¹³ Saul died^(A) because he was unfaithful^(B) to the Lord; he did not keep^(C) the word of the Lord and even consulted a medium^(D) for guidance,

⁶ “‘I will set my face against anyone who turns to mediums and spiritists to prostitute themselves by following them, and I will cut them off from their people.^(A)

³¹ “‘Do not turn to mediums^(A) or seek out spiritists,^(B) for you will be defiled by them. I am the Lord your God.

The Darkness Turns to Light

¹⁹ When someone tells you to consult^(A) mediums and spiritists,^(B) who whisper and mutter,^(C) should not a people inquire^(D) of their God? Why consult the dead on behalf of the living?

¹⁰ Let no one be found among you who sacrifices their son or daughter in the fire,^(A) who practices divination^(B) or sorcery,^(C) interprets omens, engages in witchcraft,^{(D) 11} or casts spells,^(E) or who is a medium or spiritist^(F) or who consults the dead. ¹² Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord; because of these same detestable practices the Lord your God will drive out those nations before you.^{(G) 13} You must be blameless^(H) before the Lord your God.^(I)

The Prophet

¹⁴ The nations you will dispossess listen to those who practice sorcery or divination.^(J) But as for you, the Lord your God has not permitted you to do so.

⁷ Saul then said to his attendants, “Find me a woman who is a medium,^(A) so I may go and inquire of her.”

“There is one in Endor,^(B)” they said.

⁸ So Saul disguised^(C) himself, putting on other clothes, and at night he and two men went to the woman. “Consult^(D) 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^(E) the mediums and spiritists from the land. Why have you set a trap^(F) 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?^(G) 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.”^(H)

¹⁴ “What does he look like?” he asked.

“An old man wearing a robe^(I) 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^(J) from me. He no longer answers^(K) me, either by prophets or by dreams.^(L) 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? ¹⁷ The Lord has done what he predicted through me. The Lord has torn^(M) the kingdom out of your hands and given it to one of your neighbors—to David. ¹⁸ Because you did not obey^(N) the Lord or carry out his fierce wrath^(O) against the Amalekites,^(P) the Lord has done this to you today. ¹⁹ The Lord will deliver both Israel and you into the hands of the Philistines, and tomorrow you and your sons^(Q) will be with me. The Lord will also give the army of Israel into the hands of the Philistines.”

²⁰ Immediately Saul fell full length on the ground, filled with fear because of Samuel’s words. His strength was gone, for he had eaten nothing all that day and all that night.

² This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘I will punish the Amalekites^(A) for what they did to Israel when they waylaid them as they came up from Egypt.

¹⁸ “Do not allow a sorceress^(A) to live.