Dual Panel1AT that time the Philistines mustered their army for an attack on Israel, and Achish said to David, “You know that you and your men must take the field with me.”
2David answered, “Good, you will learn what your servant can do.” Achish said, “I will make you my bodyguard for life.”
3By this time Samuel was dead, and all Israel had mourned for him and buried him in Ramah, his own town; and Saul had banished from the land all who trafficked with ghosts and spirits.
4The Philistines mustered and encamped at Shunem, and Saul mustered all the Israelites and encamped at Gilboa.
5At the sight of the Philistine forces, Saul was afraid, indeed struck to the heart by terror.
6He enquired of the LORD, but the LORD did not answer him, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets.
7So he said to his servants, “Find a woman who has a familiar spirit, and I will go and enquire through her.” They told him that there was such a woman at En-dor.
8Saul put on different clothes and went in disguise with two of his men. He came to the woman by night and said, “Tell me my fortune by consulting the dead, and call up the man I name to you.”
9The woman answered, “Surely you know what Saul has done, how he has made away with those who call up ghosts and spirits; why do you press me to do what will lead to my death?”
10Saul swore her an oath: “As the LORD lives, no harm shall come to you for this.”
11The woman asked whom she should call up, and Saul answered, “Samuel.”
12When the woman saw Samuel appear, she shrieked and said to Saul, “Why have you deceived me? You are Saul!”
13The king said to her, “Do not be afraid. What do you see?” The woman answered, “I see a ghostly form coming up from the earth.”
14“What is it like?” he asked; she answered, “Like an old man coming up, wrapped in a cloak.” Then Saul knew it was Samuel, and he bowed low with his face to the ground, and prostrated himself.
15Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me and raised me?” Saul answered, “I am in great trouble; the Philistines are waging war against me, and God has turned away; he no longer answers me through prophets or through dreams, and I have summoned you to tell me what I should do.”
16Samuel said, “Why do you ask me, now that the LORD has turned from you and become your adversary?
17He has done what he foretold through me. He has wrested the kingdom from your hand and given it to another, to David.
18You have not obeyed the LORD, or executed the judgement of his fierce anger against the Amalekites; that is why he has done this to you today.
19For the same reason the LORD will let your people Israel fall along with you into the hands of the Philistines. What is more, tomorrow you and your sons will be with me. I tell you again: the LORD will give the Israelite army into the power of the Philistines.”
20Saul was overcome, and terrified by Samuel's words he fell full length to the ground. He had no strength left, for he had eaten nothing all day and all night.
21The woman went to Saul and, seeing how deeply shaken he was, she said, “I listened to what you said and I risked my life to obey you.
22Now listen to me: let me set before you a little food to give you strength for your journey.”
23He refused to eat anything, but when his servants joined the woman in pressing him, he yielded, rose from the ground, and sat on the couch.
24The woman had a fattened calf at home, which she quickly slaughtered; she also took some meal, kneaded it, and baked unleavened loaves.
25She set the food before Saul and his servants, and when they had eaten they set off that same night.