THE FIRST BOOK OF
SAMUEL,
1 Samuel 28 ©
Achish, intending to march forth against Israel, relies on David, v. 1, etc. Samuel was dead and buried, and Saul had destroyed the wizards and conjurers, 3. But now being afraid of the Philistines, and forsaken of God, he goes to a witch for counsel, 5. Who, being assured of Saul she would not be punished for it, causes a Samuel to come up, 9. Of whom Saul having understood his approaching destruction, faints, 16. By the advice and service of the witch and his own servants, he is cheered and revived with meat, 21.
AND it came to pass in those days, that the Philistines gathered their 1armies together for warfare, to fight with Israel. And Achish said unto David, 2Know thou assuredly, that thou shalt go out with me to battle, thou and thy men.
And David said to Achish, 3Surely thou shalt know what thy servant can do. And Achish said to David, 4Therefore will I make thee keeper of mine head for ever.
¶Nowa5Samuel was dead, and all Israel had lamented him, and buried him in Ramah, even in 6his own city. And Saul had put away those that had 7familiar spirits, and 8the wizards, 9out of the land.
And the Philistines gathered themselves together, and came and pitched in 10Shunem: and Saul gathered all Israel together, and they pitched in 11Gilboa.
And when Saul saw the host of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart greatly trembled.
And when Saul 12enquired of the LORD, the LORD answered him not, 13neither by 14dreams, nor 15by Urim, nor 16by prophets.
¶Then said Saul unto his servants, Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit,b 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 17En-dor.
And Saul 18disguised 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, 19divine unto me by the familiar spirit, and bring me him up, whom I shall name unto thee.
And the woman said unto him, Behold, 20thou 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, 21to cause me to die?
And Saul sware to her by the LORD, saying, As the LORD liveth, 22there shall no 23punishment happen to thee for this thing.
Then said the woman, Whom shall I bring up unto thee? And he said, Bring me up Samuel.
And when the woman saw 24Samuel, she 25cried with a loud voice: and the woman spake to Saul, saying, Why hast thou deceived me? for thou art Saul.
And the king said unto her, 26Be not afraid: for 27what sawest thou? And the woman said unto Saul, I saw 28gods ascending out of the earth.
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. 29And Saul perceived that it was Samuel, and he 30stooped with his face to the ground, and bowed himself.
¶And 31Samuel said to Saul, 32Why hast thou disquieted me, to bring me up? And Saul answered, 33I am sore distressed; for the Philistines make war against me, and God is departed from me, and answereth me no more, 34neither by prophets, nor by dreams: therefore I have called thee, that thou mayest make known unto me what I shall do.
Then said Samuel, Wherefore then dost thou ask of me, seeing the LORD is departed from thee, and is become thine enemy?
And the LORD hath done to 35him, as he spake 36by me: for the LORD hath rent the kingdom out of thine hand, and given it to thy neighbour, even to David:
Because thou obeyedst not the voice of the LORD, nor 37executedst his fierce wrath upon Amalek, therefore hath the LORD done this thing unto thee 38this day.
39Moreover the LORD will also deliver 40Israel with thee into the hand of the Philistines: and to morrow shalt thou and thy sons be 41with me: the LORD also shall deliver the host of Israel into the hand of the Philistines.
Then Saul 42fell straightway 43all 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 44no bread all the day, nor all the night.
¶And the woman came unto Saul, and saw that he was sore troubled, and said unto him, Behold, 45thine handmaid hath obeyed thy voice, and I have put my life in my 46hand, and have hearkened unto thy words which thou spakest unto me.
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.
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.
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:
And she brought it before Saul, and before his servants; and they did eat. Then they rose up, and went away that night.