1En aquellos días los filisteos reunieron sus ejércitos para guerrear contra Israel. ―Tú y tus hombres tienen que ayudarnos en la guerra —dijo a David el rey Aquis.2―Muy bien —dijo David—. Ya verás de cuánta ayuda podemos serte. ―Si lo haces, serás mi guardaespaldas durante el resto de tu vida —le dijo Aquis.3Por ese entonces Samuel ya había muerto y todo Israel lo había llorado. Lo sepultaron en Ramá, su ciudad. El rey Saúl había expulsado a todos los invocadores de los muertos y adivinos de la tierra de Israel.4Los filisteos establecieron su campamento en Sunén, y Saúl y los ejércitos de Israel estaban en Guilboa.5Cuando Saúl vio el campamento de los filisteos, se llenó de pánico6y consultó al SEÑOR sobre lo que debía hacer. Pero el SEÑOR no le contestó ni por sueños, ni por urim,[1] ni por profetas.7Saúl entonces dio órdenes a sus ayudantes de que tratasen de encontrar un médium para preguntarle lo que debía hacer. Y le dijeron que había una en Endor.8Saúl se disfrazó usando vestiduras ordinarias en vez de sus túnicas reales, y se presentó ante la mujer de noche, acompañado por dos hombres. ―Quiero hablar con un hombre muerto —le rogó—. ¿Podrás hacer venir su espíritu?9―¿Qué? ¿Quieres que me maten? —le dijo la mujer—. Tú sabes que Saúl ha hecho ejecutar a todos los invocadores de los muertos y adivinos. Tú debes ser un espía.10Pero Saúl le juró solemnemente que no.11Por fin la mujer dijo: ―Bien, ¿a quién quieres que te traiga? ―Tráeme a Samuel —contestó Saúl.12Cuando la mujer vio a Samuel, le gritó a Saúl: ―¡Me has engañado! ¡Tú eres Saúl!13―No tengas miedo —le dijo el rey—. ¿Qué es lo que ves? ―Veo una forma nebulosa que sube de la tierra —dijo ella.14―¿A qué se parece? ―Es un anciano envuelto en una túnica. Saúl comprendió que era Samuel y se inclinó delante de él.15―¿Por qué me has molestado haciéndome volver? —preguntó Samuel a Saúl. Estoy muy angustiado —contestó Saúl—. Los filisteos están en guerra con nosotros y Dios me ha abandonado; no quiere responderme ni por profetas ni por sueños. Te he llamado para preguntarte qué debo hacer.16Pero Samuel respondió: ―¿Por qué me preguntas a mí si el SEÑOR te ha dejado y se ha convertido en tu enemigo?17Él ha hecho simplemente lo que por boca mía había predicho y te ha quitado el reino y lo ha dado a tu rival David.18Te trata así porque no has obedecido sus instrucciones cuando él estaba tan enojado con Amalec.19Todo el ejército de Israel será derrotado y destruido por los filisteos mañana, y tú y tus hijos estarán conmigo.20Saúl cayó cuan largo era, paralizado por el temor al escuchar las palabras de Samuel. Además, estaba fatigado, pues no había comido en todo el día.21Cuando la mujer lo vio tan confundido le dijo: ―Señor, yo obedecí tu orden con riesgo de mi vida.22Ahora haz lo que yo diga, y déjame que te dé algo de comer para que puedas recuperar las fuerzas y regresar.23Pero él se negó. Los hombres que estaban con él unieron sus súplicas a las de la mujer, hasta que él finalmente cedió y se levantó y se sentó en un diván.24La mujer había estado engordando un ternero de modo que salió, lo mató, amasó harina y preparó panes sin levadura.25Luego, trajo la comida al rey y a sus hombres, y ellos comieron. Y por la noche se fueron.
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 S 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. (Ex 22:18; Lv 19:31; Lv 20:27; Dt 18:10; 1 S 1:19; 1 S 25:1)4The Philistines assembled and came and encamped at Shunem. And Saul gathered all Israel, and they encamped at Gilboa. (Jos 19:18; 1 S 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. (Ex 28:30; Nm 12:6; Nm 27:21; Dt 33:8; 1 S 14:37; 1 S 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.” (Jos 17:11; 1 Cr 10:13; Sal 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.” (Dt 18:10; 1 R 20:38; 1 R 22:30; 2 Cr 18:29; 2 Cr 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 S 28:3)10But Saul swore to her by the Lord, “As the Lord lives, no punishment shall come upon you for this thing.” (Rt 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 S 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 S 16:14; 1 S 18:12; 1 S 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 S 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 S 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 S 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. (Jue 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.