1 Samuel 28
Christian Standard Bible Anglicised
Saul and the Medium
28 At that time, the Philistines(A) gathered their military units into one army to fight against Israel. So Achish said to David, ‘You know, of course, that you and your men must march out in the army[a] with me.’
2 David replied to Achish, ‘Good, you will find out what your servant can do.’
So Achish said to David, ‘Very well, I will appoint you as my permanent bodyguard.’(B)
3 By this time Samuel had died,(C) all Israel had mourned for him and buried him in Ramah, his city,(D) and Saul had removed the mediums and spiritists from the land.(E) 4 The Philistines gathered and camped at Shunem. So Saul gathered all Israel, and they camped at Gilboa. 5 When Saul saw the Philistine camp, he was afraid and his heart pounded. 6 He enquired of the Lord, but the Lord did not answer him in dreams or by the Urim or by the prophets.(F) 7 Saul then said to his servants, ‘Find me a woman who is a medium, so I can go and consult her.’
His servants replied, ‘There is a woman at En-dor(G) who is a medium.’(H)
8 Saul disguised himself(I) by putting on different clothes and set out with two of his men. They came to the woman at night, and Saul said, ‘Consult a spirit for me.(J) Bring up for me the one I tell you.’(K)
9 But the woman said to him, ‘You surely know what Saul has done,(L) how he has cut off the mediums and spiritists from the land. Why are you setting a trap for me to get me killed? ’
10 Then Saul swore to her by the Lord: ‘As surely as the Lord lives, no punishment will come to you[b] from this.’
11 ‘Who is it that you want me to bring up for you? ’ the woman asked.
‘Bring up Samuel for me,’ he answered.
12 When the woman saw Samuel, she screamed, and then she asked Saul, ‘Why did you deceive me? You are Saul! ’
13 But the king said to her, ‘Don’t be afraid. What do you see? ’
‘I see a spirit form[c] coming up out of the earth,’ the woman answered.
14 Then Saul asked her, ‘What does he look like? ’
‘An old man is coming up,’ she replied. ‘He’s wearing a robe.’(M) Then Saul knew that it was Samuel, and he knelt low with his face to the ground and paid homage.(N)
15 ‘Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up? ’ Samuel asked Saul.
‘I’m in serious trouble,’ replied Saul. ‘The Philistines are fighting against me and God has turned away from me.(O) He doesn’t answer me any more,(P) either through the prophets or in dreams. So I’ve called on you to tell me what I should do.’
16 Samuel answered, ‘Since the Lord has turned away from you and has become your enemy, why are you asking me? 17 The Lord has done[d] exactly what he said through me: The Lord has torn the kingship out of your hand and given it to your neighbour David.(Q) 18 You did not obey the Lord and did not carry out his burning anger against Amalek;(R) therefore the Lord has done this to you today. 19 The Lord will also hand Israel over to the Philistines along with you. Tomorrow you and your sons will be with me,[e](S) and the Lord will hand Israel’s army over to the Philistines.’
20 Immediately, Saul fell flat on the ground. He was terrified by Samuel’s words and was also weak because he had not eaten anything all day and all night. 21 The woman came over to Saul, and she saw that he was terrified and said to him, ‘Look, your servant has obeyed you. I took my life in my hands(T) and did what you told me to do. 22 Now please listen to your servant. Let me set some food in front of you. Eat and it will give you strength so you can go on your way.’
23 He refused, saying, ‘I won’t eat,’ but when his servants and the woman urged him, he listened to them.(U) He got up off the ground and sat on the bed.(V)
24 The woman had a fattened calf at her house, and she quickly slaughtered it.(W) She also took flour, kneaded it, and baked unleavened bread. 25 She served it to Saul and his servants, and they ate. Afterwards, they got up and left that night.
1 Samuel 28
King James Version
28 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.
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.
5 And when Saul saw the host of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart greatly trembled.
6 And when Saul enquired of the Lord, the Lord answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by 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.
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?
10 And Saul sware to her by the Lord, saying, As the Lord liveth, there shall no punishment happen to thee for this thing.
