Saul Sees a Woman to Call Samuel from the Dead |
1 Samuel 28:1-25 The Book of 1 Samuel [in Smaller Chunks] |
It [happened] in those days, that the Philistines gathered their armies together for warfare, to fight against Israel. Achish said to David, Know [for certain] you & your men shall go out with me to battle. |
David said to Achish, Surely you shall know what [I,] your servant can do. And Achish said to David, Therefore, I will make you my [chief guard to protect me] forever. |
Now, Samuel was dead & all Israel mourned [for] him & buried him in Ramah, his own city. Saul had [banned] all the [those who] had familiar spirits & the wizards, out of the land. |
The Philistines gathered together & pitched [tents] in Shunem. And Saul gathered all Israel together & they pitched [tents] in Gilboa. When Saul saw the Philistine [army,] he was [very] afraid & his heart trembled greatly. When Saul [asked the Lord what to do,] the Lord didn’t answer [Saul] neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets. |
Saul [told] his servants, [Search for] a woman [who] has a familiar spirit, [so] I may go & [ask of] her. His servant said to him, [Look,] there is a woman in Endor [who contacts the dead.] |
Saul disguised himself & put on other [clothes] & [Saul] went with 2 men & they came to the woman [at] night. [Saul] said, I pray [that] you divine [for] me by the familiar spirit & [conjure up the person] whom I shall name to you. |
And the woman said, [Look,] you know what Saul has done & how he has [banned] those who have familiar spirits & wizards out of this land. [Why] are you then [laying this trap] for my life, to cause me to die? |
Saul [swore] to her by the Lord [God,] saying, As the Lord lives, no punishment shall happen to you for this thing. Then, the woman [asked,] Whom shall I [conjure] up for you? [Saul] said, [Conjure] up Samuel [for] me. |
When the woman saw Samuel, she cried with a loud voice & [spoke] to Saul, saying, Why have you deceived me? For you [are] Saul. King [Saul] said to her, [Don’t] be afraid. What [did you see?] |
The woman said, I saw [a spirit coming up] out of the earth. [Saul] said to her, What is [his appearance?] She said, An old man [came] up & he is covered with a [hooded robe.] Saul [realized] it was Samuel & bowed [facing] the ground. |
Samuel said to Saul, Why have you [disturbed] me, to bring me up? Saul answered, I am [severely] distressed; for the Philistines [have made] war against me & God [has] departed from me & [won’t answer] me [any] more, by prophets, [or] by dreams. |
Therefore, I have called you, [so you can] make [it] known to me what I shall do. Then, Samuel said, [Why] do you ask [this] of me, seeing the Lord [has] departed from you & [has] become your enemy. |
The Lord has done to [Saul] as He [said] by me; for the Lord [God] has [torn] the kingdom out of your hand & has given it to your neighbor, even to David, because you [didn’t obey] the voice of the Lord, [or execute] His fierce [anger] on Amalek. |
[1 Samuel 15:18-19 And the Lord sent you on a journey & said, Go & [totally] destroy the sinners, the Amalekites & fight against them until they [are] consumed. [For what reason] then, did you not obey the voice of the Lord, but [flew] upon the [plunder] & did evil in the sight of the Lord?] |
Therefore, the Lord [has] done this thing to you, this day. [Additionally,] the Lord will also deliver Israel & you into the hand of the Philistines. Tomorrow you & your sons [shall die &] be with me. |
The Lord shall also deliver the [Israelite army] into the hand of the Philistines. Then, Saul fell [flat] on the [ground] & was [very] afraid, because of [what Samuel said.] |
There was no strength in [Saul, since] he hadn’t eaten [any] bread all day [or] night. The woman came to Saul & saw he was [very] troubled & said to him, [Look,] your handmaid [has] obeyed your voice & I’ve [risked] my life, [by listening] to your words [that] you spoke to me. |
Therefore, I pray [that] you now [listen] to [me,] your handmaid & let me [put a piece] of bread before you [to] eat, [so] that you have strength, when you [go] on your way. |
[Saul] refused, but his servants, together with the woman, [urged] him & [Saul listened] to [them.] [Saul] arose from the [ground] & sat on the bed. |
The woman had a [fattened] calf & [quickly] killed it & took flour & kneaded it & [baked] unleavened bread [with it.] She brought it to Saul & the servants & they [ate.] Then, they rose up & went away that night. |