell me what to do.”
16Samuel said, “The Lord has left you. He has become your enemy. So why do you call on me? 17He has done what he said he would do. He said these things through me. He has torn the kingdom out of your hands. He has given it to one of your neighbors, David. 18You did not obey the Lord. You did not show the Amalekites how angry he was with them. That’s why he has done this to you today. 19The Lord will give both Israel and you to the Philistines. Tomorrow you and your sons will be with me. The Lord will let the Philistines defeat the army of Israel.”
20Saul quickly fell to the ground and lay there. He was afraid because of what Samuel had said. He was also very weak because he had eaten nothing all that day and night.
21Then the woman came to Saul. She saw that he was really frightened. She said, “Look, I, your servant, have obeyed you. I have risked my life and done what you told me to do. 22Now please listen to me. Let me give you some food. Then you may eat and have enough strength to go on your way.”
23But Saul refused. He said, “I won’t eat.”
His servants joined the woman in asking him to eat. And he listened to them. So he got up from the ground and sat on the bed.
24The woman had a fat calf at the house. She quickly killed it. She took some flour and mixed dough with her hands. Then she baked some bread without yeast. 25She put the food before them, and they ate. Then that same night they got up and left.
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1 Samuel 28: ICB
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