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Chapter 28
1 And it came to pass in those days, that the Philistines gathered together their armies to be prepared for war against Israel: and Achis said to David: Know you now assuredly, that you shall go out with me to the war, you, and your men.
2 And David said to Achis: Now you shall know what your servant will do. And Achis said to David: And I will appoint you to guard my life for ever.
3 Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel mourned for him, and buried him in Ramatha his city. And Saul had put away all the magicians and soothsayers out of the land.
4 And the Philistines were gathered together, and came and camped in Sunam: and Saul also gathered together all Israel, and came to Gelboe.
5 And Saul saw the army of the Philistines, and was afraid, and his heart was very much dismayed.
6 And he consulted the Lord, and he answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by priests, nor by prophets.
7 And Saul said to his servants: Seek me a woman that has a divining spirit, and I will go to her, and inquire by her. And his servants said to him: There is a woman that has a divining spirit at Endor.
8 Then he disguised himself: and put on other clothes, and he went, and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night, and he said to her: Divine to me by your divining spirit, and bring me up him whom I shall tell you.
9 And the woman said to him: Behold you know all that Saul has done, and how he has rooted out the magicians and soothsayers from the land: why then do you lay a snare for my life, to cause me to be put to death?
10 And Saul swore unto her by the Lord, saying: As the Lord lives there shall no evil happen to you for this thing.
11 And the woman said to him: Whom shall I bring up to you? And he said, Bring me up Samuel.
12 And when the woman saw Samuel, she cried out with a loud voice, and said to Saul: Why have you deceived me? for you are Saul.
13 And the king said to her: Fear not: what have you seen? And the woman said to Saul: I saw gods ascending out of the earth.
14 And he said to her: What form is he of? And she said: An old man comes up, and he is covered with a mantle. And Saul understood that it was Samuel, and he bowed himself with his face to the ground, and adored.
15 And Samuel said to Saul: Why have you disturbed my rest, that I should be brought up? And Saul said, I am in great distress: for the Philistines fight against me, and God is departed from me, and would not hear me, neither by the hand of prophets, nor by dreams: therefore I have called you, that you may shew me what I shall do.
16 And Samuel said: Why ask you me, seeing the Lord has departed from you, and is gone over to your rival:
17 For the Lord will do to you as he spoke by me, and he will rend your kingdom out of your hand, and will give it to your neighbour David:
18 Because you did not obey the voice of the Lord, neither did you execute the wrath of his indignation upon Amalec. Therefore has the Lord done to you what you suffer this day.
19 And the Lord also will deliver Israel with you into the hands of the Philistines: and to morrow you and your sons shall be with me: and the Lord will also deliver the army of Israel into the hands of the Philistines.
20 And forthwith Saul fell all along on the ground, for he was frightened with the words of Samuel, and there was no strength in him, for he had eaten no bread all that day.
21 And the woman came to Saul (for he was very much troubled) and said to him: Behold your handmaid has obeyed your voice, and I have put my life in my hand: and I hearkened unto the words which you spoke to me.
22 Now therefore hear you also the voice of your handmaid, and let me set before you a morsel of bread, that you may eat and recover strength, and be able to go on your journey.
23 But he refused, and said: I will not eat. But his servants and the woman forced him, and at length hearkening to their voice, he arose from the ground and sat upon the bed.
24 Now the woman had a fatted calf in the house, and she made haste and killed it: and taking meal kneaded it, and baked some unleavened bread,
25 And set it before Saul, and before his servants. And when they had eaten they rose up, and walked all that night.