2“Very well!” David agreed. “Now you will see for yourself what we can do.”

3Meanwhile, Samuel had died, and all Israel had mourned for him. He was buried in Ramah, his hometown. And Saul had banned from the land of Israel all mediums and those who consult the spirits of the dead.

4The Philistines set up their camp at Shunem, and Saul gathered all the army of Israel and camped at Gilboa.

5When Saul saw the vast Philistine army, he became frantic with fear.

6He asked the Lord what he should do, but the Lord refused to answer him, either by dreams or by sacred lots28:6 Hebrew by Urim. or by the prophets.

7Saul then said to his advisers, “Find a woman who is a medium, so I can go and ask her what to do.”

8So Saul disguised himself by wearing ordinary clothing instead of his royal robes. Then he went to the woman’s home at night, accompanied by two of his men.

9“Are you trying to get me killed?” the woman demanded. “You know that Saul has outlawed all the mediums and all who consult the spirits of the dead. Why are you setting a trap for me?”

10But Saul took an oath in the name of the Lord and promised, “As surely as the Lord lives, nothing bad will happen to you for doing this.”

11Finally, the woman said, “Well, whose spirit do you want me to call up?”

12When the woman saw Samuel, she screamed, “You’ve deceived me! You are Saul!”

13“Don’t be afraid!” the king told her. “What do you see?”

14“What does he look like?” Saul asked.

15“Why have you disturbed me by calling me back?” Samuel asked Saul.

16But Samuel replied, “Why ask me, since the Lord has left you and has become your enemy?

17The Lord has done just as he said he would. He has torn the kingdom from you and given it to your rival, David.

18The Lord has done this to you today because you refused to carry out his fierce anger against the Amalekites.

19What’s more, the Lord will hand you and the army of Israel over to the Philistines tomorrow, and you and your sons will be here with me. The Lord will bring down the entire army of Israel in defeat.”

20Saul fell full length on the ground, paralyzed with fright because of Samuel’s words. He was also faint with hunger, for he had eaten nothing all day and all night.

21When the woman saw how distraught he was, she said, “Sir, I obeyed your command at the risk of my life.

22Now do what I say, and let me give you a little something to eat so you can regain your strength for the trip back.”

23But Saul refused to eat anything. Then his advisers joined the woman in urging him to eat, so he finally yielded and got up from the ground and sat on the couch.

24The woman had been fattening a calf, so she hurried out and killed it. She took some flour, kneaded it into dough and baked unleavened bread.

25She brought the meal to Saul and his advisers, and they ate it. Then they went out into the night.