| 1 | In those days the Philistines gathered their forces for war, to fight against Israel. And A'chish said to David, "Understand that you and your men are to go out with me in the army." |
| 2 | David said to A'chish, "Very well, you shall know what your servant can do." And A'chish said to David, "Very well, I will make you my bodyguard for life." |
| 3 | Now Samuel had died, and all Israel had mourned for him and buried him in Ramah, his own city. And Saul had put the mediums and the wizards out of the land. |
| 4 | The Philistines assembled, and came and encamped at Shunem; and Saul gathered all Israel, and they encamped at Gilbo'a. |
| 5 | When Saul saw the army of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart trembled greatly. |
| 6 | And when Saul inquired of the LORD, the LORD did not answer him, either by dreams, or by Urim, or by prophets. |
| 7 | Then Saul said to his servants, "Seek out for me a woman who is a medium, that I may go to her and inquire of her." And his servants said to him, "Behold, there is a medium at Endor." |
| 8 | So Saul disguised himself and put on other garments, and went, he and two men with him; and they came to the woman by night. And he said, "Divine for me by a spirit, and bring up for me whomever I shall name to you." |
| 9 | The woman said to him, "Surely you know what Saul has done, how he has cut off the mediums and the wizards from the land. Why then are you laying a snare for my life to bring about my death?" |
| 10 | But Saul swore to her by the LORD, "As the LORD lives, no punishment shall come upon you for this thing." |
| 11 | Then the woman said, "Whom shall I bring up for you?" He said, "Bring up Samuel for me." |
| 12 | When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out with a loud voice; and the woman said to Saul, "Why have you deceived me? You are Saul." |
| 13 | The king said to her, "Have no fear; what do you see?" And the woman said to Saul, "I see a god coming up out of the earth." |
| 14 | He said to her, "What is his appearance?" And 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 with his face to the ground, and did obeisance. |
| 15 | Then Samuel said to Saul, "Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?" Saul answered, "I am in great distress; for the Philistines are warring against me, and God has turned away from me and answers me no more, either by prophets or by dreams; therefore I have summoned you to tell me what I shall do." |
| 16 | And Samuel said, "Why then do you ask me, since the LORD has turned from you and become your enemy? |
| 17 | The LORD has done to you as he spoke by me; for the LORD has torn the kingdom out of your hand, and given it to your neighbor, David. |
| 18 | Because you did not obey the voice of the LORD, and did not carry out his fierce wrath against Am'alek, therefore the LORD has done this thing to you this day. |
| 19 | Moreover the LORD will give Israel also with you into the hand of the Philistines; and tomorrow you and your sons shall be with me; the LORD will give the army of Israel also into the hand of the Philistines." |
| 20 | Then Saul fell at once full length upon the ground, filled with fear because of the words of Samuel; and there was no strength in him, for he had eaten nothing all day and all night. |
| 21 | And the woman came to Saul, and when she saw that he was terrified, she said to him, "Behold, your handmaid has hearkened to you; I have taken my life in my hand, and have hearkened to what you have said to me. |
| 22 | Now therefore, you also hearken to your handmaid; let me set a morsel of bread before you; and eat, that you may have strength when you go on your way." |
| 23 | He refused, and said, "I will not eat." But his servants, together with the woman, urged him; and he hearkened to their words. So he arose from the earth, and sat upon the bed. |
| 24 | Now the woman had a fatted calf in the house, and she quickly killed it, and she took flour, and kneaded it and baked unleavened bread of it, |
| 25 | and she put it before Saul and his servants; and they ate. Then they rose and went away that night. |
| 1 | Now the Philistines gathered all their forces at Aphek; and the Israelites were encamped by the fountain which is in Jezreel. |
| 2 | As the lords of the Philistines were passing on by hundreds and by thousands, and David and his men were passing on in the rear with A'chish, |
| 3 | the commanders of the Philistines said, "What are these Hebrews doing here?" And A'chish said to the commanders of the Philistines, "Is not this David, the servant of Saul, king of Israel, who has been with me now for days and years, and since he deserted to me I have found no fault in him to this day." |
| 4 | But the commanders of the Philistines were angry with him; and the commanders of the Philistines said to him, "Send the man back, that he may return to the place to which you have assigned him; he shall not go down with us to battle, lest in the battle he become an adversary to us. For how could this fellow reconcile himself to his lord? Would it not be with the heads of the men here? |
| 5 | Is not this David, of whom they sing to one another in dances, `Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands'?" |
| 6 | Then A'chish called David and said to him, "As the LORD lives, you have been honest, and to me it seems right that you should march out and in with me in the campaign; for I have found nothing wrong in you from the day of your coming to me to this day. Nevertheless the lords do not approve of you. |
| 7 | So go back now; and go peaceably, that you may not displease the lords of the Philistines." |
| 8 | And David said to A'chish, "But what have I done? What have you found in your servant from the day I entered your service until now, that I may not go and fight against the enemies of my lord the king?" |
| 9 | And A'chish made answer to David, "I know that you are as blameless in my sight as an angel of God; nevertheless the commanders of the Philistines have said, `He shall not go up with us to the battle.' |
| 10 | Now then rise early in the morning with the servants of your lord who came with you; and start early in the morning, and depart as soon as you have light." |
| 11 | So David set out with his men early in the morning, to return to the land of the Philistines. But the Philistines went up to Jezreel. |
