28:1 And it came to pass in those days, that the Philistines
collected their armies for warfare, to fight with Israel. And
Achish said to David, Know thou assuredly, that thou shalt go
out with me to battle, thou and thy men.
28:2 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 my head for ever.
28:3 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.
28:4 And the Philistines assembled, and came and encamped in
Shunem: and Saul collected all Israel, and they encamped in
Gilboa.
28:5 And when Saul saw the host of the Philistines, he was
afraid, and his heart greatly trembled.
28:6 And when Saul inquired of the LORD, the LORD answered him
not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets.
28:7 Then said Saul to his servants, seek me a woman that hath a
familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and inquire of her. And
his servants said to him, Behold, [there is] a woman that hath
a familiar spirit at En-dor.
28:8 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 to me by the familiar
spirit, and bring up for me whom I shall name to thee.
28:9 And the woman said to 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: Why then layest thou
a snare for my life, to cause me to die?
28:10 And Saul swore to her by the LORD, saying, [As] the LORD
liveth, there shall no punishment happen to thee for this
thing.
28:11 Then said the woman, whom shall I bring up to thee? And he
said, Bring me up Samuel.
28:12 And when the woman saw Samuel, she cried with a loud
voice: and the woman spoke to Saul, saying, Why hast thou
deceived me? for thou [art] Saul.
28:13 And the king said to her be not afraid: for what sawest
thou? And the woman said to Saul, I saw gods ascending out of
the earth.
28:14 And he said to her, What is his form? 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.
28:15 And Samuel said to Saul, Why hast thou disquieted me, to
bring me up? And Saul answered, I am grievously distressed; for
the Philistines make war against me, and God hath departed from
me, and answereth me no more, neither by prophets, nor by
dreams: therefore I have called thee, that thou mayest make
known to me what I shall do.
28:16 Then said Samuel, Why then dost thou ask of me, seeing the
LORD hath departed from thee, and hath become thy enemy?
28:17 And the LORD hath done to him, as he spoke by me: for the
LORD hath rent the kingdom out of thy hand, and given it to thy
neighbor, [even] to David:
28:18 Because thou didst not obey the voice of the LORD, nor
execute his fierce wrath upon Amalek, therefore hath the LORD
done this thing to thee this day.
28:19 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.
28:20 Then Saul fell immediately all along on the earth, and was
exceedingly 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.
28:21 And the woman came to Saul, and saw that he was greatly
troubled, and said to him, Behold, thy handmaid hath obeyed thy
voice, and I have put my life in my hand, and have hearkened to
thy words, which thou didst speak
28:22 Now therefore, I pray thee, hearken thou also to the voice
of thy handmaid, and let me set a morsel of bread before thee;
and eat, that thou mayest have strength, when thou goest on thy
way.
28:23 But he refused, and said, I will not eat. But his
servants, together with the woman, compelled him; and he
hearkened to their voice. So he arose from the earth, and sat
upon the bed.
28:24 And the woman had a fat calf in the house: and she hasted
and killed it, and took flour, and kneaded [it], and baked
unleavened bread of it.
28:25 And she brought [it] before Saul, and before his servants;
and they ate. Then they arose and went away that night.
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