1 Samuel 28

• 1. About that time the Philistines mustered their armies for another war with Israel. King Achish told David, "You and your men will be expected to join me in battle."
• 2. "Very well!" David agreed. "Now you will see for yourself what we can do." Then Achish told David, "I will make you my personal bodyguard for life."
• 3. Meanwhile, Samuel had died, and all Israel had mourned for him. He was buried in Ramah, his hometown. And Saul had banned all mediums and psychics from the land of Israel.
• 4. The Philistines set up their camp at Shunem, and Saul and the armies of Israel camped at Gilboa.
• 5. When Saul saw the vast Philistine army, he became frantic with fear.
• 6. He asked the LORD what he should do, but the LORD refused to answer him, either by dreams or by sacred lots or by the prophets.
• 7. Saul then said to his advisers, "Find a woman who is a medium, so I can go and ask her what to do." His advisers replied, "There is a medium at Endor."
• 8. So Saul disguised himself by wearing ordinary clothing instead of his royal robes. Then he went to the woman's home at night, accompanied by two of his men. "I have to talk to a man who has died," he said. "Will you call up his spirit for me?"
• 9. "Are you trying to get me killed?" the woman demanded. "You know that Saul has expelled all the mediums and psychics from the land. Why are you setting a trap for me?"
• 10. But Saul took an oath in the name of the LORD and promised, "As surely as the LORD lives, nothing bad will happen to you for doing this."
• 11. Finally, the woman said, "Well, whose spirit do you want me to call up?Call up Samuel," Saul replied.
• 12. When the woman saw Samuel, she screamed, "You've deceived me! You are Saul!"
• 13. "Don't be afraid!" the king told her. "What do you see?I see a god coming up out of the earth," she said.
• 14. "What does he look like?" Saul asked. "He is an old man wrapped in a robe," she replied. Saul realized that it was Samuel, and he fell to the ground before him.
• 15. "Why have you disturbed me by calling me back?" Samuel asked. "Because I am in deep trouble," Saul replied. "The Philistines are at war with us, and God has left me and won't reply by prophets or dreams. So I have called for you to tell me what to do."
• 16. But Samuel replied, "Why ask me if the LORD has left you and has become your enemy?
• 17. The LORD has done just as he said he would. He has taken the kingdom from you and given it to your rival, David.
• 18. The LORD has done this because you did not obey his instructions concerning the Amalekites.
• 19. What's more, the LORD will hand you and the army of Israel over to the Philistines tomorrow, and you and your sons will be here with me. The LORD will bring the entire army of Israel down in defeat."
• 20. Saul fell full length on the ground, paralyzed with fright because of Samuel's words. He was also faint with hunger, for he had eaten nothing all day and all night.
• 21. When the woman saw how distraught he was, she said, "Sir, I obeyed your command at the risk of my life.
• 22. Now do what I say, and let me give you something to eat so you can regain your strength for the trip back."
• 23. But Saul refused. The men who were with him also urged him to eat, so he finally yielded and got up from the ground and sat on the couch.
• 24. The woman had been fattening a calf, so she hurried out and killed it. She kneaded dough and baked unleavened bread.
• 25. She brought the meal to Saul and his men, and they ate it. Then they went out into the night.

1 Samuel 29

• 1. The entire Philistine army now mobilized at Aphek, and the Israelites camped at the spring in Jezreel.
• 2. As the Philistine rulers were leading out their troops in groups of one hundred and one thousand, David and his men marched at the rear with King Achish.
• 3. But the Philistine commanders demanded, "What are these Hebrews doing here?" And Achish told them, "This is David, the man who ran away from King Saul of Israel. He's been with me for years, and I've never found a single fault in him since he defected to me."
• 4. But the Philistine commanders were angry. "Send him back!" they demanded. "He can't go into the battle with us. What if he turns against us? Is there any better way for him to reconcile himself with his master than by turning on us in battle?
• 5. Isn't this the same David about whom the women of Israel sing in their dances, `Saul has killed his thousands, and David his ten thousands'?"
• 6. So Achish finally summoned David and his men. "I swear by the LORD," he told them, "you are some of the finest men I've ever met. I think you should go with us, but the other Philistine rulers won't hear of it.
• 7. Please don't upset them, but go back quietly."
• 8. "What have I done to deserve this treatment?" David demanded. "Why can't I fight the enemies of my lord, the king?"
• 9. But Achish insisted, "As far as I'm concerned, you're as perfect as an angel of God. But my commanders are afraid to have you with them in the battle.
• 10. Now get up early in the morning, and leave with your men as soon as it gets light."
• 11. So David headed back into the land of the Philistines, while the Philistine army went on to Jezreel.

New Living Translation: 91 of 324 days.