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.

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)

²⁷ “‘A man or woman who is a medium^(A) or spiritist among you must be put to death.^(B) You are to stone them;^(C) their blood will be on their own heads.’”

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.

28 In those days the Philistines gathered^(A) their forces to fight against Israel. Achish said to David, “You must understand that you and your men will accompany me in the army.”

² David said, “Then you will see for yourself what your servant can do.”

Achish replied, “Very well, I will make you my bodyguard^(B) for life.”

Saul and the Medium at Endor

³ Now Samuel was dead,^(C) and all Israel had mourned for him and buried him in his own town of Ramah.^(D) Saul had expelled^(E) the mediums and spiritists^(F) from the land.

⁴ The Philistines assembled and came and set up camp at Shunem,^(G) while Saul gathered all Israel and set up camp at Gilboa.^{(H) 5} When Saul saw the Philistine army, he was afraid; terror^(I) filled his heart. ⁶ He inquired^(J) of the Lord, but the Lord did not answer him by dreams^(K) or Urim^(L) or prophets.^{(M) 7} Saul then said to his attendants, “Find me a woman who is a medium,^(N) so I may go and inquire of her.”

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

⁸ So Saul disguised^(P) himself, putting on other clothes, and at night he and two men went to the woman. “Consult^(Q) 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^(R) the mediums and spiritists from the land. Why have you set a trap^(S) 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?^(T) 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.”^(U)

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

“An old man wearing a robe^(V) 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^(W) from me. He no longer answers^(X) me, either by prophets or by dreams.^(Y) 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^(Z) the kingdom out of your hands and given it to one of your neighbors—to David. ¹⁸ Because you did not obey^(AA) the Lord or carry out his fierce wrath^(AB) against the Amalekites,^(AC) 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^(AD) will be with me. The Lord will also give the army of Israel into the hands of the Philistines.”

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, ¹⁴ and did not inquire of the Lord. So the Lord put him to death and turned^(E) the kingdom^(F) over to David son of Jesse.

⁶ He sacrificed his children^(A) in the fire in the Valley of Ben Hinnom, practiced divination and witchcraft, sought omens, and consulted mediums^(B) and spiritists.^(C) He did much evil in the eyes of the Lord, arousing his anger.

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?

⁶ He sacrificed his own son^(A) in the fire, practiced divination,^(B) sought omens, and consulted mediums and spiritists.^(C) He did much evil in the eyes of the Lord, arousing^(D) his anger.