11 Then 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.
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.
15 And 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:
18 Because 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.
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.
1 Samuel 28
New King James Version
Saul Consults a Medium
28 Now (A)it happened in those days that the Philistines gathered their armies together for war, to fight with Israel. And Achish said to David, “You assuredly know that you will go out with me to battle, you and your men.”
2 So David said to Achish, “Surely you know what your servant can do.”
And Achish said to David, “Therefore I will make you one of my chief guardians forever.”
Saul Consults a Medium(B)
3 Now (C)Samuel had died, and all Israel had lamented for him and buried him in (D)Ramah, in his own city. And Saul had put (E)the mediums and the spiritists out of the land.
4 Then the Philistines gathered together, and came and encamped at (F)Shunem. So Saul gathered all Israel together, and they encamped at (G)Gilboa. 5 When Saul saw the army of the Philistines, he was (H)afraid, and his heart trembled greatly. 6 And when Saul inquired of the Lord, (I)the Lord did not answer him, either by (J)dreams or (K)by Urim or by the prophets.
7 Then Saul said to his servants, “Find me a woman who is a medium, (L)that I may go to her and inquire of her.”
And his servants said to him, “In fact, there is a woman who is a medium at En Dor.”
8 So Saul disguised himself and put on other clothes, and he went, and two men with him; and they came to the woman by night. And (M)he said, “Please conduct a séance for me, and bring up for me the one I shall name to you.”
9 Then the woman said to him, “Look, you know what Saul has done, how he has (N)cut off the mediums and the spiritists from the land. Why then do you lay a snare for my life, to cause me to die?”
10 And Saul swore to her by the Lord, saying, “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?”
And he said, “Bring up Samuel for me.”
12 When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out with a loud voice. And the woman spoke to Saul, saying, “Why have you deceived me? For you are Saul!”
13 And the king said to her, “Do not be afraid. What did you see?”
And the woman said to Saul, “I saw (O)a[a] spirit ascending out of the earth.”
14 So he said to her, “What is his form?”
And she said, “An old man is coming up, and he is covered with (P)a mantle.” And Saul perceived that it was Samuel, and he stooped with his face to the ground and bowed down.
15 Now Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you (Q)disturbed me by bringing me up?”
And Saul answered, “I am deeply distressed; for the Philistines make war against me, and (R)God has departed from me and (S)does not answer me anymore, neither by prophets nor by dreams. Therefore I have called you, that you may reveal to me what I should do.”
16 Then Samuel said: “So why do you ask me, seeing the Lord has departed from you and has become your enemy? 17 And the Lord has done for [b]Himself (T)as He spoke by me. For the Lord has torn the kingdom out of your hand and given it to your neighbor, David. 18 (U)Because you did not obey the voice of the Lord nor execute His fierce wrath upon (V)Amalek, therefore the Lord has done this thing to you this day. 19 Moreover the Lord will also deliver Israel with you into the hand of the Philistines. And tomorrow you and your sons will be with (W)me. The Lord will also deliver the army of Israel into the hand of the Philistines.”
20 Immediately Saul fell full length on the ground, and was dreadfully afraid because of the words of Samuel. And there was no strength in him, for he had eaten no food all day or all night.
21 And the woman came to Saul and saw that he was severely troubled, and said to him, “Look, your maidservant has obeyed your voice, and I have (X)put my life in my hands and heeded the words which you spoke to me. 22 Now therefore, please, heed also the voice of your maidservant, and let me set a piece of bread before you; and eat, that you may have strength when you go on your way.”
23 But he refused and said, “I will not eat.”
So his servants, together with the woman, urged him; and he heeded their voice. Then he arose from the ground and sat on the bed. 24 Now the woman had a fatted calf in the house, and she hastened to kill it. And she took flour and kneaded it, and baked unleavened bread from it. 25 So she brought it before Saul and his servants, and they ate. Then they rose and went away that night.
Footnotes
- 1 Samuel 28:13 Heb. elohim
- 1 Samuel 28:17 Or him, i.e., David
Copyright © 2024 by Holman Bible Publishers.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
