1 Samuel 28 Saul consults an Endor python

 1 Samuel 28

Saul consults an Endor python

1 And it came to pass in those days, when the Philistines gathered their armies to battle, to make war against Israel, that Achish said to David, Surely thou shalt go out to the camp with me, thou and thy men.

2 Then David said to Achish, Thus shalt thou know what thy servant shall do. And Achish said to David, Therefore I will keep thee for my head forevermore.

3 And Samuel was already dead, and all Israel had wept for him, and had buried him in Ramah, which was his city; and Saul had banished the soothsayers and the sorcerers.

4 And the Philistines gathered themselves together, and came, and encamped in Shunem: and Saul gathered all Israel, and encamped in Gilboa.

5 And when Saul saw the camp of the Philistines, he feared, and his heart trembled greatly.

6 And he asked Saul of the Lord, but the Lord answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets.

7 Then Saul said to his servants, Seek me a woman who has the spirit of a witch, that I may go to her and consult her. And his servants said to him: Behold, in Endor there is a woman who has the spirit of guessing.

8 And Saul disguised himself and put on other garments, and he went and two men with him, and at night they came to the woman; and she said, I ask you to guess me by the spirit of a witch, and bring me up to whomever I tell you to.

9 Then the woman said unto him, Behold, thou knowest what Saul hath done, how he hath destroyed diviners and sorcerers out of the land: why then thou lay a snare upon my life, to make me slay?

10 Then Saul swore to him by the LORD, saying, As the LORD liveth, that no harm will come to thee for this.

11 Then the woman said to him, To whom shall I bring thee up? And he said, Bring me up to Samuel.

12 When the woman saw Samuel, she cried with a loud voice; and the woman spoke to Saul, saying, Why have you deceived me? for thou art Saul.

13 And the king said to him, Fear not: but what do you see? Then the woman said to Saul: I see gods that come up out of the earth.

14 And she said to him, How is your figure? And she said: An old man is coming up, and he is swathed in a cloak. Realizing that Saul was Samuel, he bowed his face to the ground, and prostrated himself.

15 Samuel said to Saul, Why hast thou troubled me by bringing me up? Then Saul said, I am greatly distressed, for the Philistines are warring against me, and God has turned away from me, and answereth me no more, neither by the ministry of the prophets, nor by dreams; That's why I called you to let me know what to do.

16 Then Samuel said, Why then ask me, seeing that the LORD hath forsaken thee, and hath become thine enemy?

17 For the LORD hath done unto thee as he hath spoken to thee through my mouth, and hath torn the kingdom out of thine hand, and hath given it to thy fellow David.

18 As thou hast not heeded the voice of the LORD, and hast not carried out the fervor of his wrath against Amalek, therefore the LORD has done this unto thee today.

19 And the LORD will also deliver Israel with thee into the hand of the Philistines, and tomorrow thou and thy children shall be with me; and the camp of Israel the Lord will deliver into the hand of the Philistines.

20 And immediately Saul fell to the ground, and he feared greatly because of those words of Samuel: and there was no strength in him; because he hadn't eaten bread all that day and all that night.

21 Then the woman came to Saul, and seeing that he was so troubled, she said to him, Behold, thy maiden has given ear to thy voice, and I have put my life in my hand, and I have heard the words which thou hast spoken.

22 Now therefore hear thou also the words of thy handmaid, and I will set a morsel of bread before thee, and eat, that thou mayest have strength to go forth.

23 But he refused it, and said, I will not eat. But his servants and his wife constrained him; and he listened to his voice: and he arose from the ground, and sat upon a bed.

24 And the woman had a barley heifer in the house, and he hurried, and cut her throat, and took flour, and kneaded it, and baked it in unleavened cakes.

25 And he brought them before Saul and his servants, and they ate: after which they rose and went away that very night.