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¹AND it came to pass in those days, the Philistines gathered their armies together in the valley for war to fight with Israel. And Achish said to David, Know assuredly that you will go out with me to the host, you and your men. ²And David said to Achish, Surely you will know what your servant can do. And Achish said to David, Therefore I will make you my bodyguard forever. ³Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel had mourned over him and buried him in Ramtha in his own sepulcher. And Saul had put away the diviners and the wizards out of the land. ⁴And the Philistines gathered themselves together, and came and encamped in Shechem; and Saul gathered all Israel together, and they encamped in Gilgal. ⁵And when Saul saw the army of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart greatly trembled. ⁶And when Saul inquired of Yahvah, he did not answer him, not by dreams nor by fire nor by prophets.

⁷Then Saul said to his servants, Seek me a woman who has a familiar spirit, that I may go to her and inquire of her. And his servants said to him, Look, there is a woman who has a familiar spirit at Endor. ⁸And Saul disguised himself and put on other raiment, and he went and 2 men with him, and they came to the woman by night; and Saul said to her, Divine for me by the familiar spirit, and bring up for me him whom I will tell you. ⁹And the woman said to him, Look, you know what Saul has done, how he has removed those who have familiar spirits and the wizards out of the land. Why then are you laying a snare for my life to cause me to be put to death? ¹⁰And Saul swore to her by Yahvah, saying, As Yahvah lives, no harm will come on you for this thing. ¹¹Then the woman said, Who will I bring up to you? And he said, Bring up Samuel. ¹²And when the woman saw Samuel, she cried out with a loud voice; and she said to Saul, Why have you deceived me? For you are Saul. ¹³And the king said to her, Do not fear; what do you see? And the woman said to Saul, I saw gods ascending out of the earth. ¹⁴And he said to her, What is their appearance? And she said to him, An old man is coming up; and he is covered with a mantle. And Saul perceived that it was Samuel, and he bowed with his face to the ground and gave homage.

¹⁵And Samuel said to Saul, Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up? And Saul answered, I am severely distressed; for the Philistines are making war against me, and God has departed from me, and does not answer me anymore although I have inquired by the prophets and also by dreams; therefore I have called you, that you may tell me what I will do. ¹⁶Then Samuel said to Saul, Why do you ask of me, seeing Yahvah has departed from you, and now he is with your neighbor David? ¹⁷And Yahvah has done to him, as he spoke by me; for he has split apart the kingdom out of your hand and given it to your neighbor David; ¹⁸Because you did not obey the voice of Yahvah and did not execute his fierce wrath on Amalek, therefore Yahvah has done this thing to you this day. ¹⁹Moreover Yahvah will also deliver Israel with you into the hand of the Philistines; and tomorrow you and your sons will be with me; Yahvah will also deliver the army of Israel into the hand of the Philistines.

²⁰Then Saul immediately fell on his face to the ground, and was exceedingly afraid because of the words of Samuel; and there was no strength in him; for he had eaten no bread all that day, nor all that night. ²¹And the woman came to Saul, and saw that he was exceedingly afraid, and said to him, Look, your servant has obeyed your voice, and I have put my life in your hand, and have listened to the words which you spoke to me. ²²Now therefore, also listen to the voice of your servant, and let me set a morsel of bread before you; and eat, that you may have strength, because you are going on a journey. ²³But he refused, and said, I will not eat. But his servants, together with the woman, begged him; and he listened to their voice. So he arose from the ground and sat on the bed. ²⁴Now the woman had a fatted calf in the house; and she made haste and killed it, and took flour and kneaded it and baked unleavened bread; ²⁵And she brought it before Saul and before his servants; and they ate. Then they rose up and went away that night.