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[1]Now at that time the Philistines assembled their bands and army to fight with Israel: therefore Achish said to David, Be sure, thou shalt go out with me to the battle, thou, and thy men.
[2]And David said to Achish, Surely thou shalt know, what thy servant can do. And Achish said to David, Surely I will make thee keeper of mine head forever.
[3](Samuel was then dead, and all Israel had lamented him, and buried him in Ramah his own city: and Saul had put away the sorcerers, and the soothsayers out of the land)
[4]Then the Philistines assembled themselves, and came, and pitched in Shunem: and Saul assembled all Israel, and they pitched in Gilboa.
[5]And when Saul saw the host of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart was sore astonied.
[6]Therefore Saul asked counsel of the Lord, and the Lord answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor yet by prophets.
[7]Then said Saul unto his servants, Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and ask of her. And his servants said to him, Behold, there is a woman at En-dor that hath a familiar spirit.
[8]Then Saul changed 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, conjecture unto me by the familiar spirit, and bring me him up whom I shall name unto thee.
[9]And the woman said unto him, Behold, thou knowest what Saul hath done, how he hath destroyed the sorcerers, and the soothsayers out of the land: wherefore then seekest thou to take me in a snare to cause me to die?
[10]And Saul swear to her by the Lord, saying, As the Lord liveth, no harm shall come to thee for this thing.
[11]Then said the woman, Whom shall I bring up unto thee? And he answered, Bring me up Samuel.
[12]And when the woman saw Samuel, she cried with a loud voice, and the woman spake to Saul, saying, Why hast thou deceived me? For thou art Saul.
[13]And the king said unto her, Be not afraid: for what sawest thou? And the woman said unto Saul, I saw gods ascending up out of the earth.
[14]Then he said unto her, What fashion is he of? And she answered, An old man cometh up lapped in a mantle: and Saul knew that it was Samuel, and he inclined his face to the ground, and bowed himself.
[15]And Samuel said to Saul, Why hast thou disquieted me, to bring me up? Then Saul answered, I am in great distress: for the Philistines make war against me, and God is departed from me, and answereth me no more, neither by prophets, neither by dreams: therefore I have called thee, that thou mayest tell me, what I shall do.
[16]Then said Samuel, Wherefore then dost thou ask of me, seeing the Lord is gone from thee, and is thine enemy?
[17]Even the Lord hath done to him, as he spake by mine hand: for the Lord will rent the kingdom out of thine hand, and give it thy neighbor David.
[18]Because thou obeyest not the voice of the Lord, nor executest his fierce wrath upon the Amalekites, therefore hath the Lord done this unto thee this day.
[19]Moreover the Lord will deliver Israel with thee into the hands of the Philistines: and tomorrow shalt thou and thy sons be with me, and the Lord shall give the host of Israel into the hands of the Philistines.
[20]Then Saul fell straight way all along on the earth, and was sore afraid because of the words of Samuel, so that there was no strength in him: for he had eaten no bread all the day nor all the night.
[21]Then the woman came unto Saul, and saw that he was sore troubled, and said unto him, See, thine handmaid hath obeyed thy voice, and I have put my soul in mine hand, and have obeyed thy words which thou saidest unto me.
[22]Now therefore, I pray thee, hearken thou also unto the voice of thine handmaid, and let me set a morsel of bread before thee, that thou mayest eat and get thee strength, and go on thy journey.
[23]But he refused, and said, I will not eat: but his servants and the woman together compelled him, and he obeyed their voice: so he arose from the earth, and sat on the bed.
[24]Now the woman had a fat calf in the house, and she hasted, and killed it, and took flour and kneaded it, and baked of it unleavened bread.
[25]Then she brought them before Saul, and before his servants: and when they had eaten, they stood up, and went away the same night.
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