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Saul and the Spirit Medium

¹ In those days ^(C1)the Philistines gathered their forces for war to fight against Israel. Achish said to David, "Understand for certain that you and your men will go out with me to battle."² David said to Achish, "All right, you shall know what your servant can do." So Achish said to David, "Therefore I will make you my bodyguard ^(C1)for life."

³ Now ^(C1)Samuel had died, and all Israel had mourned for him and buried him ^(C2)in Ramah, his own city. And Saul had removed ^(C3)the mediums and the spiritists (soothsayers) from the land.⁴ The Philistines assembled and came and camped at ^(C1)Shunem; and Saul gathered all the Israelites and they camped at ^(C2)Gilboa.⁵ When Saul saw the Philistine army, he was afraid and ^(F1)badly shaken.^6 (C1)So Saul inquired of the LORD, but ^(C2)the LORD did not answer him, either by ^(C3)dreams or by ^(C4)Urim used like lots by the priest to determine the will of God or by prophets. ^(VR1)7 Then Saul said to his servants, "Find for me a woman who is a medium between the living and the dead, so that I may go to her and ask her advice." His servants said to him, "^(C1)There is a woman who is a medium at ^(C2)En-dor."

⁸ So Saul ^(C1)disguised himself by wearing different clothes, and he left with two men, and they came to the woman at night. He said to her, "^(C2)Conjure up for me, please, and ^(C3)bring up from the dead for me the spirit whom I shall name to you."⁹ But the woman said to him, "See here, you know ^(C1)what Saul has done, how he has cut off (eliminated) those who are mediums and spiritists from the land. So why are you laying a trap for my life, to cause my death?"¹⁰ Then Saul swore an oath to her by the LORD, saying, "As the LORD lives, no punishment shall come upon you for this."¹¹ So the woman said, "Whom shall I bring up for you?" He said, "Bring up Samuel for me."¹² When the woman saw Samuel, she screamed with a loud voice; and she said to Saul, "Why have you deceived me? You are Saul!"¹³ The king said to her, "Do not be afraid; but tell me what do you see?" The woman said to Saul, "I see a ^(F1)divine superhuman being coming up from the earth."¹⁴ He said to her, "What is his appearance?" And she said, "An old man is coming up, ^(C1)wrapped in a robe." Then Saul knew that it was Samuel, and ^(C2)he bowed with his face to the ground and paid respect to him.

¹⁵ Then Samuel said to Saul, "Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?" Saul answered, "I am greatly distressed; for the Philistines are making war against me, and ^(C1)God has left me and ^(C2)no longer answers me, either through prophets or by dreams; therefore I have called you to make known to me what I should do."¹⁶ Samuel said, "Why then do you ask me, since the LORD has left you and has become your enemy?¹⁷ "The LORD has done to you just ^(C1)as He said through me when I was with you; for the LORD has torn the kingdom out of your hand and given it to your neighbor, to David. ^(VR1)18 "Because ^(C1)you did not obey the voice of the LORD and did not execute His fierce wrath on Amalek, therefore the LORD has done this thing to you this day.¹⁹ "Moreover, the LORD will also put Israel along with you into the hands of the Philistines, and tomorrow ^(C1)you and your sons will be with me among the dead. Indeed, the LORD will put the army of Israel into the hands of the Philistines."

²⁰ Then Saul immediately fell full length on the earth floor of the medium's house, and was very afraid because of Samuel's words; ^(F1)and he was thoroughly exhausted because he had not eaten all day and all night.²¹ The woman came to Saul and saw that he was greatly troubled, and she said to him, "Look, your maidservant has obeyed you, and ^(C1)I have taken my life in my hand and have listened to everything you said to me.²² "So now, please listen to the voice of your maidservant, and let me set a piece of bread before you, and eat, so that you may have strength when you go on your way."²³ But he refused and said, "^(C1)I will not eat." ^(C2)But his servants together with the woman urged him, and he finally listened to them. So he got up from the ground and sat on ^(C3)the bed.²⁴ The woman had a ^(C1)fattened calf in the house; she quickly killed it, and ^(C2)took flour, kneaded it and baked unleavened bread.²⁵ She brought it before Saul and his servants, and they ate. Then they got up and went away that night.