# 1 Samuel 28

> Lumin Translation

Source: https://www.lumin.faith/read/1-samuel/28

Lumin’s own translation, drafted with AI from the Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek, checked verse by verse against them, and approved by Lumin. Brackets mark verses not found in the earliest manuscripts.

How it was made: https://www.lumin.faith/lumin-translation.md

1. In those days the Philistines gathered their forces for war to fight against Israel. Achish said to David, “You must understand that you and your men will go out with me in the army.”
2. David said to Achish, “Very well, you will see what your servant can do.” Achish said to David, “Very well, I will make you my bodyguard for life.”
3. Now Samuel had died, and all Israel had mourned for him and buried him in Ramah, his own town. Saul had removed the mediums and spiritists from the land.
4. The Philistines assembled and came and camped at Shunem, and Saul gathered all Israel, and they camped at Gilboa.
5. When Saul saw the Philistine army, he was afraid, and his heart trembled violently.
6. Saul inquired of Yahweh, but Yahweh did not answer him, either by dreams or by Urim or by prophets.
7. Then Saul said to his servants, “Find me a woman who is a medium, so that I may go to her and consult her.” His servants said to him, “There is a woman at Endor who is a medium.”
8. So Saul disguised himself by putting on other clothes, and he went with two men. They came to the woman at night, and he said, “Please consult a spirit for me and bring up for me the one I name to you.”
9. The woman said to him, “Surely you know what Saul has done, how he has cut off the mediums and spiritists from the land. Why then are you setting a trap for my life to get me killed?”
10. But Saul swore to her by Yahweh, “As surely as Yahweh lives, you will not be punished for this.”
11. Then the woman said, “Whom should I bring up for you?” He said, “Bring up Samuel for me.”
12. When the woman saw Samuel, she screamed and said to Saul, “Why have you deceived me? You are Saul!”
13. The king said to her, “Do not be afraid. What do you see?” The woman said to Saul, “I see a divine being coming up out of the earth.”
14. He asked her, “What does he look like?” She said, “An old man is coming up, and he is wrapped in a robe.” Then Saul knew it was Samuel, and he bowed with his face to the ground and lay prostrate.
15. Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?” Saul said, “I am in great distress. 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. Samuel said, “Why do you ask me, since Yahweh has turned away from you and has become your enemy?
17. Yahweh has done just as he said through me. Yahweh has torn the kingdom out of your hand and given it to your neighbor, to David.
18. Because you did not obey Yahweh and did not carry out his fierce anger against Amalek, Yahweh has done this to you today.
19. Yahweh will also hand Israel over to the Philistines along with you. Tomorrow you and your sons will be with me. Yahweh will also hand the army of Israel over to the Philistines.”
20. Immediately Saul fell full length on the ground, terrified by Samuel’s words. There was no strength left in him, for he had eaten nothing all that day and all that night.
21. The woman came to Saul, and when she saw that he was terrified, she said to him, “Look, your servant has obeyed you. I took my life in my hands and did what you told me to do.
22. Now please listen to your servant too. Let me set a little food before you, and eat, so that you may have strength when you go on your way.”
23. But he refused and said, “I will not eat.” His servants, together with the woman, urged him, and he listened to them. So he got up from the ground and sat on the bed.
24. The woman had a fattened calf in the house, and she quickly slaughtered it. She took flour, kneaded it, and baked bread without yeast.
25. She set it before Saul and his servants, and they ate. Then they got up and left that same night.

## Nearby chapters

[1 Samuel 27](https://www.lumin.faith/read/1-samuel/27.md)
[1 Samuel 29](https://www.lumin.faith/read/1-samuel/29.md)

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