The Philistines Gather against Israel

1  וַֽיְהִי֙ (And it came to pass) בַּיָּמִ֣ים (in days) הָהֵ֔ם (those) וַיִּקְבְּצ֨וּ (that gathered together) פְלִשְׁתִּ֤ים (the Philistines) אֶת־ (-) מַֽחֲנֵיהֶם֙ (their armies) לַצָּבָ֔א (for the war), לְהִלָּחֵ֖ם (to fight) בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (with Israel). וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (And said) אָכִישׁ֙ (Achish) אֶל־ (to) דָּוִ֔ד (David), יָדֹ֣עַ (Knowing) תֵּדַ֗ע (You shall surely know) כִּ֤י (that) אִתִּי֙ (with me) תֵּצֵ֣א (you will go out) בַֽמַּחֲנֶ֔ה (into the camp), אַתָּ֖ה (you) וַאֲנָשֶֽׁיךָ׃ (and your men).

2  וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (And said) דָּוִד֙ (David) אֶל־ (to) אָכִ֔ישׁ (Achish), לָכֵן֙ (Surely) אַתָּ֣ה (you) תֵדַ֔ע (know) אֵ֥ת (-) אֲשֶׁר־ (what) יַעֲשֶׂ֖ה (can do) עַבְדֶּ֑ךָ (your servant).

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (And said) אָכִישׁ֙ (Achish) אֶל־ (to) דָּוִ֔ד (David), לָכֵ֗ן (Therefore) שֹׁמֵ֧ר (the keeper) לְרֹאשִׁ֛י (of my head) אֲשִֽׂימְךָ֖ (I am appointing you) כָּל־ (all) הַיָּמִֽים׃פ (the days).

3  וּשְׁמוּאֵ֣ל (And Samuel) מֵ֔ת (had died), וַיִּסְפְּדוּ־ (and had lamented) לוֹ֙ (for him) כָּל־ (all) יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (Israel) וַיִּקְבְּרֻ֥הוּ (and buried him) בָרָמָ֖ה (in Ramah), וּבְעִיר֑וֹ (even in his city). וְשָׁא֗וּל (And Saul) הֵסִ֛יר (had put) הָאֹב֥וֹת (the mediums) וְאֶת־ (and) הַיִּדְּעֹנִ֖ים (the spiritists) מֵהָאָֽרֶץ׃ (out of the land).

4  וַיִּקָּבְצ֣וּ (And gathered together) פְלִשְׁתִּ֔ים (the Philistines), וַיָּבֹ֖אוּ (and they came) וַיַּחֲנ֣וּ (and encamped) בְשׁוּנֵ֑ם (at Shunem). וַיִּקְבֹּ֤ץ (And gathered together) שָׁאוּל֙ (Saul) אֶת־ (-) כָּל־ (all) יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (Israel), וַֽיַּחֲנ֖וּ (and they encamped) בַּגִּלְבֹּֽעַ׃ (at Gilboa). 5  וַיַּ֥רְא (And saw) שָׁא֖וּל (Saul) אֶת־ (-) מַחֲנֵ֣ה (the camp) פְלִשְׁתִּ֑ים (of the Philistines), וַיִּרָ֕א (and he was afraid), וַיֶּחֱרַ֥ד (and trembled) לִבּ֖וֹ (his heart) מְאֹֽד׃ (greatly). 6  וַיִּשְׁאַ֤ל (And inquired) שָׁאוּל֙ (Saul) בַּֽיהוָ֔ה (of YHWH), וְלֹ֥א (and not) עָנָ֖הוּ (did answer him) יְהוָ֑ה (YHWH) גַּ֧ם (either) בַּחֲלֹמ֛וֹת (by dreams) גַּ֥ם (or) בָּאוּרִ֖ים (by the Urim) גַּ֥ם (or) בַּנְּבִיאִֽם׃ (by the prophets).

Saul and the Medium of En-dor

7  וַיֹּ֨אמֶר (And said) שָׁא֜וּל (Saul) לַעֲבָדָ֗יו (to his servants), בַּקְּשׁוּ־ (Find) לִי֙ (me) אֵ֣שֶׁת (a woman) בַּעֲלַת־ (who is) א֔וֹב (a medium), וְאֵלְכָ֥ה (that I may go) אֵלֶ֖יהָ (to her) וְאֶדְרְשָׁה־ (and inquire) בָּ֑הּ (of her).

