1Samuel 28:3 - Prayer Tents

Saul and the Medium

28At that time, the Philistines brought their military units together into one army to fight against Israel. So Achish said to David, "You know, of course, that you and your men must march out in the army with me."H3117H6430H6908H4264H6908H6635H3898H3478H397H559H1732H3045H3045H3318H4264H582

2David replied to Achish, "Good, you will find out what your servant can do." So Achish said to David, "Very well, I will appoint you as my permanent bodyguard."H1732H559H397H3651H3045H5650H6213H397H559H1732H7760H8104H7218H3117

3By this time Samuel had died, and all Israel had mourned for him and buried him in Ramah, his city, and Saul had removed the mediums and spiritists from the land.H8050H4191H3478H5594H6912H7414H5892H7586H5493H178H3049H776

4The Philistines came together and camped at Shunem. So Saul gathered all Israel, and they camped at Gilboa.H6430H6908H935H2583H7766H7586H6908H3478H6908H2583H1533

5When Saul saw the Philistine camp, he was afraid and trembled violently.H7586H7200H4264H6430H3372H3820H3966H2729

6He inquired of the LORD, but the LORD did not answer him in dreams or by the Urim or by the prophets.H7586H7592H3068H3068H6030H2472H224H5030

7Saul then said to his servants, "Find me a woman who is a medium, so I can go and consult her." His servants replied, "There is a woman at Endor who is a medium."H559H7586H5650H1245H802H1172H178H3212H1875H5650H559H802H1172H178H5874

8Saul disguised himself by putting on different clothes and set out with two of his men. They came to the woman at night, and Saul said, "Consult a spirit for me. Bring up for me the one I tell you."H7586H2664H3847H312H899H3212H8147H582H935H802H3915H559H7080H178H5927H559

9But the woman said to him, "You surely know what Saul has done, how he has killed the mediums and spiritists in the land. Why are you setting a trap for me to get me killed?"H802H559H3045H7586H6213H3772H178H3049H776H5367H5315H4191

10Then Saul swore to her by the LORD: "As surely as the LORD lives, nothing bad will happen to you because of this."H7586H7650H3068H559H3068H2416H518H5771H7136H1697

11"Who is it that you want me to bring up for you?" the woman asked. "Bring up Samuel for me," he answered.H559H802H5927H559H5927H8050

12When the woman saw Samuel, she screamed, and then she asked Saul, "Why did you deceive me? You are Saul!"H802H7200H8050H2199H1419H6963H802H559H7586H559H7411H7586

13But the king said to her, "Don't be afraid. What do you see?" "I see a spirit form coming up out of the earth," the woman answered.H4428H559H3372H7200H802H559H7586H7200H430H5927H776

14Then Saul asked her, "What does he look like?" "An old man is coming up," she replied. "He's wearing a robe." Then Saul knew that it was Samuel, and he bowed his face to the ground and paid homage.H559H8389H559H2205H376H5927H5844H4598H7586H3045H8050H6915H639H776H7812

15"Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?" Samuel asked Saul. "I'm in serious trouble," replied Saul. "The Philistines are fighting against me and God has turned away from me. He doesn't answer me any more, either through the prophets or in dreams. So I've called on you to tell me what I should do."H8050H559H7586H7264H5927H7586H559H3966H6887H6430H3898H430H5493H6030H3027H5030H2472H7121H3045H6213

16Samuel answered, "Since the LORD has turned away from you and has become your enemy, why are you asking me?H559H8050H7592H3068H5493H6145

17The LORD has done exactly what He said through me: The LORD has torn the kingship out of your hand and given it to your neighbor David.H3068H6213H1696H3027H3068H7167H4467H3027H5414H7453H1732

18You did not obey the LORD and did not carry out His wrath against Amalek; therefore the LORD has done this to you today.H834H8085H6963H3068H6213H2740H639H6002H3068H6213H1697H3117

19The LORD will also hand Israel over to the Philistines along with you. Tomorrow you and your sons will be with me, and the LORD will hand Israel's army over to the Philistines."H3068H5414H3478H3027H6430H4279H1121H3068H5414H4264H3478H3027H6430

20Immediately, Saul fell flat on the ground. He was terrified by Samuel's words and was also weak because he hadn't had any food all day and all night.H7586H5307H4116H4393H6967H776H3966H3372H1697H8050H3581H398H3899H3117H3915

21The woman came over to Saul, and she saw that he was terrified and said to him, "Look, your servant has obeyed you. I took my life in my hands and did what you told me [to do].H802H935H7586H7200H3966H926H559H8198H8085H6963H7760H5315H3709H8085H1697H1696

22Now please listen to your servant. Let me set some food in front of you. Eat and it will give you strength so you can go on your way."H8085H6963H8198H7760H6595H3899H6440H398H3581H3212H1870

23He refused, saying, "I won't eat," but when his servants and the woman urged him, he listened to them. He got up off the ground and sat on the bed.H3985H559H398H5650H802H6555H8085H6963H6965H776H3427H4296

24The woman had a fattened calf at her house, and she quickly slaughtered it. She also took flour, kneaded it, and baked unleavened bread.H802H4770H5695H1004H4116H2076H3947H7058H3888H644H4682

25She served it to Saul and his servants, and they ate. Afterwards, they got up and left that night.H5066H6440H7586H6440H5650H398H6965H3212H3915