0 SAB 1 Samuel 28

1 Samuel

CHAPTER 28

Saul visits a woman from Endor
28:1-10

1 And it came to pass in those days, that the Philistines gathered their armies together for warfare, to fight with Israel. And Achish said unto David, Know thou assuredly, that thou shalt go out with me to battle, thou and thy men.

2 And David said to Achish, Surely thou shalt know what thy servant can do. And Achish said to David, Therefore will I make thee keeper of mine head for ever.

As the Philistines gathered their armies for war, King Achish asked David,

Are you ready to fight with me against the Israelites?

David said,

Sure. You know how good I am at that.

King Achish said,

Great! You'll be my protector forever.

3 Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel had lamented him, and buried him in Ramah, even in his own city. And Saul had put away those that had familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land.

4 And the Philistines gathered themselves together, and came and pitched in Shunem: and Saul gathered all Israel together, and they pitched in Gilboa.

Samuel had died, and Saul had expelled all of the wizards and people with familiar spirits.

So when he saw that the Philistines were preparing for war, he had no one to do his fortune telling for him.

5 And when Saul saw the host of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart greatly trembled.

6And when Saul enquired of the LORD, the LORD answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets.

He tried asking God. [1]

But God wouldn't answer him. Not with dreams, the urim, or with prophets.

7 Then said Saul unto his servants, Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and enquire of her. And his servants said to him, Behold, there is a woman that hath a familiar spirit at Endor.

8 And Saul disguised himself, and put on other raiment, and he went, and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night: and he said, I pray thee, divine unto me by the familiar spirit, and bring me him up, whom I shall name unto thee.

Saul said to his servants,

Find me a woman with a familiar spirit.

His servants said,

There's a woman with a familiar spirit at Endor.

So Saul disguised himself somehow and went to find the woman.

When he found her, he said,

Bring me a dead person back to life.

9 And the woman said unto him, Behold, thou knowest what Saul hath done, how he hath cut off those that have familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land: wherefore then layest thou a snare for my life, to cause me to die?

The woman said,

Saul has cut off people with familiar spirits.

Are you trying to get me killed?

 

10 And Saul sware to her by the LORD, saying, As the LORD liveth, there shall no punishment happen to thee for this thing.

Saul said,

I swear to God that you'll be safe.
Samuel rises from the dead to give Saul the bad news
28:11-25

11Then said the woman, Whom shall I bring up unto thee? And he said, Bring me up Samuel.

12 And when the woman saw Samuel, she cried with a loud voice: and the woman spake to Saul, saying, Why hast thou deceived me? for thou art Saul.

She asked, "Who do you want me to bring back to life?"

Saul said, "Samuel."

When the woman saw Samuel, she knew who Saul was. She said, "Why did you deceive me?"

13 And the king said unto her, Be not afraid: for what sawest thou? And the woman said unto Saul, I saw gods ascending out of the earth.

14 And he said unto her, What form is he of? And she said, An old man cometh up; and he is covered with a mantle. And Saul perceived that it was Samuel, and he stooped with his face to the ground, and bowed himself.

Saul said, "Don't be afraid. What did you see?"

She said,

I saw gods coming out of the earth. [2]

Among them is an old man covered with a mantle.

Saul figured that had to be Samuel. [3]

So he bowed his face to the ground.

15And Samuel said to Saul, Why hast thou disquieted me, to bring me up? And Saul answered, I am sore distressed; for the Philistines make war against me, and God is departed from me, and answereth me no more, neither by prophets, nor by dreams: therefore I have called thee, that thou mayest make known unto me what I shall do.

16 Then said Samuel, Wherefore then dost thou ask of me, seeing the LORD is departed from thee, and is become thine enemy?

17 And the LORD hath done to him, as he spake by me: for the LORD hath rent the kingdom out of thine hand, and given it to thy neighbour, even to David:

18Because thou obeyedst not the voice of the LORD, nor executedst his fierce wrath upon Amalek, therefore hath the LORD done this thing unto thee this day.

19 Moreover the LORD will also deliver Israel with thee into the hand of the Philistines: and to morrow shalt thou and thy sons be with me: the LORD also shall deliver the host of Israel into the hand of the Philistines.

Samuel said,

Why did you bring me up?

Saul explained,

Well, the Philistines are attacking, and God won't talk to me. Not even by prophets or dreams. So I called you up to tell me what to do.

Samuel said,

So why talk to me about it?

God has left you and is now your enemy.

He has taken your kingdom away and given it to David, since you were unwilling to commit complete genocide as God commanded.

God will deliver Israel into the hand of the Philistines, and tomorrow you and your sons will be with me (dead). [4]

20 Then Saul fell straightway all along on the earth, and was sore afraid, because of the words of Samuel: and there was no strength in him; for he had eaten no bread all the day, nor all the night.

21 And the woman came unto Saul, and saw that he was sore troubled, and said unto him, Behold, thine handmaid hath obeyed thy voice, and I have put my life in my hand, and have hearkened unto thy words which thou spakest unto me.

22 Now therefore, I pray thee, hearken thou also unto the voice of thine handmaid, and let me set a morsel of bread before thee; and eat, that thou mayest have strength, when thou goest on thy way.

23 But he refused, and said, I will not eat. But his servants, together with the woman, compelled him; and he hearkened unto their voice. So he arose from the earth, and sat upon the bed.

24 And the woman had a fat calf in the house; and she hasted, and killed it, and took flour, and kneaded it, and did bake unleavened bread thereof:

25 And she brought it before Saul, and before his servants; and they did eat. Then they rose up, and went away that night.

After Saul heard the words of the undead Samuel, he fell to the ground, eating nothing for a day and a night.

Finally, after much coaxing, the woman of Endor killed a calf and fed it to Saul.

Then Saul and his servants were on their way.

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