1På den tid overvejede filistrene igen at gå til angreb på Israel. „I skal følge med os i kamp mod Israel,” sagde kong Akish til David og hans mænd.2„Det er i orden!” svarede David. „Du vil få at se, hvad vi er værd.” „Det kan jeg lide!” udbrød Akish. „Jeg udnævner dig hermed til min personlige livvagt.”
Saul besøger en åndemaner
3Samuel var jo død, og hele Israel havde holdt sørgeklage over ham, dengang de begravede ham i hans hjemby Rama. I Samuels tid havde Saul følt sig nødsaget til at udrydde samtlige spåmænd og dødemanere i landet.4Da filistrenes hær var nået frem til Shunem i Jizre’eldalen, lå Saul i lejr med hele Israels hær på Gilboahøjen med udsigt over dalen.5Da Saul så filistrenes enorme hær, blev han skrækslagen og havde mest lyst til at flygte.6Han prøvede at spørge Herren, om han skulle gå i krig eller ej, men Herren svarede ham ikke et ord, hverken gennem drømme eller ved det hellige lod, Urim, eller ved et budskab fra profeterne.7Derfor gav Saul sine folk ordre til at finde en dødemaner, han kunne spørge til råds. Det lykkedes dem at finde en kvinde i En-Dor,[1] der kunne kontakte de døde.8Så forklædte Saul sig, tog to af sine mænd med, og i ly af mørket opsøgte han kvinden. „Jeg må i kontakt med en af de døde,” bad Saul. „Kan du mane hans ånd frem?”9„Er du ude på at få mig slået ihjel?” spurgte kvinden. „Ved du ikke, at Saul har udryddet landets spåmænd og dødemanere?”10Men Saul svarede: „Så sandt Herren lever, sværger jeg på, at der ikke vil ske dig noget.”11Så spurgte hun: „Hvem er det, du ønsker kontakt med?” „Samuel,” svarede Saul.12Kvinden så nu Samuel, der viste sig for hende, og hun skreg op med det samme: „Du har bedraget mig! Du er jo Saul!”13„Vær ikke bange. Der skal ikke ske dig noget,” svarede kongen. „Men sig mig, hvem det er, du ser.” „Jeg ser en ånd komme op af jorden.”14„Hvordan ser den ud?” „Det er en gammel mand indhyllet i en kappe.” Da forstod Saul, at det var Samuel, og han bøjede sig ærbødigt for ham.15„Hvorfor har du forstyrret mig og manet mig frem?” spurgte Samuel. „Fordi jeg er i knibe,” svarede Saul. „Filistrene er klar til at angribe os, men Gud har forladt mig, og han svarer mig hverken gennem drømme eller ved profeterne. Derfor henvender jeg mig direkte til dig for at få at vide, hvad jeg skal gøre.”16Men Samuel svarede: „Hvorfor spørger du mig, når Herren har forladt dig og er blevet din modstander?17Det er jo hans eget ord, som jeg selv har profeteret for dig, der nu går i opfyldelse: Han vil rive kongedømmet fra dig og give det til din rival, David.18Det er konsekvensen af, at du ikke adlød Herrens ord, dengang han brugte dig som sit redskab til at straffe amalekitterne.19Og hvad værre er: i morgen skal hele Israels hær prisgives og hugges ned af filistrene, og du selv og dine sønner skal ende her hos mig.”20Da kastede Saul sig fladt ned på jorden, lammet af frygt over Samuels ord. Han var desuden udmattet af sult, for han havde ikke spist i næsten et døgn.21Da kvinden så, hvor fortvivlet han var, sagde hun: „Herre, jeg satte livet på spil ved at føje dig.22Nu beder jeg dig om at føje mig og lade mig give dig noget at spise, så du kan komme til kræfter inden hjemturen.”23Saul vægrede sig og sagde: „Jeg kan ikke spise noget.” Men da både kvinden og hans egne mænd ihærdigt prøvede at overtale ham, gav han efter, rejste sig fra gulvet og satte sig op på sengen.24Kvinden skyndte sig nu at slagte sin fedekalv. Hun æltede også mel og bagte usyrnet brød.25Så serverede hun maden for kongen og hans mænd, og de spiste, før de samme nat drog af sted derfra.
