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that time, the Philistines gathered their armies together for war, to fight against Israel. Achish said to David, “You know, of course, that you and your men must go with me into battle.”
2 David said to Achish, “Certainly, then you will see what your servant can do.”
So Achish said to David, “Very well, I will make you my bodyguard for life.”
3 Now Samuel had died, and all Israel had mourned for him and buried him in Ramah, his own city. Saul had removed the medium and the spiritists from the land.
4 The Philistines assembled together, and they came and set up camp at Shunem. So Saul gathered all Israel together, and they camped at Gilboa. 5 When Saul saw the Philistine army, he was afraid, and his heart trembled with fear. 6 When Saul inquired of the Lord, the Lord did not answer him, either by dreams or by Urim or by prophets. 7 Saul then said to his servants, “Find for me a woman who is a medium, so I may go to her and inquire of her.”
His servant told him, “There is a woman at Endor who is a medium.”
8 So Saul disguised himself, putting on other clothes, and he set out with two men. They came to the woman at night, and Saul said to her, “Consult a spirit for me. Bring up for me the one whom I name.”
9 But the woman said to him, “Surely you know what Saul has done. He has cut off the mediums and the spiritists from the land. Why then do you lay a trap for my life to get me killed?”
10 But Saul swore to her by the Lord, saying, “As surely as the Lord lives, you will not be punished for this.”
11 Then the woman asked, “Whom do you want me to bring up for you?”
Saul answered, “Bring up Samuel for me.”
12 When the woman saw Samuel, she shrieked loudly and exclaimed, “Why have you deceived me? You are Saul!”
13 But the king said to her, “Do not be afraid. What do you see?”
The woman said to Saul, “I see a spirit coming up out of the earth.”
14 Then Saul asked her, “What does he look like?”
She answered, “An old man is coming up and he is wearing a robe.”
Then Saul knew that it was Samuel, and he bowed with his face to the ground and paid homage.
15 Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?”
“I am greatly distressed,” Saul answered, “for the Philistines are fighting against me, and God has turned away from me. He doesn’t answer me anymore, either through prophets or by dreams. So I have called on you to tell me what I should do.”
16 Samuel said, “Why do you ask me, seeing that the Lord has turned away from you and become your enemy? 17 The Lord has done what He spoke through me. The Lord has torn the kingdom out of your hand and given it to your neighbour—to David. 18 Because you did not obey the voice of the Lord and did not carry out His fierce wrath against the Amalekites, the Lord has done this to you today. 19 Moreover, the Lord will also deliver Israel along with you into the hands of the Philistines, and tomorrow you and your sons will be with me. The Lord will also deliver the army of Israel into the hands of the Philistines.”
20 Then Saul immediately fell full length on the ground. He was filled with fear because of Samuel’s words. And there was no strength in him, for he had not eaten any food all day and all night.
21 When the woman came over to Saul, she saw that he was terrified. So she said to him, “Look, your maidservant has obeyed you. I took my life in my own hand, and did what you told me to do. 22 Now please listen to your maidservant. Let me set some food before you, so you can eat and have strength so you can go on your way.”
23 But he refused and said, “I will not eat.”
But his servants joined in with the woman urging him, and he listened to them. He got off the ground and sat on the bed.
24 The woman had a fattened calf in the house, and she quickly slaughtered it. She took some flour, kneaded it, and baked unleavened bread from it. 25 Then she set it before Saul and his servants, and they ate. Then they rose and went away that same night.