¹ And it was, in the seventh year, in the fifth month, the tenth of the month, that certain of the elders of Israel came to inquire of Jehovah, and sat before me.

² And the word of Jehovah was unto^▵ me, saying,

³ Son of man, speak with^◦ the elders of Israel, and say to^▵ them, Thus says the Lord Jehovih^*; Are you^◦ come to inquire of Me? As I^◦ live, says^◦ the Lord Jehovih, I will not^▫ be inquired of by you.

⁴ Wilt thou judge them, wilt thou judge, son of man? Make them to know the abominations of their fathers;

⁵ and say unto^▵ them, Thus says the Lord Jehovih; In the day when I chose Israel, and lifted·​·up My hand unto the seed of the house of Jacob, and made· Myself ·known unto them in the land of Egypt, then I lifted·​·up My hand unto them, saying, I^◦ am Jehovah your God;

⁶ in that^◦ day that I lifted·​·up My hand to them, to bring· them ·out from the land of Egypt to^▵ a land that I had explored for them, flowing with milk and honey; it^◦ is the elegance for all the lands:

⁷ and I said to^▵ them, Cast· ye ·away each·​·man^◦ the detestable thing of his eyes, and defile not yourselves with the idols of Egypt; I^◦ am Jehovah your God.

⁸ But they rebelled against^◦ Me, and were· not ·willing to hearken to^▵ Me; they did not each·​·man^◦ cast·​·away the detestable things of their eyes, neither did they forsake the idols of Egypt: and I said, I will spill·​·out My fury on them, to complete My anger among^◦ them in the midst of the land of Egypt.

⁹ But I did so·​·that My name should not^▵ be profaned before^▫ the eyes of the nations, among^▵ whom they^◦ were, before^▫ whose eyes I made· Myself ·known unto^▵ them, in bringing· them ·forth out·​·of the land of Egypt.

¹⁰ And I caused them to go·​·out from the land of Egypt, and brought them into^▵ the wilderness.

¹¹ And I gave them My statutes, and caused them to know My judgments, that man shall do them, and shall live by them.

¹² And I also gave to them My Sabbaths, to be for a sign between Me and them, so·​·that^▵ they might know that I^◦ am Jehovah who sanctifies them.

¹³ But the house of Israel rebelled against^◦ Me in the wilderness; they walked not in My statutes, and they rejected My judgments, which if man do, he shall even live in them; and My Sabbaths they profaned exceedingly: and I said I would spill My fury upon them in the wilderness, to consume· them ·all.

¹⁴ But I made for the sake^◦ of My name, that it should not^▵ be profaned before^▫ the eyes of the nations, in whose eyes I brought· them ·out.

¹⁵ But also I^◦ lifted·​·up My hand unto them in the wilderness, that I would not^▵ bring them into^▵ the land which I had given them, flowing with milk and honey; it^◦ is the elegance for all the lands;

¹⁶ because they rejected My judgments, and walked not in My statutes, but profaned My Sabbaths; for their heart went^◦ after their idols.

¹⁷ But My eye spared them from their destroying, and I did not make a complete end with^◦ them in the wilderness.

¹⁸ But I said unto^▵ their sons in the wilderness, Walk^◦ ye not in the statutes of your fathers, neither observe^▵ their judgments, nor defile yourselves with their idols:

¹⁹ I^◦ am Jehovah your God; walk^◦ in My statutes, and keep My judgments, and do them;

²⁰ and hallow My Sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between Me and you, that you may know that I^◦ am Jehovah your God.

²¹ But the sons rebelled against^◦ Me; they walked not in My statutes, neither kept My judgments to do them, which man should do, and live in them; they profaned My Sabbaths; and I said I would spill·​·out My fury upon them, to complete My anger on^◦ them in the wilderness.

²² But I turned·​·back My hand, and made for the sake^◦ of My name, that it should not^▵ be profaned in the eyes of the nations, in whose eyes I brought· them ·out.

²³ I^◦ lifted·​·up My hand unto them also in the wilderness, that I would scatter them among^◦ the nations, and disperse them through the lands;

²⁴ because they had not made My judgments, but had rejected My statutes, and had profaned My Sabbaths, and their eyes were after their fathers’ idols.

²⁵ And I^◦ gave them also statutes that were not good, and judgments whereby they should not live;

²⁶ and I defiled them in their own gifts, in that they caused to pass·​·through the fire all that opens·​·up the womb, so·​·that I might make· them ·desolate, so·​·that they might know that I^◦ am Jehovah.

²⁷ Therefore, son of man, speak unto^▵ the house of Israel, and say unto^▵ them, Thus says the Lord Jehovih; Yet in this your fathers have blasphemed Me, in that they have trespassed a trespass against^◦ Me.

²⁸ And I had brought them into^▵ the land, for which I lifted My hand to give it to them, and they saw every high hill, and all the intertwined trees, and they sacrificed their sacrifices there, and there they gave the provocation of their offering; and there they set their restful smell, and there poured·​·out their poured·​·offerings.

