Saul consulted a witch/medium

1Some time later, the people of Philistia gathered their army to attack the Israelis again. King Achish told David, “I am expecting that you and your men will join with my men to attack the Israelis.”

2David replied, “We will go with you, and then you will see for yourself what we can do!” Achish said, “Okay, I will appoint you to be my bodyguard permanently.”

3While Samuel was still alive, Saul did many things that pleased Yahweh. One of the good things that Saul did was to expel from Israel all the people who were fortune-tellers or who talked to the spirits of dead people. But Samuel had died, and all the Israeli people had mourned for him. Then they had buried him in Ramah, his hometown. After that, Saul did not try to please Yahweh any more.

4The army of Philistia gathered and set up their tents at Shunem city, in the north of Israel. Saul gathered the Israeli army and set up their tents at Gilboa in the eastern part of the same valley.

5When Saul saw the army of Philistia, he became so afraid that his heart pounded/shook.

6He prayed to Yahweh, but Yahweh did not answer him. Yahweh did not tell Saul what he should do by giving him a dream, or by having the priest throw the marked stones that were in his sacred vest, or by giving a message about Saul to any prophet.

7Then Saul said to his servants, “Find for me a woman who talks to the spirits of dead people, in order that I can ask her what will happen.” His servants replied, “There is a woman in Endor town who does that.”

8So Saul took off the clothes that showed that he was the king, and he put on ordinary clothes ◄to disguise himself/so that people would not recognize who he was►. Then he and two of his men went during the night to talk to that woman. Saul said to her, “I want you to talk to a spirit of someone who has died. Cause to appear the person whose name I will give to you.”

9But the woman replied, “You surely know what Saul has done. He expelled from this land all the people who talk to spirits of dead people and all fortune-tellers. I think that you are trying to trap me, in order that I will be executed for doing something that is not permitted.”

10Saul replied, solemnly asking Yahweh to listen to what he was saying, “Just as surely as Yahweh lives, you will not be punished for doing this.”

11Then the woman said, “Whom do you want me to cause to appear?” Saul replied, “Cause Samuel to appear.”

12So the woman did that. But when she saw Samuel, she screamed. She said, “You have tricked me [RHQ]! You are Saul! You will execute me for doing this!”

13Saul said to her, “Do not be afraid. What do you see?” The woman said, “I see a god/spirit coming up out of the ground.”

14Saul said, “What does he look like?” The woman replied, “An old man wearing a robe is appearing.” Then Saul knew that it was Samuel. So he bowed down with his face touching the ground.

15Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you bothered/disturbed me by causing me to appear?” Saul said, “I am very worried. The army of Philistia is about to attack my army, and God has abandoned me. He does not answer my questions any more. He does not give me dreams to tell me what to do or give messages to prophets to tell me what to do. That is the reason that I came to see you. So you tell me what I should do!”

16Samuel said, “Yahweh has abandoned you and has become your enemy. So why do you ask me what you should do? [RHQ]

17He has done what he told me previously that he would do to you. He has torn the kingdom away from you, and he is giving it to someone who is another Israeli—David.

18You did not obey Yahweh. Yahweh was very angry with the Amalek people-group. You did not kill all of their animals, with the result that you did not show that he was very angry with them. That is the reason that he has done this to you today.

19Yahweh will enable the Philistia army to defeat you and all the other Israeli soldiers. And tomorrow you and your sons will be with me in the place where spirits of dead people are. Yahweh will cause the whole Israeli army to be defeated by the Philistia army.” And after Samuel said that, he disappeared.

20Saul immediately fell flat on the ground. He was so afraid because of what Samuel had said that he became paralyzed. He was also very weak because he had not eaten anything all that day and night.

21The woman saw that he was extremely worried/terrified. She said to him, “Listen to me! I have done what you requested me to do. I could be executed for doing that.

22So now please pay attention to what I say. Allow me to give you some food, in order that you will eat it and get enough strength to go back to your army.”

23But Saul refused. He said, “No, I will not eat anything.” Then Saul’s servants also urged him to eat something, and finally he heeded what they said. He got up from the ground and sat on the bed.

24The woman had a fat calf close to her house. She quickly slaughtered it and cooked it. She took some flour and mixed it with olive oil, and baked it without putting in any yeast.

25She placed the food in front of Saul and his servants, and they ate some of it. Then that night they got up and left.