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The Blue Letter Bible

1 Samuel 28 :: New International Version (NIV)

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 28:1

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 28:1 - In 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.”

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 28:2

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 28:2 - David 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

(cf. Deu 18:9–14 )

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 28:3

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 28:3 - Now 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.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 28:4

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 28:4 - The Philistines assembled and came and set up camp at Shunem, while Saul gathered all Israel and set up camp at Gilboa.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 28:5

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 28:5 - When Saul saw the Philistine army, he was afraid; terror filled his heart.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 28:6

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 28:6 - He inquired of the LORD, but the LORD did not answer him by dreams or Urim or prophets.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 28:7

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 28:7 - Saul 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.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 28:8

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 28:8 - So 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.”

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 28:9

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 28:9 - But 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?”

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 28:10

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 28:10 - Saul swore to her by the LORD, “As surely as the LORD lives, you will not be punished for this.”

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 28:11

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 28:11 - Then the woman asked, “Whom shall I bring up for you?” “Bring up Samuel,” he said.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 28:12

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 28:12 - When 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!”

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 28:13

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 28:13 - The king said to her, “Don’t be afraid. What do you see?” The woman said, “I see a ghostly figure[fn] coming up out of the earth.”

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 28:14

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 28:14 - “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.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 28:15

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 28:15 - Samuel 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.”

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 28:16

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 28:16 - Samuel said, “Why do you consult me, now that the LORD has departed from you and become your enemy?

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 28:17

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 28:17 - The 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.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 28:18

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 28:18 - Because you did not obey the LORD or carry out his fierce wrath against the Amalekites, the LORD has done this to you today.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 28:19

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 28:19 - The 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.”

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 28:20

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 28:20 - Immediately 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.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 28:21

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 28:21 - When 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.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 28:22

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 28:22 - Now 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.”

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 28:23

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 28:23 - He 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.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 28:24

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 28:24 - The woman had a fattened calf at the house, which she butchered at once. She took some flour, kneaded it and baked bread without yeast.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 28:25

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 28:25 - Then she set it before Saul and his men, and they ate. That same night they got up and left.
See the NIV Preface (Especially for Parenthesis, Brackets, & Asterisks).
NIV Footnotes
Or see spirits; or see gods
NIV

HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV®
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.
Used with permission. All rights reserved worldwide.


See detailed copyright information.

For more information on this translation, see the NIV Preface.

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1 Samuel Chapter 28 — Additional Translations:

King James Version New King James Version New Living Translation English Standard Version Christian Standard Bible New American Standard Bible 2020 New American Standard Bible 1995 Legacy Standard Bible Amplified Bible New English Translation Revised Standard Version American Standard Version Young's Literal Translation Darby Translation Webster's Bible Hebrew Names Version Latin Vulgate Westminster Leningrad Codex Septuagint Smith Van Dyck Arabic Bible Open New Arabic Version Brenton's English Septuagint Reina Valera 1909 Reina-Valera 1960 Bible in Basic English Chinese Traditional Union Espanol Moderno Korean Holy Bible Louis Segond German Luther Russian Synodal Translation Sagradas Escrituras