¹It happened in those days that the Philistines gathered together their camps for war, to fight against Israel; and Achish said to David, "Surely you will know that you will go forth in the camp with me, you and your men."

²David said to Achish, "So you will know what your slave will do." Achish said to David, "So I will set you as a watchman for my head all the days."

³And Samuel had died, and all Israel mourned for him and interred him in Ramah, in his own city. And Saul had removed the mediums and the spiritists from the land.

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

⁵Saul saw the camp of the Philistines and feared, and his heart shuddered exceedingly.

⁶Saul inquired of Yahweh, but Yahweh did not answer him, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by the prophets.

⁷Saul said to his servants, "Seek for me a woman who is mistress of mediumship, so I may go to her and consult her." His servants said to him, "Look, there is a woman who is mistress of mediumship in En-dor."

⁸Saul disguised himself and put on other garments, and he went, he and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night. He said, "Divine for me, please, by the medium, and bring up for me the one whom I tell you."

⁹The woman said to him, "Look, you yourself know what Saul has done, that he has cut off the mediums and the spiritists from the land; so why are you laying a snare for my living being, to put me to death?"

¹⁰Saul swore to her in Yahweh, saying, "As Yahweh lives, no guilt will make you in this word."

¹¹The woman said, "Whom shall I bring up for you?" He said, "Bring up Samuel for me."

¹²The woman saw Samuel and cried out with a great voice; and the woman said to Saul, saying, "Why have you deceived me? And you are Saul!"

¹³The king said to her, "Do not fear. What did you see?" The woman said to Saul, "I saw God coming up from the land."

¹⁴He said to her, "What is his form?" She said, "An old man is coming up, and he is wrapped in a robe." And Saul knew that it was Samuel, and he bowed low, his face to the land, and bowed down.

¹⁵Samuel said to Saul, "Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?" Saul said, "I am in great straits; the Philistines are fighting against me, and God has turned away from me and does not answer me any more, neither by the hand of the prophets nor by dreams; so I called you to make known to me what I should do."

¹⁶Samuel said, "And why do you ask me, when Yahweh has turned aside from you and has become your enemy?

¹⁷Yahweh has done for himself as he spoke by my hand; and Yahweh has torn the kingdom from your hand and has given it to your neighbor, to David.

¹⁸Because you did not listen to the voice of Yahweh and did not carry out the burning of his anger on Amalek, therefore Yahweh has done this word to you this day.

¹⁹Yahweh will also give Israel with you into the hand of the Philistines, and tomorrow you and your sons will be with me; also Yahweh will give the camp of Israel into the hand of the Philistines."

²⁰Saul hurried and fell the full length of his height to the land, and was afraid exceedingly because of the word of Samuel; also there was no strength in him, for he had not eaten food all the day and all the night.

²¹The woman came to Saul and saw that he was terrified exceedingly, and she said to him, "Look, your female slave has listened to your voice, and I put my being in my palm, and I listened to your words which you spoke to me.

²²And now, please, you also listen to the voice of your female slave; and let me set before your face a morsel of food, and eat, and let strength be in you, for you will go on the way."

²³He refused and said, "I will not eat." But his slaves, and also the woman, broke in on him, and he listened to their voice; and he rose from the land and sat on the bed.

²⁴And the woman had a calf of the stall in the house; she hurried and slaughtered it, and took flour and kneaded it, and baked unleavened bread.

²⁵She brought it near before the face of Saul and before the face of his slaves, and they ate; and they rose and went that night.