1It came about in those days that the Philistines gathered their camp for the army to fight against Israel. Achish said to David, "You shall certainly know that you will go out with me in the camp, you and your men."2David said to Achish, "You will know what your servant will do." Achish said to David, "Therefore I will set you as keeper over my head for all the days."3Samuel died, and all Israel mourned for him and buried him in Ramah, in his own city. Saul had removed the mediums and the spiritists from the land.4The Philistines assembled, advanced, and encamped at Shunem. Saul assembled all Israel and they encamped at Gilboa.5When Saul saw the camp of the Philistines, he was afraid and his heart trembled greatly.6Saul inquired of the LORD, but the LORD did not answer him, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets.7Saul said to his servants, "Seek for me a woman who is mistress of a medium, that I may go to her and inquire of her." His servants said to him, "Behold, there is a woman who is mistress of a medium at En-dor."8Saul disguised himself and put on other garments, and he went with two men; they came to the woman by night. He said, "Divine for me by the medium, and bring up for me the one whom I name to you."9The woman said to him, "Behold, you know what Saul has done, how he has cut off the mediums and the spiritists from the land. Why then do you set a snare for my life, to put me to death?"10Saul swore to her by the LORD, saying, "As the LORD lives, no iniquity shall meet you in this matter."11The woman asked, "Whom shall I bring up for you?" He answered, "Bring Samuel up for me."12When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out with a great voice and said to Saul, "Why have you deceived me? You are Saul."13The king said to her, "Do not be afraid. What have you seen?" The woman said to Saul, "I saw a divine being ascending from the land."14He said to her, "What is his appearance?" She said, "An old man is coming up, and he is wrapped in a robe." Saul knew that it was Samuel, and he bowed with his face to the ground and prostrated himself.15Samuel said to Saul, "Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?" Saul replied, "I am in great distress; the Philistines are fighting against me, and God has turned away from me and no longer answers me, whether by prophets or by dreams. Therefore I have summoned you to tell me what I should do."16Samuel said, "Why do you consult me, when the LORD has turned away from you and become your enemy?"17The LORD has done to him as he spoke by my hand: the LORD has torn the kingdom from your hand and given it to your neighbor, to David.18Because you did not obey the voice of the LORD and did not carry out his burning anger against Amalek, therefore the LORD has done this thing to you today.19Moreover, the LORD will give Israel, together with you, into the hand of the Philistines, and tomorrow you and your sons will be with me; the LORD will also give the camp of Israel into the hand of the Philistines.20Saul hastened and fell full length upon the ground; he was very afraid because of the words of Samuel, and there was no strength in him, for he had not eaten food all the day and all the night.21The woman came to Saul and saw that he was greatly dismayed. She said to him, "Behold, your maidservant has obeyed your voice, and I have set my life in my palm and have heard the words which you spoke to me."22Now therefore, hear also your maidservant, and let me set before you a morsel of food, and eat, that there may be strength in you when you go on your way.23He refused and said, "I will not eat." But his servants and also the woman urged him, and he listened to their voice; he arose from the land and sat upon the bed.24The woman had a calf of the stall in the house; she hastened and slaughtered it, took flour, kneaded it, and baked it as unleavened bread.25She brought it near before Saul and before his servants, and they ate; they arose and went in that night.