1 And it came to pass in those days, that the Philistines gathered their armies together for warfare, to fight with Israel. And Achish said unto David, Know thou assuredly, that thou shalt go out with me to battle, thou and thy men.
2 And David said to Achish, Surely thou shalt know what thy servant can do. And Achish said to David, Therefore will I make thee keeper of mine head for ever.
3 Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel had lamented him, and buried him in Ramah, even in his own city. And Saul had put away those that had familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land.
4 And the Philistines gathered themselves together, and came and pitched in Shunem: and Saul gathered all Israel together, and they pitched in Gilboa.
5 And when Saul saw the host of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart greatly trembled.
6 And when Saul enquired of the Lord, the Lord answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets.
7 Then said Saul unto his servants, Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and enquire of her. And his servants said to him, Behold, there is a woman that hath a familiar spirit at Endor.
8 And Saul 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.
9 And the woman said unto him, Behold, thou knowest what Saul 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?
10 And Saul sware to her by the Lord, saying, As the Lord liveth, there shall no punishment happen to thee for this thing.
11 Then said the woman, Whom shall I bring up unto thee? And he said, Bring me up Samuel.
12 And when the woman saw Samuel, she cried with a loud voice: and the woman spake to Saul, saying, Why hast thou deceived me? for thou art Saul.
13 And the king said unto her, Be not afraid: for what sawest thou? And the woman said unto Saul, I saw gods ascending out of the earth.
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 Saul perceived that it was Samuel, and he stooped with his face to the ground, and bowed himself.
15 And Samuel said to Saul, Why hast thou disquieted me, to bring me up? And Saul answered, I am sore distressed; for the Philistines make war against me, and God 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.
16 Then said Samuel, Wherefore then dost thou ask of me, seeing the Lord is departed from thee, and is become thine enemy?
17 And the Lord hath done to him, as he spake by me: for the Lord hath rent the kingdom out of thine hand, and given it to thy neighbour, even to David:
18 Because thou obeyedst not the voice of the Lord, nor executedst his fierce wrath upon Amalek, therefore hath the Lord done this thing unto thee this day.
19 Moreover the Lord will also deliver Israel with thee into the hand of the Philistines: and to morrow shalt thou and thy sons be with me: the Lord also shall deliver the host of Israel into the hand of the Philistines.
20 Then Saul fell straightway all along on the earth, and was sore afraid, because of the words of Samuel: and there was no strength in him; for he had eaten no bread all the day, nor all the night.
21 And the woman came unto Saul, 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.
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.
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.
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:
25 And she brought it before Saul, and before his servants; and they did eat. Then they rose up, and went away that night.
<html><b>Shmuel had died.</b> It was already stated, “and Shmuel died,”1<i class=“footnote”>Above 25:1.</i> but since [Scripture] came to speak about Shaul, that he had to ask of a medium of <span>אוֹב</span>,2<i class=“footnote”>See Maseches Sanhedrin 65b for description of <span>אוֹב</span>.</i>, it begins by stating, “and Shmuel had died,” for had he been alive, Shaul would have inquired of him. But since Shaul had abolished the <span>אוֹב</span> mediums,3<i class=“footnote”>Pursuant to the prohibition stated in Vayikra 19:31. Shaul removed the mediums after Shmuel died. Before that, it was not necessary for him to do so because while Shmuel was alive, prophecy was widespread in Yisroel, so no one sought out the medium of <span>אוֹב</span> or <span>יׅדְּעֹנִי</span>.</i> he had to seek out find an <span>אוֹב</span> medium. <b>And all of Yisroel mourned him and buried him in Romoh, in his city.</b> And all Yisroel mourned him and buried him in Romoh, and each person mourned him in his own city; and 'in his city' is connected with 'and they mourned him,' i.e., they mourned and buried him in Romoh, and each person mourned him in his own city.4<i class=“footnote”>In the same manner as he was mourned in his home town of Romoh.</i>
<html><b>Nor through the Urim.</b> Because he had slain [the kohanim of] Nov,5<i class=“footnote”>See above Chapter 22.</i> the City of Kohanim, he was not answered.</html>
