Saul Asks To Talk with Samuel's Ghost
1-3 Samuel had died some time earlier, and people from all over Israel had attended his funeral in his hometown of Ramah.
Meanwhile, Saul had been trying to get rid of everyone who spoke with the spirits of the dead. But one day the Philistines brought their soldiers together to attack Israel.
Achish told David, “Of course, you know that you and your men must fight as part of our Philistine army.”
David answered, “That will give you a chance to see for yourself just how well we can fight!”
“In that case,” Achish said, “you and your men will always be my bodyguards.”
4 The Philistines went to Shunem and set up camp. Saul called the army of Israel together, and they set up their camp in Gilboa. 5 Saul took one look at the Philistine army and started shaking with fear. 6 So he asked the Lord what to do. But the Lord would not answer, either in a dream or by a priest or a prophet. 7 Then Saul told his officers, “Find me a woman who can talk to the spirits of the dead. I'll go to her and find out what's going to happen.”
His servants told him, “There's a woman at Endor who can talk to spirits of the dead.”
8 That night, Saul put on different clothing so nobody would recognize him. Then he and two of his men went to the woman, and asked, “Will you bring up the ghost of someone for us?”
9 The woman said, “Why are you trying to trick me and get me killed? You know King Saul has killed everyone who talks to the spirits of the dead!”
10 Saul replied, “I swear by the living Lord that nothing will happen to you because of this.”
11 “Who do you want me to bring up?” she asked.
“Bring up the ghost of Samuel,” he answered.
12 When the woman saw Samuel, she screamed. Then she turned to Saul and said, “You've tricked me! You're the king!”
13 “Don't be afraid,” Saul replied. “Just tell me what you see.”
She answered, “I see a spirit rising up out of the ground.”
14 “What does it look like?”
“It looks like an old man wearing a robe.”
Saul knew it was Samuel, so he bowed down low.
15 “Why are you bothering me by bringing me up like this?” Samuel asked.
“I'm terribly worried,” Saul answered. “The Philistines are about to attack me. God has turned his back on me and won't answer any more by prophets or by dreams. What should I do?”
16 Samuel said:
If the Lord has turned away from you and is now your enemy, don't ask me what to do. 17 I've already told you: The Lord has sworn to take the kingdom from you and give it to David. And that's just what he's doing! 18 When the Lord was angry with the Amalekites, he told you to destroy them, but you didn't do it. That's why the Lord is doing this to you. 19 Tomorrow the Lord will let the Philistines defeat Israel's army, then you and your sons will join me down here in the world of the dead.
20 At once, Saul collapsed and lay stretched out on the floor, terrified at what Samuel had said. He was weak because he had not eaten anything since the day before.
21 The woman came over to Saul, and when she saw that he was completely terrified, she said, “Your Majesty, I listened to you and risked my life to do what you asked. 22 Now please listen to me. Let me get you a little something to eat. It will give you strength for your walk back to camp.”
23 “No, I won't eat!”
But his officers and the woman kept on urging Saul, until he finally agreed. He got up off the floor and sat on the bed. 24 At once the woman killed a calf that she had been fattening up. She cooked part of the meat and baked some thin bread. 25 Then she served the food to Saul and his officers, who ate and left before daylight.
Sauls pie garu izsaucējas
(5Moz 18:9–14)1 Tajās dienās filistieši pulcējās kara nometnē, lai karotu ar Israēlu, un Ahīšs teica Dāvidam: “Ielāgo, tev ar saviem vīriem jānāk man līdzi uz nometni!” 2 Dāvids sacīja Ahīšam: “Tad tu pārliecināsies, uz ko tavs kalps spējīgs!” Un Ahīšs sacīja Dāvidam: “Tad es tevi iecelšu par savu miesassargu uz mūžu!”
