1 Samuel 28 – NIV & CCBT

New International Version

1 Samuel 28:1-25

1In those days the Philistines gathered their forces to fight against Israel. Achish said to David, “You must understand that you and your men will accompany me in the army.”

2David said, “Then you will see for yourself what your servant can do.”

Achish replied, “Very well, I will make you my bodyguard for life.”

Saul and the Medium at Endor

3Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel had mourned for him and buried him in his own town of Ramah. Saul had expelled the mediums and spiritists from the land.

4The Philistines assembled and came and set up camp at Shunem, while Saul gathered all Israel and set up camp at Gilboa. 5When Saul saw the Philistine army, he was afraid; terror filled his heart. 6He inquired of the Lord, but the Lord did not answer him by dreams or Urim or prophets. 7Saul then said to his attendants, “Find me a woman who is a medium, so I may go and inquire of her.”

“There is one in Endor,” they said.

8So Saul disguised himself, putting on other clothes, and at night he and two men went to the woman. “Consult a spirit for me,” he said, “and bring up for me the one I name.”

9But the woman said to him, “Surely you know what Saul has done. He has cut off the mediums and spiritists from the land. Why have you set a trap for my life to bring about my death?”

10Saul swore to her by the Lord, “As surely as the Lord lives, you will not be punished for this.”

11Then the woman asked, “Whom shall I bring up for you?”

“Bring up Samuel,” he said.

12When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out at the top of her voice and said to Saul, “Why have you deceived me? You are Saul!”

13The king said to her, “Don’t be afraid. What do you see?”

The woman said, “I see a ghostly figure28:13 Or see spirits; or see gods coming up out of the earth.”

14“What does he look like?” he asked.

“An old man wearing a robe is coming up,” she said.

Then Saul knew it was Samuel, and he bowed down and prostrated himself with his face to the ground.

15Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?”

“I am in great distress,” Saul said. “The Philistines are fighting against me, and God has departed from me. He no longer answers me, either by prophets or by dreams. So I have called on you to tell me what to do.”

16Samuel said, “Why do you consult me, now that the Lord has departed from you and become your enemy? 17The Lord has done what he predicted through me. The Lord has torn the kingdom out of your hands and given it to one of your neighbors—to David. 18Because you did not obey the Lord or carry out his fierce wrath against the Amalekites, the Lord has done this to you today. 19The Lord will deliver both Israel and you into the hands of the Philistines, and tomorrow you and your sons will be with me. The Lord will also give the army of Israel into the hands of the Philistines.”

20Immediately Saul fell full length on the ground, filled with fear because of Samuel’s words. His strength was gone, for he had eaten nothing all that day and all that night.

21When the woman came to Saul and saw that he was greatly shaken, she said, “Look, your servant has obeyed you. I took my life in my hands and did what you told me to do. 22Now please listen to your servant and let me give you some food so you may eat and have the strength to go on your way.”

23He refused and said, “I will not eat.”

But his men joined the woman in urging him, and he listened to them. He got up from the ground and sat on the couch.

24The woman had a fattened calf at the house, which she butchered at once. She took some flour, kneaded it and baked bread without yeast. 25Then she set it before Saul and his men, and they ate. That same night they got up and left.

Chinese Contemporary Bible (Traditional)

撒母耳記上 28:1-25

掃羅求問巫婆

1非利士人召集大軍與以色列人交戰。亞吉大衛說:「你應該明白,你和部下要隨我一起出戰。」 2大衛答道:「僕人願意效勞。」亞吉說:「很好!你就終生做我的護衛吧。」 3那時撒母耳已經死了,以色列舉國都為他哀悼,把他葬在他的家鄉拉瑪。當時,掃羅把所有占卜和行巫術的都逐出了以色列4非利士人集合起來,在書念紮營,掃羅率領以色列軍隊在基利波紮營。 5掃羅看見非利士軍隊聲勢浩大,感到膽戰心驚, 6就求問耶和華,但耶和華沒有藉著夢、烏陵或先知回答他。 7於是,掃羅命令臣僕找一個巫婆來,好求問她。臣僕在隱·多珥找到一個巫婆。

8掃羅喬裝打扮,由兩個人陪同乘夜趕到那婦人家裡,說:「請你用法術把我要求問的亡靈招上來吧。」 9婦人對他說:「你知道掃羅剷除了國內占卜的和行巫術的,你為何來陷害我,置我於死地?」 10掃羅憑耶和華向婦人起誓,說:「我憑永活的耶和華起誓,你必不會因為此事而受到懲罰。」 11婦人問道:「你想讓我招誰上來呢?」掃羅答道:「招撒母耳上來。」 12婦人看見了撒母耳,就驚叫起來,對掃羅說:「你是掃羅,你為什麼騙我呢?」 13掃羅對她說:「不用害怕,你看見什麼了?」婦人說:「我看見一個靈從地裡上來。」 14掃羅說:「他是什麼模樣?」婦人說:「是個身披長袍的老人。」掃羅知道是撒母耳,便俯伏在地,向他下拜。 15撒母耳掃羅說:「你為什麼打擾我,招我上來呢?」掃羅答道:「我深陷困境,非利士人與我們交戰,上帝也撇棄了我,不再藉著先知或夢來回答我。因此,我只好招你上來,好告訴我該怎麼辦。」 16撒母耳說:「既然耶和華已經離棄了你,與你為敵,你為什麼還來問我? 17耶和華應驗了祂藉著我所說的預言,祂已把你的國權奪去,交給了你的同胞大衛18耶和華今天這樣對待你,是因為你沒有聽從祂的吩咐,沒有把祂憎惡的亞瑪力人滅絕。 19耶和華必把你和以色列人交在非利士人手裡,明天你和你的兒子們必跟我在一起了。耶和華必把以色列的軍隊交在非利士人手裡。」

20掃羅聽了撒母耳的話,頓時嚇得渾身僵直,倒在地上,一天一夜沒有進食,毫無力氣。 21婦人到掃羅跟前,看見他驚恐萬分,就對他說:「婢女冒著生命危險服從你的命令,照你的吩咐做了。 22現在,請你聽婢女的話,讓我給你一些食物吃,你好有體力趕路。」 23掃羅不肯,說:「我不吃」。他的隨從和婦人再三勸告,他才同意了,從地上起來坐到床上。 24婦人連忙宰了家中一隻小肥牛,又和麵烤了無酵餅, 25擺在掃羅和他的隨從面前,他們吃完後,當天晚上就離開了。