FIRST
SAMUEL
1 Samuel Chapter
28
1
¶ Now it came to pass in those days, that the Philistines gathered their armies
together for war, to fight with
2
And David said to Achish, Good you will find out what your servant can do. Then
Achish said to David, All right I will make you my permanent bodyguard.
3
Now Samuel was dead, and all
4
And the Philistines gathered together, and came and encamped at Shunem: and
Saul gathered all
5
And when Saul saw the army of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart
trembled greatly.
6
And when Saul inquired of the LORD, the LORD did not answer him, either by
dreams, or by Urim, or by prophets.
7
¶ Then Saul said to his servants, Find a woman who has a familiar spirit, so
that I may go to her, and inquire of her. And his servants said to him, Behold,
there is a woman at Endor who has a familiar spirit.
8
So Saul disguised himself, and put on other clothing, and with two other men
went to the woman by night: and he said, Consult a spirit for me, and bring up
for me the one whom I will name for you.
9
And the woman said to him, Look, you know what Saul has done, how he has cut
off those who have familiar spirits, and wizards, from the land: why then are
you laying a snare for my life, to cause me to die?
10
And Saul swore to her by the LORD, saying, As the LORD lives, you will
not be punished for doing this.
11
Then the woman said, Whom shall I bring up for you? And he said, Bring up
Samuel for me.
12
And when the woman saw Samuel, she screamed: and she said to Saul, Why have you
deceived me? for you are Saul.
13
And the king said to her, Do not be afraid: what did you see? And the woman
said to Saul, I saw a spirit coming up out of the earth.
14
And he said to her, What does he look like? And she said, An old man comes up;
and he is wearing a robe. And Saul realized that it was Samuel,
and he bowed his face to the ground, and paid homage.
15
¶ Then Samuel said to Saul, Why have you disturbed me, to bring me up? And Saul
answered, I am greatly distressed; for the Philistines are warring against me,
and God has departed from me, and does not answer me any longer, either by
prophets, or by dreams: therefore I have called you, so that you can tell me
what I should do.
16
And Samuel said, Why then do you ask me, seeing that the LORD has departed from
you, and has become your enemy?
17
The LORD has done to you, just what he said through me: for the LORD has torn
the kingdom out of your hand, and given it to your neighbor, to David:
18
The LORD has done this to you today, because you did not obey the voice of the
LORD, or execute his fierce wrath upon Amalek.
19
Moreover along with you the LORD will also deliver
20
¶ Then Saul immediately fell to the earth, and was terrified, because of
Samuel’s words: and there was no strength in him; for he had not eaten anything
all day, and all night.
21
And the woman came to Saul, and seeing that he was greatly distressed, said to
him, Behold, your handmaid has obeyed your voice, and I have taken my life in
my hand, and have done what you told me.
22
Now therefore please listen to the voice of your handmaid, let me set some food
before you; and eat, so that you will 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, urged him; and he listened to what they said. So he got up from the
earth, and sat on the bed.
24
And the woman had a fat calf in the house; and she hurried, and killed it, and
took flour, and kneaded it, and baked unleavened bread:
25
And she brought it before Saul, and before his servants; and they ate. Then
they rose up, and went away that night.