<html><b>Shaul disguised himself.</b> He changed his clothes, and similarly, 'disguise yourself [<span>הִתְחַפֵּשׂ</span>] and come into battle,'6<i class=“footnote”>II Melochim 22:30.</i> and similarly, 'its intensity makes me change [<span>יׅתְחַפֵּשׂ</span>] my clothing.'7<i class=“footnote”>Iyov 30:18.</i> And so did Targum Yonoson render, 'and Shaul changed.' <b>They came to the woman at night.</b> [They actually came] during the daytime, but because of their distress, it seemed to them as night. So did R. Tanchuma expound.</html>
<html><b>To entrap.</b> Seek a stumbling block [i.e., trap].</html>
<html><b>She screamed loudly.</b> For she saw him ascending not in the usual manner8<i class=“footnote”>Radak suggests that the moment the woman saw the manner in which Shmuel came up, she realized that the man who had come to her was Shaul, and that is why she screamed.</i> of those who ascend [through the <span>אוֹב</span> medium], for when one conjures up [the dead], they ascend with their feet upward, while this one was ascending with his head upward, in honor of Shaul.9<i class=“footnote”>Vayikra Rabboh 26:7.</i></html>
<b>I saw a godly man rising from the earth.</b> Two angels, Moshe and Shmuel,10<i class=“footnote”>This is alluded to in the words <span>אִישׁ זֲקִן עֹלֶה וְהוּא עֹטֶה מְעִיל</span>, ‘an old man ascends [i.e., Moshe] and he is wearing a robe [i.e., Shmuel].’</i> for Shmuel feared, 'Perhaps I am being summoned for judgement,' and he therefore brought Moshe up with him,11<i class=“footnote”>Each person must face judgment within twelve months of his death. Shmuel wanted that Moshe testify on his behalf.</i> as it is stated in [Maseches] Chagiga and Ta'anis.12<i class=“footnote”></i></html>
<html><b>What does he look like.</b> Three things were said regarding <span>אוֹב</span>: The one who conjures him [the dead] up, sees him, but does not hear his voice; the one who inquires of him, hears him, but does not see him, and therefore, he [Shaul] asked, 'What does he look like?', and the others neither see or hear him. <b>He is garbed in a robe.</b> For he was accustomed to wear a robe, as it is stated, “and his mother would make him a small robe.”13<i class=“footnote”>Above 2:19.</i> He was buried with his robe, and so he arose. And so in the future [Resurrection of the Dead], they will rise with their garments.</html>
<html><b>Have you disturbed me.</b> You have frightened me.14<i class=“footnote”>The Midrash explains that Shmuel feared that his day of judgment had come. See above verse—Radak</i> <b>Neither through the prophets nor through dreams.</b> But he did not mention to him the Urim and Tumim, even though he had inquired of them, as it is stated above,15<i class=“footnote”> verse 6.</i> because he was ashamed of it, since he had slain [the kohanim of] Nov, the City of the Kohanim.16<i class=“footnote”>Maseches Berachos 12b and Rashi there.</i> <b>Therefore I called upon you.</b> An expression meaning, 'and I have been summoned after you,' as in, “I was summoned [<span>נִקְראׁ נִקְרֵיתִי</span>] on Mount Gilbo'a,”17<i class=“footnote”>II Shmuel 1:6.</i> and as in “and there chanced [<span>נִקְרָא</span>] an unscrupulous man.”18<i class=“footnote”>Ibid. 20:1.</i> It was necessary for me to be summoned after you, that you let me know what I should do.</html>
<html><b>But why do you ask me.</b> Since you have inquired of the living prophets. <b>And become your adversary.</b> He has become the supporter of the one whose adversary you are.19<i class=“footnote”>I.e., Dovid.</i> <b>Adversary.</b> An expression meaning an enemy. In Scripture there are many [examples of the word <span>עׇרֶךָ</span>], “and the world will become full with enemies [<span>עׇרִים</span>]”;20<i class=“footnote”>Yeshay 14:21.</i> “and I will destroy your enemies [<span>עׇרֶיךָ</span>]”;21<i class=“footnote”>Micha 5:13.</i> “may this dream be upon your enemies and its interpretation upon your adversaries [<span>לְעָרָךְ</span>]”;22<i class=“footnote”>Daniel 4:16.</i></html>
<html><b>To your fellow, to Dovid.</b> But during his lifetime, he [Shmuel] did not mention his name [Dovid] to him, only 'and He gave it to your fellow who is better than you'23<i class=“footnote”>Above 15:28.</i> because he feared that he [Shaul], might kill him,24<i class=“footnote”>Now however, that Shmuel was in the <span>עוֹלָם הָאֶמֶת</span> [=World of Truth] there was nothing to fear speaking the complete truth.</i> because he had anointed him [Dovid] as king.</html>
<html><b>You and your sons will be with me.</b> In my abode.25<i class=“footnote”>See Maseches Berachos 12b. By saying this to Shaul, Shmuel indicated to Shaul that he had been forgiven by the Heavenly Court for having slain the kohanim of Nov, and has been given place among the righteous.</i></html>
<html><b>A fattened calf.</b> A fattened calf.</html>