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1 Shamu'al 28

1 Shamu'al chapter 28 in the Qadmoni reader. Read the full chapter text with direct verse references and continue into the interactive reader.

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28:1

The Silence of the Heavens and the Witch of En-dor

And it came to pass in those days, that the Philistines gathered their armies together for warfare, to fight with Yashar'al. And Achish said unto Dawid, "Know thou assuredly, that thou shalt go out with me to battle, thou and thy men."
28:2
And Dawid said to Achish, "Surely thou shalt know what thy servant can do." And Achish said to Dawid, "Therefore will I make thee keeper of mine head for ever."
28:3

The Departure of the Prophet

Now Shamuel was dead, and all Yashar'al had lamented him, and buried him in Ramah, even in his own city. And Shaul had put away those that had familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land.
28:4

The Terror at Gilboa

And the Philistines gathered themselves together, and came and pitched in Shunem: and Shaul gathered all Yashar'al together, and they pitched in Gilboa.
28:5
And when Shaul saw the host of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart greatly trembled.
28:6

The Silence of the Urim

And when Shaul inquired of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄, 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets.
28:7

The Descent into Necromancy

Then said Shaul unto his servants, "Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and inquire of her." And his servants said to him, "Behold, there is a woman that hath a familiar spirit at En-dor."
28:8
And Shaul disguised himself, and put on other raiment, and he went, and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night: and he said, "I pray thee, divine unto me by the familiar spirit, and bring me him up, whom I shall name unto thee."
28:9
And the woman said unto him, "Behold, thou knowest what Shaul hath done, how he hath cut off those that have familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land: wherefore then layest thou a snare for my life, to cause me to die?"
28:10
And Shaul swore to her by 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄, saying, "As 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 liveth, there shall no punishment happen to thee for this thing."
28:11

The Summoning of the Prophet

Then said the woman, "Whom shall I bring up unto thee?" And he said, "Bring me up Shamuel."
28:12
And when the woman saw Shamuel, she cried with a loud voice: and the woman spake to Shaul, saying, "Why hast thou deceived me? for thou art Shaul."
28:13
And the king said unto her, "Be not afraid: for what sawest thou?" And the woman said unto Shaul, "I saw alahiym ascending out of the earth."
28:14
And he said unto her, "What form is he of?" And she said, "An old man cometh up; and he is covered with a mantle." And Shaul perceived that it was Shamuel, and he stooped with his face to the ground, and bowed himself.
28:15

The Final Judicial Decree

And Shamuel said to Shaul, "Why hast thou disquieted me, to bring me up?" And Shaul answered, "I am sore distressed; for the Philistines make war against me, and Alahiym is departed from me, and answereth me no more, neither by prophets, nor by dreams: therefore I have called thee, that thou mayest make known unto me what I shall do."
28:16
Then said Shamuel, "Wherefore then dost thou ask of me, seeing 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 is departed from thee, and is become thine enemy?"
28:17
"And 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 hath done to him, as he spake by me: for 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 hath rent the kingdom out of thine hand, and given it to thy neighbor, even to Dawid:"
28:18
"Because thou obeyedst not the voice of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄, nor executedst his fierce wrath upon Amalek, therefore hath 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 done this thing unto thee this day."
28:19
"Moreover 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 will also deliver Yashar'al with thee into the hand of the Philistines: and tomorrow shalt thou and thy sons be with me: 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 also shall deliver the host of Yashar'al into the hand of the Philistines."
28:20

The Collapse of the King

Then Shaul fell straightway all along on the earth, and was sore afraid, because of the words of Shamuel: and there was no strength in him; for he had eaten no bread all the day, nor all the night.
28:21

The Feast of the Condemned

And the woman came unto Shaul, and saw that he was sore troubled, and said unto him, "Behold, thine handmaid hath obeyed thy voice, and I have put my life in my hand, and have hearkened unto thy words which thou spakest unto me."
28:22
"Now therefore, I pray thee, hearken thou also unto the voice of thine handmaid, and let me set a morsel of bread before thee; and eat, that thou mayest have strength, when thou goest on thy way."
28:23
But he refused, and said, "I will not eat." But his servants, together with the woman, compelled him; and he hearkened unto their voice. So he arose from the earth, and sat upon the bed.
28:24
And the woman had a fat calf in the house; and she hasted, and killed it, and took flour, and kneaded it, and did bake unleavened bread thereof:
28:25
And she brought it before Shaul, and before his servants; and they did eat. Then they rose up, and went away that night.