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1 Samuel 28:3-16
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
1 Samuel 28:3-16
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Saul Consults a Medium
3 Now Samuel had died, and all Israel had mourned for him and buried him in Ramah, his own city. Saul had expelled the mediums and the wizards from the land.(A) 4 The Philistines assembled and came and encamped at Shunem. Saul gathered all Israel, and they encamped at Gilboa.(B) 5 When Saul saw the army of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart trembled greatly. 6 When Saul inquired of the Lord, the Lord did not answer him, not by dreams or by Urim or by prophets.(C) 7 Then Saul said to his servants, “Seek out for me a woman who is a medium, so that I may go to her and inquire of her.” His servants said to him, “There is a medium at Endor.”(D)
8 So Saul disguised himself and put on other clothes and went there, he and two men with him. They came to the woman by night. And he said, “Consult a spirit for me, and bring up for me the one whom I name to you.”(E) 9 The woman said to him, “Surely you know what Saul has done, how he has cut off the mediums and the wizards from the land. Why then are you laying a snare for my life to bring about my death?”(F) 10 But Saul swore to her by the Lord, “As the Lord lives, no punishment shall come upon you for this thing.” 11 Then the woman said, “Whom shall I bring up for you?” He answered, “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 have you deceived me? You are Saul!” 13 The king said to her, “Have no fear; what do you see?” The woman said to Saul, “I see a divine being[a] coming up out of the ground.” 14 He said to her, “What is his appearance?” She said, “An old man is coming up; he is wrapped in a robe.” So Saul knew that it was Samuel, and he bowed with his face to the ground and did obeisance.(G)
15 Then Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?” Saul answered, “I am in great distress, for the Philistines are warring against me, and God has turned away from me and answers me no more, either by prophets or by dreams, so I have summoned you to tell me what I should do.”(H) 16 Samuel said, “Why then do you ask me, since the Lord has turned from you and become your enemy?
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 28.13 Or a god or gods
1 Samuel 28:3-16
New International Version
1 Samuel 28:3-16
New International Version
Saul and the Medium at Endor
3 Now Samuel was dead,(A) and all Israel had mourned for him and buried him in his own town of Ramah.(B) Saul had expelled(C) the mediums and spiritists(D) from the land.
4 The Philistines assembled and came and set up camp at Shunem,(E) while Saul gathered all Israel and set up camp at Gilboa.(F) 5 When Saul saw the Philistine army, he was afraid; terror(G) filled his heart. 6 He inquired(H) of the Lord, but the Lord did not answer him by dreams(I) or Urim(J) or prophets.(K) 7 Saul then said to his attendants, “Find me a woman who is a medium,(L) so I may go and inquire of her.”
“There is one in Endor,(M)” they said.
8 So Saul disguised(N) himself, putting on other clothes, and at night he and two men went to the woman. “Consult(O) a spirit for me,” he said, “and bring up for me the one I name.”
9 But the woman said to him, “Surely you know what Saul has done. He has cut off(P) the mediums and spiritists from the land. Why have you set a trap(Q) for my life to bring about my death?”
10 Saul swore to her by the Lord, “As surely as the Lord lives, you will not be punished for this.”
11 Then the woman asked, “Whom shall I bring up for you?”
“Bring up Samuel,” he said.
12 When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out at the top of her voice and said to Saul, “Why have you deceived me?(R) You are Saul!”
13 The king said to her, “Don’t be afraid. What do you see?”
The woman said, “I see a ghostly figure[a] coming up out of the earth.”(S)
14 “What does he look like?” he asked.
“An old man wearing a robe(T) is coming up,” she said.
Then Saul knew it was Samuel, and he bowed down and prostrated himself with his face to the ground.
15 Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?”
“I am in great distress,” Saul said. “The Philistines are fighting against me, and God has departed(U) from me. He no longer answers(V) me, either by prophets or by dreams.(W) So I have called on you to tell me what to do.”
16 Samuel said, “Why do you consult me, now that the Lord has departed from you and become your enemy?
Footnotes
- 1 Samuel 28:13 Or see spirits; or see gods
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition (NRSVUE)
New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
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