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.”1 Sam 29:1 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 1my bodyguard afor 2life!”Lit guardian of my headLit all the days1 Sam 1:22, 28
3 Now aSamuel was dead, and all Israel had mourned him and buried him bin Ramah, his own city. And Saul had removed the cmediums and spiritists from the land.1 Sam 25:11 Sam 7:17Lev 19:31; 20:27; Deut 18:10; 1 Sam 15:23 4 So the Philistines assembled and came and camped ain Shunem; and Saul gathered all Israel together, and they camped in bGilboa.Josh 19:18; 1 Sam 28:4; 1 Kin 1:3; 2 Kin 4:81 Sam 31:1 5 When Saul saw the camp of the Philistines, he was afraid and his heart trembled greatly. 6 aSo Saul inquired of the LORD, but bthe LORD did not answer him, either in cdreams, or by the dUrim, or by the prophets.1 Chr 10:13, 141 Sam 14:37; Prov 1:24-31Num 12:6; Joel 2:28Ex 28:30; Num 27:21 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, athere is a woman who is a medium at bEn-dor.”Acts 16:16Josh 17:11; Ps 83:10
8 Then Saul adisguised 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, “bConsult the spirit for me, please, and cbring up for me the one whom I shall 1name for you.”Lit say2 Chr 18:29; 35:221 Chr 10:13; Is 8:19Deut 18:10, 11 9 But the woman said to him, “Behold, you know awhat 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?”1 Sam 28:3 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 1divine being coming up from the earth.”Or god 14 He said to her, “1How does he appear?” And she said, “An old man is coming up, and ahe is wrapped in a robe.” Then Saul knew that it was Samuel, and bhe bowed with his face to the ground and paid 2homage.Lit What is his formI.e., great respect and honor to a superior1 Sam 15:271 Sam 24:8
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 aGod has abandoned me and bno 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.”1 Sam 16:14; 18:121 Sam 28:6 16 Samuel said, “But why ask me, since the LORD has abandoned you and has become your enemy? 17 And the LORD has done 1just aas He spoke through me; for the LORD has torn the kingdom from your hand and given it to your neighbor, to David.Lit for Himself just; another reading is to you just1 Sam 15:28 18 Just as ayou did not 1obey the LORD and did not execute His fierce wrath on Amalek, so the LORD has done this thing to you this day.Lit listen to the voice of1 Sam 15:20, 26; 1 Kin 20:42 19 Furthermore, the LORD will also hand Israel along with you over to the Philistines; so tomorrow ayou and your sons will be with me. Indeed, the LORD will hand the army of Israel over to the Philistines!”1 Sam 31:2; Job 3:17-19
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 1food all day and all night.Lit bread 21 The woman came to Saul and saw that he was utterly horrified, and she said to him, “Behold, your servant has 1obeyed you, and aI have 2taken my life in my hand and have listened to your words which you spoke to me.Lit listened to your voiceLit putJudg 12:3; 1 Sam 19:5; Job 13:14 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, “aI will not eat.” bHowever, his servants together with the woman urged him, and he listened to 1them. So he got up from the ground and sat on cthe bed.Lit their voice1 Kin 21:42 Kin 5:13Esth 1:6; Ezek 23:41 24 Now the woman had a afattened calf in the house, and she quickly slaughtered it; then she btook flour, kneaded it and baked unleavened bread from it.Gen 18:7; Luke 15:23, 27, 30Gen 18:6 25 She then served it to Saul and his servants, and they ate. Then they got up and left that night.