¹ ⌞Now⌟¹ in those days the Philistines gathered their forces for war to fight against Israel. So Achish said to David, “Certainly you realize that you must go out with me in the army, you and your men.”

1. Literally “And it happened”

² David said to Achish, “Very well, you will know what your servant can do.” Achish said to David, “Very well, I will make you ⌞my bodyguard⌟¹ for life.”

1. Literally “the keeper of my head”

Saul Inquires of the Medium at Endor

³ (Now Samuel had died, and all Israel had mourned for him, and they had buried him in Ramah, his own city. And Saul had expelled the mediums¹ and the soothsayers from the land.)

1. Or “necromancers”

⁴ Then the Philistines assembled and came and encamped at Shunem, so Saul assembled all Israel, and they encamped at Gilboa.

⁵ When Saul saw the army of the Philistines, he was afraid and his heart trembled greatly.

⁶ And Saul inquired of Yahweh, but Yahweh did not answer him, not by dreams or by the Urim¹ or by the prophets.

1. A device for revealing God’s decisions; see Exod 28:30; Num 27:21; Neh 7:65; Prov 16:33

⁷ So Saul said to his servants, “Search for me ⌞a woman who is a medium⌟¹ so that I may go to her and inquire of her.” His servants said to him, “Look there is a woman who is a medium in Endor.”

1. Literally “a woman of an owner of a spirit of the dead” (= “a woman who owns a ritual pit for summoning spirits of the dead”)

⁸ So Saul disguised himself and put on other clothes, and he went ⌞with two of his men⌟.¹ And they came to the woman by night and he said, “Please consult a spirit for me through ⌞the ritual pit⌟,² and bring up for me the one whom I tell you.”

1. Literally “and two of his men with him”
2. Literally “the spirit of the dead”

⁹ But the woman said to him, “Look, you know what Saul did, how he exterminated the mediums¹ and the soothsayers from the land! Why are you setting a trap for my life to kill me?”

1. Or “necromancers”

¹⁰ Then Saul swore to her by Yahweh, “⌞As Yahweh lives⌟,¹ ⌞you will not be punished⌟² for this thing.”

1. Literally “The life of Yahweh”
2. Literally “guilt will not meet you”

¹¹ So the woman asked, “Whom shall I bring up for you?” He said, “Bring up Samuel for me.”

¹² When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out with a loud voice, and the woman said to Saul, “Why did you deceive me? You are Saul!”

¹³ The king said to her, “Do not be afraid! What do you see?” And the woman said to Saul, “I see a god¹ coming up from the ground!”

1. Or “a divine being”

¹⁴ Then he said to her, “What is his appearance?” She said, “An old man is coming up, and ⌞he is wrapped in a robe⌟.”¹ Then Saul realized that it was Samuel, and he knelt with his face to the ground and bowed down.

1. Literally “he is wrapping himself with a robe”

¹⁵ Then Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?” And Saul said, “⌞I am in distress⌟!¹ For the Philistines are about to make war against me, but God has turned away from me, and he does not answer me any more, not ⌞by the prophets⌟² or by the dreams. So I called to you to let me know what I should do.”

1. Literally “Great distress is for me”
2. Literally “by the hand of the prophets”

¹⁶ Then Samuel said, “Why do you ask me, since Yahweh has turned away from you and has become your enemy?

¹⁷ Yahweh has done to you just as he spoke by my hand! Yahweh has torn the kingdom from your hand and has given it to your neighbor, to David.

¹⁸ Because you ⌞did not obey⌟¹ Yahweh and did not carry out the fierce anger of his ⌞wrath⌟² against Amalek, therefore Yahweh has done this thing to you today.

1. Literally “did not listen to”
2. Literally “face”

¹⁹ And Yahweh will also give Israel with you into the hands of the Philistines, and tomorrow you and your sons will be with me, and Yahweh will also give the army of Israel into the hand of the Philistines.”

²⁰ ⌞Then Saul immediately fell prostrate⌟¹ to the ground, and he was very afraid because of the words of Samuel; there was no more strength in him, for he had not eaten food all day and all night.

1. Literally “Saul did at once and fell with the fullness of his height”

²¹ Then the woman came to Saul and realized that he was absolutely¹ terrified, so she said to him, “Look, your female servant ⌞has obeyed you⌟,² and I have ⌞risked my life⌟.³ I have listened to your words that you have spoken to me.

1. Hebrew “very”
2. Literally “has listened to your voice”
3. Literally “I have put my life in my palm”

²² So then, you also please listen to the voice of your female servant, and let me set before you a morsel of bread, and you eat so that ⌞you will have strength⌟¹ in you when you go on your² way.”

1. Literally “it will be your strength”
2. Hebrew “the”

²³ But he refused and said, “I will not eat!” However, his servants urged him, and the woman also. So he listened ⌞to what they said⌟,¹ and he got up from the ground and sat on the bed.

1. Literally “their voice”

²⁴ Now the woman had a fattened bull calf in the house, ⌞so she quickly slaughtered it⌟¹ and took flour, kneaded dough, and baked him some unleavened bread.

1. Literally “and she did quickly and she slaughtered it”

²⁵ She brought it before Saul and his servants, and they ate. Then they got up and went away that very night.