1Sa 28 | NASB2020 | STEP | Now it came about in those days that the Philistines gathered their armed camps for war , to fight against Israel . And Achish said to David , “ Know for certain that you will go out with me in the camp , you and your men .”

‏ 1 Samuel 28

Saul and the Spirit Medium

1 Now it came about in those days that ^athe Philistines gathered their armed camps for war, to fight against Israel. And Achish said to David, “Know for certain that you will go out with me in the camp, you and your men.” 2 David said to Achish, “Very well, you will learn what your servant can do.” So Achish said to David, “Then I will assuredly make you ^{▼▼Lit guardian of my head}my bodyguard ^cfor ^{▼▼Lit all the days}life!”

3 Now ^eSamuel was dead, and all Israel had mourned him and buried him ^fin Ramah, his own city. And Saul had removed the ^gmediums and spiritists from the land. 4 So the Philistines assembled and came and camped ^hin Shunem; and Saul gathered all Israel together, and they camped in ⁱGilboa. 5 When Saul saw the camp of the Philistines, he was afraid and his heart trembled greatly. 6 ^jSo Saul inquired of the Lord, but ^kthe Lord did not answer him, either in ^ldreams, or by the ^mUrim, or by the prophets. 7 Then Saul said to his servants, “Find for me a woman who is a medium, so that I may go to her and inquire of her.” And his servants said to him, “Behold, ⁿthere is a woman who is a medium at ^oEn-dor.”

8 Then Saul ^pdisguised himself by putting on different clothes, and went, he and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night; and he said, “ ^qConsult the spirit for me, please, and ^rbring up for me the one whom I shall ^{▼▼Lit say}name for you.” 9 But the woman said to him, “Behold, you know ^twhat Saul has done, that he has eliminated the mediums and spiritists from the land. Why are you then setting a trap for my life, to bring about my death?” 10 So Saul swore an oath to her by the Lord, saying, “As the Lord lives, no punishment shall come upon you for this thing.” 11 Then the woman said, “Whom shall I bring up for you?” And he said, “Bring up Samuel for me.” 12 When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out with a loud voice; and the woman spoke to Saul, saying, “Why have you deceived me? For you are Saul!” 13 But the king said to her, “Do not be afraid; but what do you see?” And the woman said to Saul, “I see a ^{▼▼Or god}divine being coming up from the earth.” 14 He said to her, “ ^{▼▼Lit What is his form}How does he appear?” And she said, “An old man is coming up, and ^whe is wrapped in a robe.” Then Saul knew that it was Samuel, and ^xhe bowed with his face to the ground and paid ^{▼▼I.e., great respect and honor to a superior}homage.

15 And Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?” Saul replied, “I am very distressed, for the Philistines are waging war against me, and ^zGod has abandoned me and ^aano longer answers me, either through prophets or in dreams; therefore I have called you, so that you may let me know what I should do.” 16 Samuel said, “But why ask me, since the Lord has abandoned you and has become your enemy? 17 And the Lord has done ^{▼▼Lit for Himself just; another reading is to you just}just ^acas He spoke through me; for the Lord has torn the kingdom from your hand and given it to your neighbor, to David. 18 Just as ^adyou did not ^{▼▼Lit listen to the voice of}obey the Lord and did not execute His fierce wrath on Amalek, so the Lord has done this thing to you this day. 19 Furthermore, the Lord will also hand Israel along with you over to the Philistines; so tomorrow ^afyou and your sons will be with me. Indeed, the Lord will hand the army of Israel over to the Philistines!”

20 Then Saul immediately fell full length to the ground and was very afraid because of Samuel’s words; there was no strength in him either, because he had eaten no ^{▼▼Lit bread}food all day and all night. 21 The woman came to Saul and saw that he was utterly horrified, and she said to him, “Behold, your servant has ^{▼▼Lit listened to your voice}obeyed you, and ^aiI have ^{▼▼Lit put}taken my life in my hand and have listened to your words which you spoke to me. 22 So now you too, please listen to the voice of your servant, and let me serve you a piece of bread, and eat it, so that you will have strength when you go on your way.” 23 But he refused and said, “ ^akI will not eat.” ^alHowever, his servants together with the woman urged him, and he listened to ^{▼▼Lit their voice}them. So he got up from the ground and sat on ^anthe bed. 24 Now the woman had a ^aofattened calf in the house, and she quickly slaughtered it; then she ^aptook flour, kneaded it and baked unleavened bread from it. 25 She then served it to Saul and his servants, and they ate. Then they got up and left that night.