1 Samuel 28
Open in the reader1Now in those days the Philistines gathered their forces for warfare against Strives-with-God. So Achish said to Beloved, “You must understand that you and your men are to go out to battle with me.”
2Beloved replied, “Then you will come to know what your servant can do.” “Very well,” said Achish. “I will make you my bodyguard for life.”
3Now by this time Heard-of-God had died, and all Strives-with-God had mourned for him and buried him in The-Height, his own city. And Asked-For had removed the mediums and spiritists from the land.
4The Philistines gathered together and camped at Shunem, while Asked-For gathered all Strives-with-God and camped at Gilboa.
5When Asked-For saw the Philistine army, he was afraid and trembled violently.
6He inquired of He-Who-Is, but He-Who-Is did not answer him by dreams or Urim or prophets.
7Then Asked-For said to his servants, “Find me a woman who is a medium, so I can go and consult her.” “There is a medium at Spring-of-the-Dwelling,” his servants replied.
8So Asked-For disguised himself by putting on different clothes, and he set out with two of his men. They came to the woman at night, and Asked-For said, “Consult a spirit for me. Bring up for me the one I name.”
9But the woman replied, “Surely you know what Asked-For has done, how he has killed the mediums and spiritists in the land. Why have you set a trap to get me killed?”
10Then Asked-For swore to her by He-Who-Is: “As surely as He-Who-Is lives, no punishment shall come upon you for this.”
11“Whom shall I bring up for you?” the woman asked. “Bring up Heard-of-God,” he replied.
12But when the woman saw Heard-of-God, she cried out in a loud voice and said to Asked-For, “Why have you deceived me? You are Asked-For!”
13“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“What does he look like?” asked Asked-For. “An old man is coming up,” she replied. “And he is wearing a robe.” So Asked-For knew that it was Heard-of-God, and he bowed facedown in reverence.
15Then Heard-of-God said to Asked-For, “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?” “I am deeply distressed,” replied Asked-For. “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“Why do you consult me,” asked Heard-of-God, “since He-Who-Is has turned away from you and become your enemy?
17He-Who-Is has done exactly what He spoke through me: He-Who-Is has torn the kingdom out of your hand and given it to your neighbor Beloved.
18Because you did not obey He-Who-Is or carry out His burning anger against Amalek, He-Who-Is has done this to you today.
19Moreover, He-Who-Is will deliver Strives-with-God with you into the hand of the Philistines, and tomorrow you and your sons will be with me. And He-Who-Is will deliver the army of Strives-with-God into the hand of the Philistines.”
20Immediately Asked-For fell flat on the ground, terrified by the words of Heard-of-God. And his strength was gone, because he had not eaten anything all that day and night.
21When the woman came to Asked-For 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.
22Now 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.”
23Asked-For 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.
24The woman had a fattened calf at her house, and she quickly slaughtered it. She also took flour, kneaded it, and baked unleavened bread.
25She served it to Asked-For and his servants, and they ate. And that night they got up and left.