וַיֹּאמְר֤וּ (And said) עֲבָדָיו֙ (his servants) אֵלָ֔יו (to him), הִנֵּ֛ה (Behold), אֵ֥שֶׁת (a woman) בַּֽעֲלַת־ (of a mistress) א֖וֹב (a familiar spirit) בְּעֵ֥ין (is at En-) דּֽוֹר׃ (dor).

8  וַיִּתְחַפֵּ֣שׂ (And disguised himself) שָׁא֗וּל (Saul) וַיִּלְבַּשׁ֙ (and put on) בְּגָדִ֣ים (clothes) אֲחֵרִ֔ים (other), וַיֵּ֣לֶךְ (and went) ה֗וּא (he) וּשְׁנֵ֤י (and two) אֲנָשִׁים֙ (men) עִמּ֔וֹ (with him), וַיָּבֹ֥אוּ (and they came) אֶל־ (to) הָאִשָּׁ֖ה (the woman) לָ֑יְלָה (by night). וַיֹּ֗אמֶר (And he said), קָסוֹמִי (Divine) נָ֥א (please) לִי֙ (for me) בָּא֔וֹב (the familiar spirit), וְהַ֣עֲלִי (and bring up) לִ֔י (for me) אֵ֥ת (-) אֲשֶׁר־ (whom) אֹמַ֖ר (I say) אֵלָֽיִךְ׃ (to you).

9  וַתֹּ֨אמֶר (And said) הָֽאִשָּׁ֜ה (the woman) אֵלָ֗יו (to him) הִנֵּ֨ה (Behold), אַתָּ֤ה (you) יָדַ֙עְתָּ֙ (know) אֵ֣ת (-) אֲשֶׁר־ (what) עָשָׂ֣ה (has done) שָׁא֔וּל (Saul), אֲשֶׁ֥ר (how) הִכְרִ֛ית (he has cut off) אֶת־ (-) הָאֹב֥וֹת (the mediums) וְאֶת־ (and) הַיִּדְּעֹנִ֖י (the spiritists) מִן־ (from) הָאָ֑רֶץ (the land). וְלָמָ֥ה (And why) אַתָּ֛ה (do you) מִתְנַקֵּ֥שׁ (lay a snare) בְּנַפְשִׁ֖י (for my life), לַהֲמִיתֵֽנִי׃ (to cause me to die)?

10  וַיִּשָּׁ֤בַֽע (And swore) לָהּ֙ (to her) שָׁא֔וּל (Saul) בַּֽיהוָ֖ה (by YHWH), לֵאמֹ֑ר (saying), חַי־ (As lives) יְהוָ֕ה (YHWH), אִֽם־ (not) יִקְּרֵ֥ךְ (shall come upon you) עָוֺ֖ן (punishment) בַּדָּבָ֥ר (for the thing) הַזֶּֽה׃ (this).

11  וַתֹּ֙אמֶר֙ (And said) הָֽאִשָּׁ֔ה (the woman), אֶת־ (-) מִ֖י (whom) אַֽעֲלֶה־ (shall I bring up) לָּ֑ךְ (for you)?

וַיֹּ֕אמֶר (And he said), אֶת־ (-) שְׁמוּאֵ֖ל (Samuel) הַֽעֲלִי־ (bring up) לִֽי׃ (for me).

12  וַתֵּ֤רֶא (And saw) הָֽאִשָּׁה֙ (the woman) אֶת־ (-) שְׁמוּאֵ֔ל (Samuel), וַתִּזְעַ֖ק (and she cried out) בְּק֣וֹל (with a voice) גָּד֑וֹל (loud), וַתֹּאמֶר֩ (and spoke) הָאִשָּׁ֨ה (the woman) אֶל־ (to) שָׁא֧וּל (Saul), לֵאמֹ֛ר (saying), לָ֥מָּה (Why) רִמִּיתָ֖נִי (have you deceived me)? וְאַתָּ֥ה (And for you are) שָׁאֽוּל׃ (Saul).

13  וַיֹּ֨אמֶר (And said) לָ֥הּ (to her) הַמֶּ֛לֶךְ (the king), אַל־ (Not) תִּֽירְאִ֖י (do be afraid), כִּ֣י (for) מָ֣ה (what) רָאִ֑ית (did you see)?

וַתֹּ֤אמֶר (And said) הָֽאִשָּׁה֙ (the woman) אֶל־ (to) שָׁא֔וּל (Saul), אֱלֹהִ֥ים (A god) רָאִ֖יתִי (I have seen) עֹלִ֥ים (ascending) מִן־ (out) הָאָֽרֶץ׃ (of the earth).

