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¹ It happened in those days, that the Pelishtim gathered their hosts together for warfare, to fight with Yisra'el. Akhish said to David, Know you assuredly, that you shall go out with me in the host, you and your men. ² David said to Akhish, Therefore you shall know what your servant will do. Akhish said to David, Therefore will I make you keeper of my head for ever. ³ Now Shemu'el was dead, and all Yisra'el had lamented him, and buried him in Ramah, even in his own city. Sha'ul had put away those who had familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land. ⁴ The Pelishtim gathered themselves together, and came and encamped in Shunem: and Sha'ul gathered all Yisra'el together, and they encamped in Gilboa. ⁵ When Sha'ul saw the host of the Pelishtim, he was afraid, and his heart trembled greatly. ⁶ When Sha'ul inquired of the LORD, the LORD didn't answer him, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets.

⁷ Then said Sha'ul to his servants, Seek me a woman who has a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and inquire of her. His servants said to him, Behold, there is a woman who has a familiar spirit at En-dor. ⁸ Sha'ul disguised himself, and put on other clothing, and went, he and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night: and he said, Please divine to me by the familiar spirit, and bring me up whoever I shall name to you. ⁹ The woman said to him, Behold, you know what Sha'ul has done, how he has cut off those who have familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land: why then lay you a snare for my life, to cause me to die? ¹⁰ Sha'ul swore to her by the LORD, saying, As the LORD lives, there shall no punishment happen to you for this thing. ¹¹ Then said the woman, Whom shall I bring up to you? He said, Bring me up Shemu'el. ¹² When the woman saw Shemu'el, she cried with a loud voice; and the woman spoke to Sha'ul, saying, Why have you deceived me? for you are Sha'ul. ¹³ The king said to her, Don't be afraid: for what do you see? The woman said to Sha'ul, I see a god coming up out of the eretz. ¹⁴ He said to her, What form is he of? She said, An old man comes up; and he is covered with a robe. Sha'ul perceived that it was Shemu'el, and he bowed with his face to the ground, and did obeisance.

¹⁵ Shemu'el said to Sha'ul, Why have you disquieted me, to bring me up? Sha'ul answered, I am sore distressed; for the Pelishtim make war against me, and God is departed from me, and answers me no more, neither by prophets, nor by dreams: therefore I have called you, that you may make known to me what I shall do. ¹⁶ Shemu'el said, Why then do you ask of me, seeing the LORD is departed from you, and is become your adversary? ¹⁷ The LORD has done to you, as he spoke by me: and the LORD has torn the kingdom out of your hand, and given it to your neighbor, even to David. ¹⁸ Because you didn't obey the voice of the LORD, and didn't execute his fierce wrath on `Amalek, therefore has the LORD done this thing to you this day. ¹⁹ Moreover the LORD will deliver Yisra'el also with you into the hand of the Pelishtim; and tomorrow shall you and your sons be with me: the LORD will deliver the host of Yisra'el also into the hand of the Pelishtim.

²⁰ Then Sha'ul fell immediately his full length on the eretz, and was sore afraid, because of the words of Shemu'el: and there was no strength in him; for he had eaten no bread all the day, nor all the night. ²¹ The woman came to Sha'ul, and saw that he was sore troubled, and said to him, Behold, your handmaid has listened to your voice, and I have put my life in my hand, and have listened to your words which you spoke to me. ²² Now therefore, please listen also to the voice of your handmaid, and let me set a morsel of bread before you; and eat, that you may have strength, when you go on your way. ²³ But he refused, and said, I will not eat. But his servants, together with the woman, constrained him; and he listened to their voice. So he arose from the eretz, and sat on the bed. ²⁴ The woman had a fattened calf in the house; and she hurried, and killed it; and she took flour, and kneaded it, and did bake matzah of it: ²⁵ and she brought it before Sha'ul, and before his servants; and they ate. Then they rose up, and went away that night.