1. Now it happened in those days that the Philistines gathered their armies together for war, to fight with Israel. And Achish said to David, “You assuredly know that you will go out with me to battle, you and your men.”
2. So David said to Achish, “Surely you know what your servant can do.”And Achish said to David, “Therefore I will make you one of my chief guardians forever.”
3. Now Samuel had died, and all Israel had lamented for him and buried him in Ramah, in his own city. And Saul had put the mediums and the spiritists out of the land.
4. Then the Philistines gathered together, and came and encamped at Shunem. So Saul gathered all Israel together, and they encamped at Gilboa.
5. When Saul saw the army of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart trembled greatly.
6. And when Saul inquired of the Lord, the Lord did not answer him, either by dreams or by Urim or by the prophets.
7. Then Saul said to his servants, “Find me a woman who is a medium, that I may go to her and inquire of her.”And his servants said to him, “In fact, there is a woman who is a medium at En Dor.”
8. So Saul disguised himself and put on other clothes, and he went, and two men with him; and they came to the woman by night. And he said, “Please conduct a séance for me, and bring up for me the one I shall name to you.”
9. Then the woman said to him, “Look, you know what Saul has done, how he has cut off the mediums and the spiritists from the land. Why then do you lay a snare for my life, to cause me to die?”
10. And Saul swore to her by the Lord, saying, “As the Lord lives, no punishment shall come upon you for this thing.”
11. Then the woman said, “Whom shall I bring up for you?”And he said, “Bring up Samuel for me.”
12. When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out with a loud voice. And the woman spoke to Saul, saying, “Why have you deceived me? For you are Saul!”
13. And the king said to her, “Do not be afraid. What did you see?”And the woman said to Saul, “I saw a spirit ascending out of the earth.”
14. So he said to her, “What is his form?”And she said, “An old man is coming up, and he is covered with a mantle.” And Saul perceived that it was Samuel, and he stooped with his face to the ground and bowed down.
15. Now Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?”And Saul answered, “I am deeply distressed; for the Philistines make war against me, and God has departed from me and does not answer me anymore, neither by prophets nor by dreams. Therefore I have called you, that you may reveal to me what I should do.”