1In those days the Philistines gathered their forces for war, to fight against Israel. And Achish said to David, “Understand that you and your men are to go out with me in the army.” (1.Sam 29,1)2David said to Achish, “Very well, you shall know what your servant can do.” And Achish said to David, “Very well, I will make you my bodyguard for life.”3Now Samuel had died, and all Israel had mourned for him and buried him in Ramah, his own city. And Saul had put the mediums and the necromancers out of the land. (2.Mos 22,18; 3.Mos 19,31; 3.Mos 20,27; 5.Mos 18,10; 1.Sam 1,19; 1.Sam 25,1)4The Philistines assembled and came and encamped at Shunem. And Saul gathered all Israel, and they encamped at Gilboa. (Josva 19,18; 1.Sam 31,1)5When Saul saw the army of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart trembled greatly.6And when Saul inquired of the Lord, the Lord did not answer him, either by dreams, or by Urim, or by prophets. (2.Mos 28,30; 4.Mos 12,6; 4.Mos 27,21; 5.Mos 33,8; 1.Sam 14,37; 1.Sam 28,15)7Then Saul said to his servants, “Seek out for me a woman who is a medium, that I may go to her and inquire of her.” And his servants said to him, “Behold, there is a medium at En-dor.” (Josva 17,11; 1.Krøn 10,13; Salm 83,10)8So Saul disguised himself and put on other garments and went, he and two men with him. And they came to the woman by night. And he said, “Divine for me by a spirit and bring up for me whomever I shall name to you.” (5.Mos 18,10; 1.Kong 20,38; 1.Kong 22,30; 2.Krøn 18,29; 2.Krøn 35,22)9The woman said to him, “Surely you know what Saul has done, how he has cut off the mediums and the necromancers from the land. Why then are you laying a trap for my life to bring about my death?” (1.Sam 28,3)10But Saul swore to her by the Lord, “As the Lord lives, no punishment shall come upon you for this thing.” (Ruth 3,13)11Then the woman said, “Whom shall I bring up for you?” He said, “Bring up Samuel for me.”12When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out with a loud voice. And the woman said to Saul, “Why have you deceived me? You are Saul.”13The king said to her, “Do not be afraid. What do you see?” And the woman said to Saul, “I see a god coming up out of the earth.”14He said to her, “What is his appearance?” And she said, “An old man is coming up, and he is wrapped in a robe.” And Saul knew that it was Samuel, and he bowed with his face to the ground and paid homage. (1.Sam 15,27)15Then Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?” Saul answered, “I am in great distress, for the Philistines are warring against me, and God has turned away from me and answers me no more, either by prophets or by dreams. Therefore I have summoned you to tell me what I shall do.” (1.Sam 16,14; 1.Sam 18,12; 1.Sam 28,6)16And Samuel said, “Why then do you ask me, since the Lord has turned from you and become your enemy?17The Lord has done to you as he spoke by me, for the Lord has torn the kingdom out of your hand and given it to your neighbor, David. (1.Sam 15,28)18Because you did not obey the voice of the Lord and did not carry out his fierce wrath against Amalek, therefore the Lord has done this thing to you this day. (1.Sam 15,9)19Moreover, the Lord will give Israel also with you into the hand of the Philistines, and tomorrow you and your sons shall be with me. The Lord will give the army of Israel also into the hand of the Philistines.” (1.Sam 31,2)20Then Saul fell at once full length on the ground, filled with fear because of the words of Samuel. And there was no strength in him, for he had eaten nothing all day and all night.21And the woman came to Saul, and when she saw that he was terrified, she said to him, “Behold, your servant has obeyed you. I have taken my life in my hand and have listened to what you have said to me. (Dom 12,3)22Now therefore, you also obey your servant. Let me set a morsel of bread before you; and eat, that you may have strength when you go on your way.”23He refused and said, “I will not eat.” But his servants, together with the woman, urged him, and he listened to their words. So he arose from the earth and sat on the bed.24Now the woman had a fattened calf in the house, and she quickly killed it, and she took flour and kneaded it and baked unleavened bread of it,25and she put it before Saul and his servants, and they ate. Then they rose and went away that night.