14  וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (And he said) לָהּ֙ (to her), מַֽה־ (What is) תָּאֳר֔וֹ (his form)?

וַתֹּ֗אמֶר (And she said), אִ֤ישׁ (A man) זָקֵן֙ (old) עֹלֶ֔ה (is coming up), וְה֥וּא (and he) עֹטֶ֖ה (is covered with) מְעִ֑יל (a mantle).

וַיֵּ֤דַע (And perceived) שָׁאוּל֙ (Saul) כִּֽי־ (that) שְׁמוּאֵ֣ל (Samuel) ה֔וּא (it was), וַיִּקֹּ֥ד (and he stooped) אַפַּ֛יִם (with his face) אַ֖רְצָה (to the ground), וַיִּשְׁתָּֽחוּ׃ס (and bowed down).

15  וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (And said) שְׁמוּאֵל֙ (Samuel) אֶל־ (to) שָׁא֔וּל (Saul), לָ֥מָּה (Why) הִרְגַּזְתַּ֖נִי (have you disturbed me) לְהַעֲל֣וֹת (by bringing up) אֹתִ֑י (me)?

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (And answered) שָׁ֠אוּל (Saul), צַר־ (distressed) לִ֨י (I am) מְאֹ֜ד (deeply), וּפְלִשְׁתִּ֣ים׀ (and for the Philistines) נִלְחָמִ֣ים (are fighting) בִּ֗י (against me), וֵֽאלֹהִ֞ים (and God) סָ֤ר (has departed) מֵֽעָלַי֙ (from me) וְלֹֽא־ (and not) עָנָ֣נִי (does answer me) ע֗וֹד (anymore), גַּ֤ם (neither) בְּיַֽד־ (by) הַנְּבִיאִם֙ (the prophets) גַּם־ (and not) בַּ֣חֲלֹמ֔וֹת (by dreams). וָאֶקְרָאֶ֣ה (And I have called) לְךָ֔ (to you), לְהוֹדִיעֵ֖נִי (that you may reveal to me) מָ֥ה (what) אֶעֱשֶֽׂה׃ס (I should do).

16  וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (And said) שְׁמוּאֵ֔ל (Samuel), וְלָ֖מָּה (And why) תִּשְׁאָלֵ֑נִי (do you ask me), וַיהוָ֛ה (since YHWH) סָ֥ר (has turned aside) מֵעָלֶ֖יךָ (from you) וַיְהִ֥י (and has become) עָרֶֽךָ׃ (your enemy)? 17  וַיַּ֤עַשׂ (And has done) יְהוָה֙ (YHWH) ל֔וֹ (for Himself) כַּאֲשֶׁ֖ר (as) דִּבֶּ֣ר (He spoke) בְּיָדִ֑י (by me), וַיִּקְרַ֨ע (and for) יְהוָ֤ה (YHWH) אֶת־ (has torn) הַמַּמְלָכָה֙ (the kingdom) מִיָּדֶ֔ךָ (out of your hand) וַֽיִּתְּנָ֖הּ (and given it) לְרֵעֲךָ֥ (to your neighbor)— לְדָוִֽד׃ (to David). 18  כַּאֲשֶׁ֤ר (Because) לֹֽא־ (not) שָׁמַ֙עְתָּ֙ (you did obey) בְּק֣וֹל (the voice) יְהוָ֔ה (of YHWH), וְלֹֽא־ (and not) עָשִׂ֥יתָ (kill) חֲרוֹן־ (fierce) אַפּ֖וֹ (His wrath) בַּעֲמָלֵ֑ק (upon Amalek), עַל־ (upon) כֵּן֙ (thus) הַדָּבָ֣ר (the thing) הַזֶּ֔ה (this) עָשָֽׂה־ (has done) לְךָ֥ (to you) יְהוָ֖ה (YHWH) הַיּ֥וֹם (day) הַזֶּֽה׃ (this). 19  וְיִתֵּ֣ן (And will deliver) יְ֠הוָה (YHWH) גַּ֣ם (also) אֶת־ (-) יִשְׂרָאֵ֤ל (Israel) עִמְּךָ֙ (with you) בְּיַד־ (into the hand) פְּלִשְׁתִּ֔ים (of the Philistines), וּמָחָ֕ר (and tomorrow) אַתָּ֥ה (you) וּבָנֶ֖יךָ (and your sons will be) עִמִּ֑י (with me). גַּ֚ם (And) אֶת־ (-) מַחֲנֵ֣ה (the army) יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (of Israel) יִתֵּ֥ן (will deliver) יְהוָ֖ה (YHWH) בְּיַד־ (into the hand) פְּלִשְׁתִּֽים׃ (of the Philistines).

