¹In those days , the Philistines gathered their armies together for warfare , to fight with Israel . Achish said to David , “Know assuredly that you will go out with me in the army , you and your men .”

²David said to Achish, “Therefore you will know what your servant can do .”

Achish said to David , “Therefore I will make you my bodyguard forever .”

³Now Samuel was dead , and all Israel had mourned for him and buried him in Ramah , even in his own city . Saul had sent away those who had familiar spirits and the wizards out of the land.

⁴The Philistines gathered themselves together , and came and encamped in Shunem ; and Saul gathered all Israel together , and they encamped in Gilboa .

⁵When Saul saw the army of the Philistines , he was afraid , and his heart trembled greatly .

⁶When Saul enquired of the LORD , the LORD didn’t answer him by dreams , by Urim, or by prophets .

⁷Then Saul said to his servants , “Seek for me a woman who has a familiar spirit, that I may go to her and enquire of her .”

His servants said to him , “Behold , there is a woman who has a familiar spirit at Endor .”

⁸Saul disguised himself and put on other clothing , and went , he and two men with him , and they came to the woman by night . Then he said, “Please consult for me by the familiar spirit, and bring me up whomever I shall name to you .”

⁹The woman said to him , “Behold , you know what Saul has done , how he has cut off those who have familiar spirits and the wizards out of the land. Why then do you lay a snare for my life , to cause me to die ?”

¹⁰Saul swore to her by the LORD , saying , “As the LORD lives , no punishment will happen to you for this thing .”

¹¹Then the woman said, “Whom shall I bring up to you ?”

He said, “Bring Samuel up for me .”

¹²When the woman saw Samuel , she cried with a loud voice ; and the woman spoke to Saul , saying , “Why have you deceived me ? For you are Saul !”

¹³The king said to her , “Don’t be afraid ! What do you see ?”

The woman said to Saul , “I see a god coming up out of the earth .”

¹⁴He said to her , “What does he look like ?”

She said, “An old man comes up . He is covered with a robe .” Saul perceived that it was Samuel , and he bowed with his face to the ground, and showed respect .

¹⁵Samuel said to Saul , “Why have you disturbed me , to bring me up ?”

Saul answered , “I am very distressed ; for the Philistines make war against me , and God has departed from me , and answers me no more , by prophets , or by dreams . Therefore I have called you , that you may make known to me what I shall do .”

¹⁶Samuel said, “Why then do you ask me , since the LORD has departed from you and has become your adversary ?

¹⁷The LORD has done to you as he spoke by me . The LORD has torn the kingdom out of your hand and given it to your neighbour , even to David .

¹⁸Because you didn’t obey the LORD ’s voice , and didn’t execute his fierce wrath on Amalek , therefore the LORD has done this thing to you today .

¹⁹Moreover the LORD will deliver Israel also with you into the hand of the Philistines ; and tomorrow you and your sons will be with me . The LORD will deliver the army of Israel also into the hand of the Philistines .”

²⁰Then Saul fell immediately his full length on the earth, and was terrified , because of Samuel ’s words . There was no strength in him , for he had eaten no bread all day long or all night long .

²¹The woman came to Saul and saw that he was very troubled , and said to him , “Behold , your servant has listened to your voice , and I have put my life in my hand , and have listened to your words which you spoke to me .

²²Now therefore , please listen also to the voice of your servant , and let me set a morsel of bread before you . Eat , that you may have strength when you go on your way .”

²³But he refused , and said , “I will not eat.” But his servants , together with the woman, constrained him ; and he listened to their voice . So he arose from the earth and sat on the bed .

²⁴The woman had a fattened calf in the house . She hurried and killed it ; and she took flour and kneaded it , and baked unleavened bread of it .

²⁵She brought it before Saul and before his servants , and they ate. Then they rose up and went away that night .