1 Samuel 28

28 ¹In those days Philistines massed their forces for war, to fight Israel. Achish told David, "You understand, of course, that you and your men must march out with me in the army."

²David told Achish, "So you'll know what your servant can do." Achish replied, "Very well, I'll make you my bodyguard for life."

³Samuel had died; all Israel mourned him and buried him in Ramah, his city. Saul had removed the mediums and fortune-tellers from the land.

⁴The Philistines gathered, came, and camped at Shunem; Saul gathered all Israel and camped at Gilboa. ⁵When Saul saw the Philistine army, he was afraid, and his heart trembled greatly. ⁶Saul asked our Father, but our Father didn't answer him—not by dreams, not by Urim, not by prophets.

⁷Saul told his servants, "Find me a female medium, so I can go ask her." They said, "There's one at Endor."

⁸Saul disguised himself, wore other clothes, went with two men to the woman by night, and said, "Consult a spirit for me—bring up the one I name."

⁹The woman said, "You know what Saul did—cut off the mediums and the spiritists from the land. Why trap my life to kill me?"

¹⁰Saul swore to her by our Father, "As our Father lives, no guilt will reach you for this."

¹¹The woman said, "Whom should I bring up for you?" He said, "Bring up Samuel for me."

¹²Seeing Samuel, the woman cried out loudly and said to Saul, "Why did you deceive me? You are Saul!"

¹³The king said, "Don't be afraid. What do you see?" The woman told Saul, "I see a divine being rising from the ground."

¹⁴He asked, "What does he look like?" "An old man rising, wrapped in a robe," she said. Saul knew it was Samuel and bowed face-down, prostrating himself.

¹⁵Samuel said to Saul, "Why disturb me, bringing me up?" Saul said, "I'm in deep distress. The Philistines fight me, and our Father has turned away from me—no answer by prophets or dreams. So I called you, to know what to do."

¹⁶Samuel said, "Why ask me, when our Father has left you and become your enemy? ^a a v16 Our Father had not stopped loving Saul; this is the language of judgment on a king who long refused him—the grief of love resisted, not the loss of the Father's heart. ¹⁷Our Father did as he said through me, tearing the kingdom from your hand and giving it to your neighbor, to David. ¹⁸Because you did not obey our Father's voice or execute his burning anger against Amalek, so he has done this to you today. ¹⁹Our Father will hand you and Israel to the Philistines; tomorrow you and your sons will join me, and our Father will hand Israel's army to the Philistines."

²⁰Saul instantly fell full length on the ground, terrified by Samuel's words. He had no strength, having eaten no food all day and night.

²¹The woman came to Saul, saw his shock, and said, "Look, your servant obeyed you. I took my life in my hand and did what you told me. ²²Now please, you too, listen to me, your servant. Let me give you a piece of bread; eat, and get strength for the road."

²³He refused: "I won't eat." But his servants and the woman urged him until he gave in, rose from the ground, and sat on the bed. ²⁴The woman had a fattened calf at home, hurried, slaughtered it, took flour, kneaded, and baked bread without yeast. ²⁵She served it to Saul and his servants; they ate, then got up and left that night.