20  וַיְמַהֵ֣ר (And hurried) שָׁא֗וּל (Saul) וַיִּפֹּ֤ל (and fell) מְלֹא־ (the fullness) קֽוֹמָתוֹ֙ (of his stature) אַ֔רְצָה (to the earth), וַיִּרָ֥א (and he was afraid) מְאֹ֖ד (dreadfully) מִדִּבְרֵ֣י (because of the words) שְׁמוּאֵ֑ל (of Samuel). גַּם־ (And) כֹּ֙חַ֙ (power) לֹא־ (not) הָ֣יָה (there was) ב֔וֹ (in him), כִּ֣י (for) לֹ֤א (not) אָכַל֙ (he had eaten) לֶ֔חֶם (food) כָּל־ (all) הַיּ֖וֹם (the day) וְכָל־ (or all) הַלָּֽיְלָה׃ (the night).

21  וַתָּב֤וֹא (And came) הָֽאִשָּׁה֙ (the woman) אֶל־ (to) שָׁא֔וּל (Saul), וַתֵּ֖רֶא (and saw) כִּי־ (that) נִבְהַ֣ל (he was troubled) מְאֹ֑ד (severely), וַתֹּ֣אמֶר (and she said) אֵלָ֗יו (to him) הִנֵּ֨ה (Behold), שָׁמְעָ֤ה (has obeyed) שִׁפְחָֽתְךָ֙ (your maidservant) בְּקוֹלֶ֔ךָ (your voice), וָאָשִׂ֤ים (and I have put) נַפְשִׁי֙ (my life) בְּכַפִּ֔י (in my palm) וָֽאֶשְׁמַע֙ (and heeded) אֶת־ (-) דְּבָרֶ֔יךָ (the words) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (that) דִּבַּ֖רְתָּ (you spoke) אֵלָֽי׃ (to me). 22  וְעַתָּ֗ה (And now) שְׁמַֽע־ (listen) נָ֤א (please) גַם־ (also) אַתָּה֙ (you) בְּק֣וֹל (to the voice) שִׁפְחָתֶ֔ךָ (of your maidservant), וְאָשִׂ֧מָה (and let me set) לְפָנֶ֛יךָ (before you) פַּת־ (a piece) לֶ֖חֶם (of bread), וֶאֱכ֑וֹל (and eat), וִיהִ֤י (that there may be) בְךָ֙ (to you) כֹּ֔חַ (power) כִּ֥י (when) תֵלֵ֖ךְ (you go) בַּדָּֽרֶךְ׃ (in the way).

23  וַיְמָאֵ֗ן (And he refused) וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ (and said), לֹ֣א (Not) אֹכַ֔ל (I will eat). וַיִּפְרְצוּ־ (And urged) ב֤וֹ (him) עֲבָדָיו֙ (his servants), וְגַם־ (and also) הָ֣אִשָּׁ֔ה (the woman), וַיִּשְׁמַ֖ע (and he listened) לְקֹלָ֑ם (to their voice). וַיָּ֙קָם֙ (And he arose) מֵֽהָאָ֔רֶץ (from the ground) וַיֵּ֖שֶׁב (and sat) אֶל־ (on) הַמִּטָּֽה׃ (the bed).

24  וְלָאִשָּׁ֤ה (And to the woman) עֵֽגֶל־ (was a calf) מַרְבֵּק֙ (of the stall) בַּבַּ֔יִת (in the house), וַתְּמַהֵ֖ר (and she hurried) וַתִּזְבָּחֵ֑הוּ (and slaughtered it), וַתִּקַּח־ (and she took) קֶ֣מַח (flour) וַתָּ֔לָשׁ (and kneaded it) וַתֹּפֵ֖הוּ (and baked it) מַצּֽוֹת׃ (as unleavened bread). 25  וַתַּגֵּ֧שׁ (And she brought it) לִפְנֵֽי־ (before the face of) שָׁא֛וּל (Saul) וְלִפְנֵ֥י (and) עֲבָדָ֖יו (his servants), וַיֹּאכֵ֑לוּ (and they ate). וַיָּקֻ֥מוּ (And they rose) וַיֵּלְכ֖וּ (and went away) בַּלַּ֥יְלָה (the night) הַהֽוּא׃פ (that).