1 Samuel 28

And it happened in those days that the Philistines gathered their camps for war, to fight with Israel. And Achish said to David, “Knowing, you know that you shall go out with me into the camp, you and your men.”

And David said to Achish, “Therefore you yourself will know what your servant will do.” And Achish said to David, “Therefore I am appointing you the keeper of my head all of the days.” \*

Now Samuel had died, and all of Israel had mourned for him, and they had buried him in Ramah, even in his city. And Saul had removed the ritual pits and the familiar spirits from the land.

And the Philistines gathered and came and camped at Shunem. And Saul gathered all of Israel, and they camped at Gilboa. \*

And Saul saw the camp of the Philistines. And he was afraid, and his heart trembled greatly.

And Saul inquired of God, but God did not answer him, either by dreams or by the Urim or by prophets.

So Saul said to his servants, “Seek for me a woman of a mistress of a ritual pit so I may go to her and inquire of her.” And his servants said to him, “Behold, a woman of a mistress of a ritual pit {is} in Endor.” \*

And Saul disguised himself and put on other garments, and he went, he and two of the men with him. And they came to the woman {at} night. And he said, “Please divine for me with the ritual pit and bring up for me whom I say to you.”

But the woman said to him, “Behold, you yourself know what Saul has done, that he has cut off the ritual pits and the familiar spirits from the land. So why are you setting a trap against my life, to cause me to die?”

But Saul swore to her by God, saying, “The life of God, if punishment shall meet you for this thing!” \*

So the woman said, “Whom shall I bring up for you?” And he said, “Bring up Samuel for me.”

And the woman saw Samuel, and she cried out with a loud voice. And the woman spoke to Saul, saying, “Why have you deceived me? For you are Saul!” \*

And the king said to her, “Do not fear. But what have you seen?” And the woman said to Saul, “I have seen a god coming up from the earth.”

And he said to her, “What {is} his appearance?” And she said, “An old man is coming up, and he is wearing a robe.” And Saul knew that it {was} Samuel, and he bowed, nostrils to the ground, and he prostrated himself. \*

And Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me to bring me up?” And Saul said, “It is very narrow to me, for the Philistines are fighting with me. And God has turned aside from with me, and he does not answer me anymore, either by the hand of prophets or by dreams, so I have called to you to let me know what I should do.”

And Samuel said, “And why do you ask me, since God has turned aside from with you and has become your enemy?

Now God has done for himself just as he spoke by my hand. For God has torn the kingdom from your hand and has given it to your fellow, to David. \*

Because you did not listen to the voice of God and you did not do the burning of his nose against Amalek, therefore God has done this thing to you this day.

And God will also give Israel with you into the hand of the Philistines, and tomorrow you and your sons {will be} with me. God will also give the camp of Israel into the hand of the Philistines.” \*

And Saul hurried and fell, the fullness of his height to the ground, for he feared greatly from the words of Samuel. Also strength was not in him, for he had not eaten bread all of the day and all of the night.

And the woman came to Saul, and she saw that he was very frightened, And she said to him, “Behold, your maidservant has listened to your voice, and I have put my life in my palm, for I heard the words that you spoke to me. \*

And now, please listen, even you, to the voice of your maidservant, and let me set to your face a piece of bread, and eat. And strength will be in you when you go in the way.”

But he refused and said, “I will not eat.” But his servants urged him, and also the woman, and he listened to their voice. And he arose from the ground and sat on the bed. \*

Now to the woman {was} a calf of the stall in the house, and she hurried and slaughtered it. And she took flour and kneaded and baked it {as} unleavened bread.

And she brought it to the face of Saul and to the face of his servants, and they ate. And they arose and went in that night. \*