The Philistines Gather against Israel 1 ULT And it happened in those days that the Philistines gathered their camps for war, to fight with Israel. And Achish said to David,“Knowing, you know that you shall go out with me into the camp, you and your men.” BSB BSB: Now in those days the Philistines gathered their forces for warfare against Israel. So Achish said to David, “You must understand that you and your men are to go out to battle with me.”
2 ULT And David said to Achish,“Therefore you yourself will know what your servant will do.” And Achish said to David,“Therefore I am appointing you the keeper of my head all of the days.” BSB BSB: David replied, “Then you will come to know what your servant can do.” “Very well,” said Achish. “I will make you my bodyguard for life.”
3 ULT Now Samuel had died, and all of Israel had mourned for him, and they had buried him in Ramah, even in his city. And Saul had removed the ritual pits and the familiar spirits from the land. BSB BSB: Now by this time Samuel had died, and all Israel had mourned for him and buried him in Ramah, his own city. And Saul had removed the mediums and spiritists from the land.
4 ULT And the Philistines gathered and came and camped at Shunem. And Saul gathered all of Israel, and they camped at Gilboa. BSB BSB: The Philistines gathered together and camped at Shunem, while Saul gathered all Israel and camped at Gilboa.
5 ULT And Saul saw the camp of the Philistines. And he was afraid, and his heart trembled greatly. BSB BSB: When Saul saw the Philistine army, he was afraid and trembled violently.
6 ULT And Saul inquired of Yahweh, but Yahweh did not answer him, either by dreams or by the Urim or by prophets. BSB BSB: He inquired of the LORD, but the LORD did not answer him by dreams or Urim or prophets.
Saul and the Medium of Endor 7 ULT So Saul said to his servants,“Seek for me a woman of a mistress of a ritual pit so I may go to her and inquire of her.” And his servants said to him,“Behold, a woman of a mistress of a ritual pit{ is} in Endor.” BSB BSB: Then Saul said to his servants, “Find me a woman who is a medium, so I can go and consult her.” “There is a medium at Endor,” his servants replied.
8 ULT And Saul disguised himself and put on other garments, and he went, he and two of the men with him. And they came to the woman{ at} night. And he said,“Please divine for me with the ritual pit and bring up for me whom I say to you.” BSB BSB: So Saul disguised himself by putting on different clothes, and he 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 name.”
9 ULT But the woman said to him,“Behold, you yourself know what Saul has done, that he has cut off the ritual pits and the familiar spirits from the land. So why are you setting a trap against my life, to cause me to die?” BSB BSB: But the woman replied, “Surely you know what Saul has done, how he has killed the mediums and spiritists in the land. Why have you set a trap to get me killed?”
10 ULT But Saul swore to her by Yahweh, saying,“The life of Yahweh, if punishment shall meet you for this thing!” BSB BSB: Then Saul swore to her by the LORD: “As surely as the LORD lives, no punishment shall come upon you for this.”
11 ULT So the woman said,“Whom shall I bring up for you?” And he said,“Bring up Samuel for me.” BSB BSB: “Whom shall I bring up for you?” the woman asked. “Bring up Samuel,” he replied.
12 ULT And the woman saw Samuel, and she cried out with a loud voice. And the woman spoke to Saul, saying,“Why have you deceived me? For you are Saul!” BSB BSB: But when the woman saw Samuel, she cried out in a loud voice and said to Saul, “Why have you deceived me? You are Saul!”
13 ULT And the king said to her,“Do not fear. But what have you seen?” And the woman said to Saul,“I have seen a god coming up from the earth.” BSB BSB: “Do not be afraid,” the king replied. “What do you see?” “I see a god coming up out of the earth,” the woman answered.
14 ULT And he said to her,“What{ is} his appearance?” And she said,“An old man is coming up, and he is wearing a robe.” And Saul knew that it{ was} Samuel, and he bowed, nostrils to the ground, and he prostrated himself. BSB BSB: “What does he look like?” asked Saul. “An old man is coming up,” she replied. “And he is wearing a robe.” So Saul knew that it was Samuel, and he bowed facedown in reverence.
15 ULT And Samuel said to Saul,“Why have you disturbed me to bring me up?” And Saul said,“It is very narrow to me, for the Philistines are fighting with me. And God has turned aside from with me, and he does not answer me anymore, either by the hand of prophets or by dreams, so I have called to you to let me know what I should do.” BSB BSB: Then Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?” “I am deeply distressed,” replied Saul. “The Philistines are fighting against me, and God has turned away from me. He no longer answers me, either by prophets or by dreams. So I have called on you to tell me what to do.”
16 ULT And Samuel said,“And why do you ask me, since Yahweh has turned aside from with you and has become your enemy? BSB BSB: “Why do you consult me,” asked Samuel, “since the LORD has turned away from you and become your enemy?
17 ULT Now Yahweh has done for himself just as he spoke by my hand. For Yahweh has torn the kingdom from your hand and has given it to your fellow, to David. BSB BSB: He has done exactly what He spoke through me: The LORD has torn the kingdom out of your hand and given it to your neighbor David.
18 ULT Because you did not listen to the voice of Yahweh and you did not do the burning of his nose against Amalek, therefore Yahweh has done this thing to you this day. BSB BSB: Because you did not obey the LORD or carry out His burning anger against Amalek, the LORD has done this to you today.
19 ULT And Yahweh will also give Israel with you into the hand of the Philistines, and tomorrow you and your sons{ will be} with me. Yahweh will also give the camp of Israel into the hand of the Philistines.” BSB BSB: Moreover, the LORD will deliver Israel with you into the hand of the Philistines, and tomorrow you and your sons will be with me. And the LORD will deliver the army of Israel into the hand of the Philistines.”
20 ULT And Saul hurried and fell, the fullness of his height to the ground, for he feared greatly from the words of Samuel. Also strength was not in him, for he had not eaten bread all of the day and all of the night. BSB BSB: Immediately Saul fell flat on the ground, terrified by the words of Samuel. And his strength was gone, because he had not eaten anything all that day and night.
21 ULT And the woman came to Saul, and she saw that he was very frightened, And she said to him,“Behold, your maidservant has listened to your voice, and I have put my life in my palm, for I heard the words that you spoke to me. BSB BSB: When the woman came to Saul and saw how distraught he was, she said to him, “Look, your maidservant has obeyed your voice. I took my life in my hands and did as you told me.
22 ULT And now, please listen, even you, to the voice of your maidservant, and let me set to your face a piece of bread, and eat. And strength will be in you when you go in the way.” BSB BSB: Now please listen to your servant and let me set a morsel of bread before you so you may eat and have the strength to go on your way.”
23 ULT But he refused and said,“I will not eat.” But his servants urged him, and also the woman, and he listened to their voice. And he arose from the ground and sat on the bed. BSB BSB: Saul refused, saying, “I will not eat.” But his servants joined the woman in urging him, and he heeded their voice. He got up from the ground and sat on the bed.
24 ULT Now to the woman{ was} a calf of the stall in the house, and she hurried and slaughtered it. And she took flour and kneaded and baked it{ as} unleavened bread. BSB BSB: The woman had a fattened calf at her house, and she quickly slaughtered it. She also took flour, kneaded it, and baked unleavened bread.
25 ULT And she brought it to the face of Saul and to the face of his servants, and they ate. And they arose and went in that night. BSB BSB: She served it to Saul and his servants, and they ate. And that night they got up and left.
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