1 At that time the Philistines brought their armies together for war, to fight Israel. Achish said to David, "You understand, of course, that you and your men will march out with me in the army."
2 David said to Achish, "Then you will see what your servant can do." Achish told David, "In that case I will make you keeper of my head for good."
3 Samuel was dead; all Israel had lamented him and buried him in Ramah, his own town. And Saul had put the mediums and the spiritists out of the land.
4 The Philistines assembled, came, and encamped at Shunem; Saul gathered all Israel, and they encamped at Gilboa.
5 When Saul saw the Philistine army he was afraid, and his heart shook violently.
6 Saul asked the LORD, but the LORD gave him no answer, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets.
7 Saul told his servants, "Look for a woman who is mistress of a spirit, so that I can go to her and consult her." His servants told him, "There is a woman at En-dor who is mistress of a spirit."
8 Saul made himself unrecognizable by putting on other clothes, and he went, with two men along. They came to the woman at night, and he said, "Consult a spirit for me, please, and bring up for me the one I tell you."
9 The woman told him, "You know what Saul did, how he cut off the mediums and the spiritists from the land. Why are you setting a trap for my life, to get me killed?"
10 Saul swore to her by the LORD: "As the LORD lives, you will incur no guilt over this."
11 The woman asked, "Whom shall I bring up for you?" He said, "Bring up Samuel for me."
12 When the woman saw Samuel, she shrieked aloud, and the woman said to Saul, "Why did you trick me? You are Saul!"
13 The king told her, "Do not be afraid. What do you see?" The woman told Saul, "I see a divine being coming up out of the ground."
14 He asked her, "What is his form?" She said, "An old man is coming up, wrapped in a robe." Saul knew that it was Samuel, and he bowed with his face to the ground and paid homage.
15 Samuel said to Saul, "Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?" Saul said, "I am in deep distress. The Philistines are at war with me, and God has turned away from me and answers me no more, either through prophets or in dreams. So I have called you to let me know what to do."
16 Samuel said, "Why ask me, when the LORD has turned away from you and become your enemy?
17 The LORD has done for himself just what he said through me: the LORD has torn the kingship from your hand and given it to your neighbor, David.
18 Because you did not obey the LORD's voice and did not carry out his burning anger against Amalek, the LORD has done this to you today.
19 What is more, the LORD will hand Israel over to the Philistines along with you. Tomorrow you and your sons will be with me. Israel's army too the LORD will hand over to the Philistines."
20 Instantly Saul fell full length to the ground, filled with fear at Samuel's words. There was no strength left in him, since he had eaten nothing that whole day and night.
21 The woman came over to Saul, and seeing how terrified he was, she said to him, "Your servant has listened to you; I took my life in my hands and did what you told me.
22 So now please listen to your servant too. Let me set a bit of bread before you. Eat, so that you will have strength when you go on your way."
23 He refused, saying, "I will not eat." But his servants, and the woman as well, pressed him, and he listened to them; he got up from the ground and sat on the couch.
24 The woman had a fattened calf in the house, and she quickly butchered it. She took flour, kneaded it, and baked unleavened bread.
25 She served it to Saul and his servants, and they ate. Then they got up and left that same night.