The Complete Jewish Bible CJB
GOD'S WORD Translation GW
1 In due time the P'lishtim assembled their armies for war against Isra'el. Akhish told David, "You know, of course, that you and your men will join me and the army in battle."
1
At that time the Philistines had gathered their army to fight against Israel. Then Achish said to David, "You need to know that you and your men will be going with me into battle."
2 David answered Akhish, "I see that you already know what your servant will do."Akhish said to David, "For that answer, I am making you my personal bodyguard for life."
2
"Very well," David responded to Achish, "you will then know what I can do." "Very well," Achish told David, "I will make you my bodyguard for life."
3 Now Sh'mu'el was dead; all Isra'el had mourned him and buried him in his city, Ramah. Also Sha'ul had expelled from the land those who tell the future by communicating with the dead or with a demonic spirit.
3
Meanwhile, Samuel had died, and all Israel had mourned for him and buried him in his hometown Ramah. (Saul had rid the land of mediums and psychics.)
4 The P'lishtim assembled; then they went and pitched camp at Shunem; while Sha'ul gathered all Isra'el together and pitched camp at Gilboa.
4
The Philistines assembled and camped in Shunem. Saul also assembled the whole Israelite army, and they camped at Gilboa.
5 When Sha'ul saw the army of the P'lishtim, he became afraid - it struck terror in his heart.
5
When Saul looked at the Philistine army, he was very afraid--terrified.
6 But when he consulted ADONAI, ADONAI didn't answer him - not by dreams, not by urim and not by prophets.
6
He prayed to the LORD, but the LORD didn't answer him through dreams, the Urim, or prophets.
7 Then Sha'ul said to his servants, "Try to find a woman who tells the future by communicating with the dead; I want to go and consult with her." His servants answered him, "Yes, there's a woman in 'Ein-Dor who tells the future by communicating with the dead."
7
Saul told his officers, "Find me a woman who conjures up the dead. Then I'll go to her and ask for her services." His officers told him, "There is a woman at Endor who conjures up the dead."
8 So Sha'ul disguised himself by wearing different clothing, went with two men, came to the woman by night and said, "Tell me the future, please. Bring up from the dead the person I name to you."
8
After disguising himself by putting on other clothes, Saul left with two men and came to the woman that night. He said to her, "Please consult with a dead person for me. Conjure up the person I request."
9 The woman answered, "Here, you know what Sha'ul did, how he expelled from the land those who tell the future by communicating with the dead or with a demonic spirit. Why are you trying to entrap me into causing my own death?"
9
The woman told him, "You know that Saul rid the land of mediums and psychics. Why are you trying to trap me and have me killed?"
10 But Sha'ul swore to her by ADONAI, "As ADONAI lives, you will not be punished for doing this."
10
But Saul took an oath in the LORD's name, "I solemnly swear, as the LORD lives, you will not be harmed if you do this."
11 Then the woman asked, "Whom should I bring up for you?" He said, "Bring up for me Sh'mu'el."
11
"Whom should I conjure up for you?" the woman asked. "Conjure up Samuel for me," he answered.
12 When the woman saw Sh'mu'el, she let out a shriek. Then the woman said to Sha'ul, "Why have you deceived me? You yourself are Sha'ul!"
12
When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out loudly and asked, "Why did you deceive me? You're Saul!"
13 The king replied, "Don't be afraid. Just tell me what you see."The woman said to Sha'ul, "I see a god-like being coming up out of the earth."
13
"Don't be afraid," the king said to her. "What do you see?" "I see a god rising from the ground," the woman answered.
14 He asked her, "What does he look like?" She said, "An old man is coming up; he's wearing a cloak." Sha'ul realized it was Sh'mu'el, so he bowed with his face to the ground and prostrated himself.
14
"In what form?" he asked her. She answered, "An old man is coming up, and he's wearing a robe." Then Saul knew it was Samuel. Saul knelt down with his face touching the ground.
15 Sh'mu'el asked Sha'ul, "Why have you disturbed me and brought me up?" Sha'ul answered, "I'm very upset; because the P'lishtim are making war against me; and God has left me and doesn't answer me any more, neither by prophets nor by dreams. This is why I've called you, so that you can let me know what to do."
15
Samuel asked Saul, "Why did you disturb me by conjuring me up?" Saul answered, "I'm in serious trouble. The Philistines are at war with me, and God has turned against me and doesn't answer me anymore--either by the prophets or in dreams. So I've called on you to tell me what to do."
16 Sh'mu'el said, "Why ask me, if ADONAI has left you and become your enemy?
16
Samuel said, "Why are you asking me when the LORD has turned against you and become your enemy?
17 ADONAI has done for himself what he foretold through me -ADONAI has torn the kingdom out of your hands and given it to your fellow countryman David,
17
The LORD has done to you [exactly] what he spoke through me: The LORD has torn the kingship out of your hands and given it to your fellow Israelite David.
18 because you didn't obey what ADONAI said and execute his furious anger toward 'Amalek. That's why ADONAI is doing this to you today.
18
The LORD is doing this to you today because you didn't listen to him or unleash his burning anger on Amalek.
19 ADONAI is giving Isra'el as well as yourself over into the power of the P'lishtim, and tomorrow you and your sons will be with me. ADONAI will hand over Isra'el's army to the power of the P'lishtim."
19
For the same reasons the LORD will hand you and Israel over to the Philistines. Tomorrow you and your sons will be with me. And then the LORD will hand Israel's army over to the Philistines."
20 Sha'ul immediately fell full length on the ground and became terribly frightened because of what Sh'mu'el had said. He had no strength left in him, for he had eaten nothing all that day and night.
20
Immediately, Saul fell flat on the ground. He was frightened by Samuel's words. He also had no strength left, because he hadn't eaten anything all day or all night.
21 The woman approached Sha'ul, saw that he was panic-stricken and said to him, "Here, your servant listened to what you said; I put my life in my hands and did what you requested me to do.
21
The woman came over to Saul and saw that he was terrified. "I listened to you," she told him, "and I took my life in my hands when I did what you told me to do.
22 Now therefore, please, you listen to what your servant says: let me put a little food in front of you; then eat, so you will have some strength when you go on your way."
22
Now please listen to me. I will serve you something to eat. Eat it so that you will have strength when you leave."
23 But he refused and said, "I won't eat."Then his servants, together with the woman, urged him; and he heeded what they said. He got up off the ground and sat on the bed.
23
But he refused. "I don't want to eat," he said. Nevertheless, his officers and the woman kept urging him until 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; she hurried to slaughter it; then she took flour, kneaded it and baked matzah with it.
24
The woman immediately butchered a fattened calf that she owned. She took flour, kneaded it, and baked some unleavened bread.
25 She served it to Sha'ul and his servants, and they ate. Afterwards, they got up; and they went away that night.
25
Then she served it to Saul and his officers. They ate and left that [same] night.
Complete Jewish Bible Copyright 1998 by David H. Stern. Published by Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
GOD'S WORD® is a copyrighted work of God's Word to the Nations. Copyright © 1995 by God's Word to the Nations. All rights reserved. Used by permission.