Chapter 28

And it came to pass in those days, that the Philistines gathered their armies together⁴ for warfare, to fight⁹ with Israel. And Achish said⁴ unto David, Know⁴ thou assuredly,² that thou shalt go out⁴ with me to battle, thou and thy men.

And David said⁴ to Achish, Surely thou shalt know⁴ what thy servant can do.⁴ And Achish said⁴ to David, Therefore will I make⁴ thee keeper⁶ of mine head for ever. ³¹¹⁷

Now Samuel was dead,¹ and all Israel had lamented⁴ him, and buried⁴ him in Ramah, even in his own city. And Saul had put away⁵² those that had familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land.

And the Philistines gathered themselves together,¹¹ and came⁴ and pitched⁴ in Shunem: and Saul gathered all Israel together,⁴ and they pitched⁴ in Gilboa.

And when Saul saw⁴ the host of the Philistines, he was afraid,⁴ and his heart greatly trembled.⁴

And when Saul enquired⁴ of the LORD, the LORD answered¹ him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets.

Then said⁴ Saul unto his servants, Seek¹⁶ me a woman that hath a familiar spirit, that I may go⁴ to her, and enquire⁴ of her. And his servants said⁴ to him, Behold, [there is] a woman that hath a familiar spirit at Endor.

And Saul disguised¹⁰¹ himself, and put on⁴ other raiment, and he went,⁴ and two men with him, and they came⁴ to the woman by night: and he said,⁴ I pray thee, divine³ unto me by the familiar spirit, and bring me [him] up,⁵⁴ whom I shall name⁴ unto thee.

And the woman said⁴ unto him, Behold, thou knowest¹ what Saul hath done,¹ how he hath cut off⁵² those that have familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land: wherefore then layest thou a snare¹⁰² for my life, to cause me to die?⁵³

And Saul sware¹¹ to her by the LORD, saying,² [As] the LORD liveth, there shall no punishment happen⁴ to thee for this thing.

Then said⁴ the woman, Whom shall I bring up⁵⁵ unto thee? And he said,⁴ Bring me up⁵⁴ Samuel.

And when the woman saw⁴ Samuel, she cried⁴ with a loud voice: and the woman spake⁴ to Saul, saying,² Why hast thou deceived¹⁴ me? for thou [art] Saul.

And the king said⁴ unto her, Be not afraid:⁴ for what sawest¹ thou? And the woman said⁴ unto Saul, I saw¹ gods ascending⁶ out of the earth.

And he said⁴ unto her, What form [is] he of? And she said,⁴ An old man cometh up;⁶ and he [is] covered⁶ with a mantle. And Saul perceived⁴ that it [was] Samuel, and he stooped⁴ with [his] face to the ground, and bowed¹⁰¹ himself.

And Samuel said⁴ to Saul, Why hast thou disquieted⁵² me, to bring me up?⁵³ And Saul answered,⁴ I am sore distressed;¹ for the Philistines make war¹² against me, and God is departed¹ from me, and answereth¹ me no more, neither by prophets, nor by dreams: therefore I have called⁴ thee, that thou mayest make known⁵³ unto me what I shall do.⁴

Then said⁴ Samuel, Wherefore then dost thou ask⁴ of me, seeing the LORD is departed¹ from thee, and is become thine enemy?

And the LORD hath done⁴ to him, as he spake¹⁴ by me: for the LORD hath rent⁴ the kingdom out of thine hand, and given⁴ it to thy neighbour, [even] to David:

Because thou obeyedst¹ not the voice of the LORD, nor executedst¹ his fierce wrath upon Amalek, therefore hath the LORD done¹ this thing unto thee this day.

Moreover the LORD will also deliver⁴ Israel with thee into the hand of the Philistines: and to morrow [shalt] thou and thy sons [be] with me: the LORD also shall deliver⁴ the host of Israel into the hand of the Philistines.

Then Saul fell⁴ straightway¹⁷ all along on the earth, and was sore afraid,⁴ because of the words of Samuel: and there was no strength in him; for he had eaten¹ no bread all the day, nor all the night.

And the woman came⁴ unto Saul, and saw⁴ that he was sore troubled,⁸ and said⁴ unto him, Behold, thine handmaid hath obeyed¹ thy voice, and I have put⁴ my life in my hand, and have hearkened⁴ unto thy words which thou spakest¹⁴ unto me.

Now therefore, I pray thee, hearken³ thou also unto the voice of thine handmaid, and let me set⁴ a morsel of bread before thee; and eat,³ that thou mayest have strength, when thou goest⁴ on thy way.

But he refused,¹⁷ and said,⁴ I will not eat.⁴ But his servants, together with the woman, compelled⁴ him; and he hearkened⁴ unto their voice. So he arose⁴ from the earth, and sat⁴ upon the bed.

And the woman had a fat calf in the house; and she hasted,¹⁷ and killed⁴ it, and took⁴ flour, and kneaded⁴ [it], and did bake⁴ unleavened bread thereof:

And she brought⁵⁵ [it] before Saul, and before his servants; and they did eat.⁴ Then they rose up,⁴ and went away⁴ that night.