³¹ “Do not turn to mediums^[a](A) or consult spiritists,^[b](B) or you will be defiled by them; I am the Lord your God.

²⁷ “A man or a woman who is^[a] a medium or a spiritist must be put to death. They are to be stoned; their death is their own fault.”

¹¹ cast spells, consult a medium or a spiritist, or inquire of the dead.^(A)

³ By this time Samuel had died,^(A) all Israel had mourned for him and buried him in Ramah, his city,^(B) and Saul had removed the mediums and spiritists from the land.^(C)

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^(A) who is a medium.”^(B)

⁸ Saul disguised himself^(C) 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.^(D) Bring up for me the one I tell you.”^(E)

⁹ But the woman said to him, “You surely know what Saul has done,^(F) how he has cut off the mediums and spiritists from the land. Why are you setting a trap for me to get me killed?”

⁶ He sacrificed his son in the fire,^[a](A) practiced witchcraft and divination, and consulted mediums and spiritists.^(B) He did a huge amount of evil in the Lord’s sight, angering him.^(C)

Further Zeal for the Lord

²⁴ In addition, Josiah eradicated the mediums, the spiritists,^(A) household idols,^(B) images, and all the abhorrent things^(C) that were seen in the land of Judah and in Jerusalem. He did this in order to carry out the words of the law that were written in the book that the priest Hilkiah found in the Lord’s temple.^(D)

¹³ Saul died for his unfaithfulness to the Lord because he did not keep the Lord’s word.^(A) He even consulted a medium for guidance,^(B)

⁶ He passed his sons through the fire in Ben Hinnom Valley.^(A) He practiced witchcraft, divination, and sorcery, and consulted mediums and spiritists.^(B) He did a huge amount of evil in the Lord’s sight, angering him.