David, the Philistine ally
1Philistines started preparing for war with Israel. King Achish told David, “I’m counting on you and your men to go with us. You know that don’t you?”2David said, “Yes, and that’s not a problem. Now you’ll get to see for yourself what we can do in a fight.” [1] The king said, “Looking forward to it. So much so that I’m making you my bodyguard for the rest of your life, or mine.”
A medium connects Saul to dead Samuel
3By this time, Samuel was dead. People had mourned him and buried him in his hometown of Ramah. Saul made it illegal to try talking with the dead. He deported mediums and sorcerers.4Philistines marched their armies north and camped at the valley town of Shunem. [2] Saul marched his army up into the Gilboa Mountains. [3] 5When Saul looked down at the massive Philistine army below, he trembled—terrified.
6Saul asked the LORD about the coming battle, but the LORD said nothing. Not in dreams. Not from prophets. And not from the priest’s tools called Lights and Perfection. [4]
7Saul gave some of his servants a secret mission: “Find a woman who works as a medium. I have a question I’d like to ask her. Then, I’ll go see her myself.” The servants told him, “We’ve found one at Endor.” [5] 8Saul disguised himself by changing clothes, and he went to Endor under the cover of night. He took two men with him. Saul told the woman, “I need you to call up someone whose name I’ll give you.”
9The woman said, “Come on, you know what Saul did. He made it illegal to consult the dead or to do magic. So why are you trying to trap me and get me killed?” 10Saul swore to God, “As sure as the LORD lives, this isn’t a trap. No one’s going to punish you.”
11The woman said, “Well then, who do you want? Saul said, “Bring me Samuel.”
The medium when she sees dead Samuel
12When Samuel appeared, the woman screamed. She told the king, “You’re Saul! Why did you trick me?”13Saul said, “Don’t be afraid. What do you see?” The woman said, “I see a god [6] rising up from the ground.” 14Saul said, “What’s he look like?” She said, “Old. He’s coming up and he’s wearing a robe.” Saul knew this was Samuel, so he bowed his face low to the ground.
15Samuel asked Saul, “What are you doing here, disturbing me like this?” Saul said, “I’m worried. Philistines have come to fight, and I don’t know what to do. The LORD isn’t talking to me. Not through my dreams or the prophets. What should I do?” 16Samuel said, “How should I know? The LORD isn’t on your side anymore. He’s your enemy now. 17The LORD is doing what I told you he would do. He is ripping the kingdom out of your grip and giving it to your neighbor, David. 18He’s doing this because you didn’t finish the job he gave you when you fought the Amalekites. [7] It’s starting to happen now. 19The LORD is giving you to the Philistines, along with your army and your kingdom. And tomorrow, you and your sons will join me here. I’ll see you later.”
Saul drops face-down
20Saul dropped flat and face-down in the dirt, terrified by Samuel’s words and exhausted because he hadn’t eaten all day.21The woman saw that the king was terrified. She went over to him and said, “I’m your servant and I listened to you. Then I risked my life to do what you asked. 22Now, there’s something I’d like you to do. Let me give you some bread. You need to eat something so you’ll have the energy to go back.”
23Saul said, “No. I won’t eat.” But his servants and the lady all pressed him, and he finally agreed to eat. He got up off the ground and sat on a bed.
24The woman had a fattened calf ready to butcher. She killed it. She took some of her flour, kneaded it into dough, and quickly baked it into flat, yeast-free bread. 25She put the meal in front of Saul and his men, and they ate it. Then they left that same night.