3 Samuēls nomira. Viss Israēls viņu apraudāja un apbedīja viņa pilsētā Rāmā. Bet Sauls bija izdzinis no zemes garu izsaucējus un zintniekus. 4 Sapulcējās filistieši, nāca un uzslēja nometni Šūnēmā, bet Sauls sapulcināja visu Israēlu, un viņi uzslēja nometni Gilboā. 5 Kad Sauls ieraudzīja filistiešu nometni, viņš izbijās un viņa sirds briesmīgi drebēja. 6 Sauls izjautāja Kungu, bet Kungs viņam neatbildēja ne sapņos, ne ar lozēm, ne praviešiem. 7 Tad Sauls teica saviem kalpiem: “Sameklējiet man kādu sievu, kas prot izsaukt mirušo garus, es došos pie viņas un meklēšu atbildi caur viņu.” Viņa kalpi tam teica: “Redzi, Ēn-Dorā ir mirušo garu izsaucēja!” 8 Sauls pārģērbās, lai viņu nepazītu, un naktī kopā ar diviem vīriem atnāca pie tās sievas. Viņš teica: “Jel pareģo man caur mirušo garu un izsauc man to, kuru tev teikšu.” 9 Tā sieva viņam sacīja: “Tu taču zini, ko Sauls ir izdarījis – iztīrījis zemi no garu izsaucējiem un zintniekiem. Kāpēc tu liec lamatas manai dvēselei, lai mani nonāvētu?” 10 Sauls viņai zvērēja pie Kunga, sacīdams: “Dzīvs Kungs! – tev nebūs vainas par šo lietu.” 11 Un sieva prasīja: “Ko man tev izsaukt?” Viņš teica: “Izsauc man Samuēlu!” 12 Kad tā sieva ieraudzīja Samuēlu, viņa skaļi iebrēcās. Tā sieva teica Saulam: “Kāpēc tu mani piekrāpi? Tu esi Sauls!” 13 Un ķēniņš viņai teica: “Nebaidies! Ko tu redzēji?” Sieva atbildēja Saulam: “Es redzēju Dievu kāpjam augšā no zemes!” 14 Viņš tai prasīja: “Kāds viņš izskatās?” Viņa teica: “Vecs vīrs kāpj augšā, ietinies apmetnī.” Tad Sauls saprata, ka tas ir Samuēls, un viņš noliecās ar seju līdz zemei un zemojās.
15 Samuēls prasīja Saulam: “Kāpēc tu mani traucēji un sauci mani?” Sauls atbildēja: “Esmu lielos spaidos – filistieši sākuši pret mani karu, bet Dievs no manis novērsies un neatbild ne caur praviešiem, ne sapņiem. Es tevi saucu, lai uzzinātu, ko man darīt!”
16 Samuēls teica: “Kāpēc tu prasi man, ja Kungs ir novērsies no tevis un kļuvis tev pretinieks? 17 Kungs ir darījis, kā viņš caur mani runājis, – Kungs izrāvis ķēniņvalsti no tavas rokas un atdevis Dāvidam, tavam tuvākajam. 18 Tāpēc ka tu neklausīji Kungu un nepiepildīji viņa dusmu kvēli pret amālēkiešiem, Kungs tev šodien tā darījis. 19 Kopā ar tevi Kungs nodevis filistiešu rokās arī Israēlu – jau rīt tu būsi pie manis kopā ar saviem dēliem! Un arī Israēla karapulku Kungs nodos filistiešu rokās!” 20 Sauls tūliņ pilnā augumā nokrita pie zemes, viņš bija pārbijies no Samuēla vārdiem, turklāt viņam nemaz nebija spēka, jo viņš visu dienu un nakti neko nebija ēdis. 21 Tā sieva pienāca pie Saula. Redzēdama, ka viņš ir galīgi pārbijies, tā sacīja viņam: “Redzi, tava kalpone ir tevi paklausījusi! Es liku savu dzīvību saujā un paklausīju taviem vārdiem, ko tu man sacīji. 22 Tad nu arī tu uzklausi savu kalponi. Es celšu tev priekšā maizes kumosu – ēd, un tev būs spēks doties ceļā.” 23 Viņš to noraidīja, teikdams: “Es neēdīšu!” Bet viņa kalpi un arī tā sieva pierunāja viņu, un viņš tos paklausīja – piecēlās no zemes un apsēdās gultā. 24 Tai sievai mājā bija barots teļš, un viņa to steigšus nokāva. Viņa ņēma miltus, iejauca un izcepa neraudzētas maizes. 25 Viņa to pasniedza Saulam un viņa kalpiem, un tie ēda. Tad viņi cēlās un tajā pašā naktī devās projām.
