The In-Dept Study of the Bible
Samuel 28
1 In those days, the Philistines gathered
their armies together for warfare, to fight
with Israel. Achish said to David, “Know
assuredly that you will go out with me in
the army, you and your men.”
2 David said to Achish, “Therefore you
will know what your servant can do.”
Achish said to David, “Therefore I will
make you my bodyguard forever.”
3 Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel
had mourned for him and buried him in
Ramah, even in his own city. Saul had sent
away those who had familiar spirits and
the wizards out of the land.
4 The Philistines gathered themselves
together, and came and encamped in
Shunem; and Saul gathered all Israel together, and they encamped in Gilboa.
5 When Saul saw the army of the
Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart
trembled greatly.
6 When Saul inquired of Yahweh, Yahweh didn’t answer him by dreams, by
Urim, or by prophets.
7 Then Saul said to his servants, “Seek for
me a woman who has a familiar spirit, that
I may go to her and inquire of her.”
His servants said to him, “Behold, there
is a woman who has a familiar spirit at
Endor.”
8 Saul disguised himself and put on other
clothing, and went, he and two men with
him, and they came to the woman by night.
Then he said, “Please consult for me by the
familiar spirit, and bringmeup whomever
I shall name to you.”
9 The woman said to him, “Behold, you
know what Saul has done, how he has cut
off those who have familiar spirits and the
wizards out of the land. Why then do you
lay a snare for my life, to cause me to die?”
10 Saul swore to her by Yahweh, saying,
“As Yahweh lives, no punishment will happen to you for this thing.”
11 Then the woman said, “Whom shall I
bring up to you?” He said, “Bring Samuel up for me.”
12 When the woman saw Samuel, she
cried with a loud voice; and the woman
spoke to Saul, saying, “Why have you deceived me? For you are Saul!”
13 The king said to her, “Don’t be afraid!
What do you see?” The woman said to Saul, “I see a god
coming up out of the earth.”
14 He said to her, “What does he look
like?” She said, “An old man comes up. He is
covered with a robe.” Saul perceived that
it was Samuel, and he bowed with his face
to the ground, and showed respect.
15 Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you
disturbed me, to bring me up?”
Saul answered, “I amverydistressed;for
the Philistines make war against me, and
God has departed from me, and answers
me no more, by prophets, or by dreams.
Therefore I have called you, that you may
make known to me what I shall do.”
16 Samuel said, “Why thendo youaskme,
since Yahweh has departed from you and
has become your adversary?
17 Yahweh has done to you as he spoke by
me. Yahweh has torn the kingdom out of
your hand and given it to your neighbor,
even to David.
18 Because you didn’t obey Yahweh’s
voice, and didn’t execute his fierce wrath
on Amalek, therefore Yahweh has done
this thing to you today.
19 Moreover Yahweh will deliver Israel also with you into the hand of the
Philistines; and tomorrow you and your
sons will be with me. Yahweh will deliver
the army of Israel also into the hand of the
Philistines.”
20 Then Saul fell immediately his full
length on the earth, and was terrified, because of Samuel’s words. There was no
strength in him, for he had eaten no bread
all day long or all night long.
21The woman came to Saul and saw that
he was very troubled, and said to him,
“Behold, your servant has listened to your
voice, and I have put my life in my hand,
andhave listened to your words whichyou
spoke to me.
22 Now therefore, please listen also to
the voice of your servant, and let me set a
morsel of bread before you. Eat, that you
may have strength when you go on your
way.”
23 But he refused, and said, “I will not
eat.” But his servants, together with the
woman, constrained him; and he listened
to their voice. So he arose from the earth
and sat on the bed.
24 The woman had a fattened calf in the
house. She hurried and killed it; and she
took flour and kneaded it, and baked unleavened bread of it.
25 She brought it before Saul and before
his servants, and they ate. Then they rose
up and went away that night.