²⁹ And I said to^▵ them, What is the high·​·place into which you^◦ are coming? And its name is called Bamah^* even·​·to this day.

³⁰ Therefore say to^▵ the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord Jehovih: Are you^◦ defiled after the way of your fathers, and do you^◦ commit·​·harlotry after their detestable things?

³¹ And when you lift·​·up your gifts, when you make your sons to pass·​·through the fire, you^◦ defile yourselves with all your idols, even·​·to this^▫ day; and shall I^◦ be inquired of by you, O house of Israel? As I^◦ am alive, says^◦ the Lord Jehovih, I will not^▫ be inquired of by you.

³² And that which goes·​·up into your spirit shall not be at all, that you^◦ say, We will be as the nations, as the families of the lands, to minister wood and stone.

³³ As I^◦ live, says^◦ the Lord Jehovih, surely with a firm hand, and with an outstretched arm, and with fury spilled·​·out, will I reign over you;

³⁴ and I will bring· you ·out from the peoples, and will bring· you ·together from the lands in which you are scattered, with a firm hand, and with an outstretched arm, and with fury spilled·​·out.

³⁵ And I will bring you into^▵ the wilderness of the people, and there will I plead with^◦ you face to^▵ face.

³⁶ As^◦ I pleaded with^◦ your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so will I plead with^◦ you, says^◦ the Lord Jehovih.

³⁷ And I will cause you to pass under the rod^▵, and I will bring you into the commitment^◦ of the covenant;

³⁸ and I will purify you from those who revolt, and from those who transgress against^◦ Me; I will bring· them ·out from the land of their sojournings, and they shall not come to^▵ the ground of Israel; and you shall know that I^◦ am Jehovah.

³⁹ As for you^◦, O house of Israel, thus says the Lord Jehovih; Go ye, serve ye each·​·man^◦ his idols, and afterwards also, if you will not^◦ hearken unto^▵ Me; but profane you not My holy name any·​·more with your gifts, and with your idols.

⁴⁰ For in My holy mountain, in the mountain of the height of Israel, says^◦ the Lord Jehovih, there shall all the house of Israel, all of them in the land, serve Me; there will I be·​·well·​·pleased in them, and there will I require your upliftings^◦, and the firstfruits^◦ of your portions^◦, with all your holy things.

⁴¹ I will be·​·well·​·pleased with you with your restful smell, when I bring· you ·out from the people, and bring· you ·together from the lands in which^◦ you have been scattered; and I will be sanctified in you before^▫ the eyes of the nations.

⁴² And you shall know that I^◦ am Jehovah, when I shall bring you to^▵ the ground of Israel, to^▵ the land for which I lifted My hand to give to your fathers.

⁴³ And there shall you remember your ways, and all your actions, wherein^◦ you have been defiled; and you shall loathe^◦ yourselves to your own face in all your evils that you have done.

⁴⁴ And you shall know that I^◦ am Jehovah, when I have done with^◦ you for the sake^◦ of My name, not according·​·to your evil ways, nor according·​·to your corrupt actions, O ye house of Israel, says^◦ the Lord Jehovih.

^{45 21:1} And the word of Jehovah was unto^▵ me, saying,

^{46 21:2} Son of man, set thy face toward the way of the south^◦, and drop·​·down thy word toward^▵ the south^▵, and prophesy to^▵ the forest of the field of the south;

^{47 21:3} and say to the forest of the south, Hear the word of Jehovah; Thus says the Lord Jehovih; Behold, I will kindle a fire in thee, and it shall devour every fresh tree in thee, and every dry tree; the flame of a grievous·​·flame shall not be quenched, and all faces from the south to^▵ the north shall be burned^▵ in her.

^{48 21:4} And all flesh shall see that I^◦, Jehovah, have burned it; it shall not be quenched.

^{49 21:5} And I said, Alas Lord Jehovih! they^◦ are saying of^◦ me, Does he^◦ not prophetically·​·enunciate prophetic·​·enunciation?

¹ It happened in those days, that the Philistines gathered their armies together for warfare, to fight with Israel. Achish said to David, "Know assuredly that you shall go out with me in the army, you and your men."

² David said to Achish, "Therefore you shall know what your servant will do." Achish said to David, "Therefore will I make you my bodyguard for ever."

³ Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel had lamented him, and buried him in Ramah, even in his own city. Saul had put away those who had familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land.

⁴ The Philistines gathered themselves together, and came and encamped in Shunem: and Saul gathered all Israel together, and they encamped in Gilboa.

⁵ When Saul saw the army of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart trembled greatly.

⁶ When Saul inquired of Yahweh, Yahweh didn't answer him, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets.

⁷ Then Saul said to his servants, "Seek me a woman who has a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and inquire of her." His servants said to him, "Behold, there is a woman who has a familiar spirit at Endor."

⁸ Saul disguised himself, and put on other clothing, and went, he and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night: and he said, "Please divine to me by the familiar spirit, and bring me up whoever I shall name to you."

⁹ The woman said to him, "Behold, you know what Saul has done, how he has cut off those who have familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land. Why then do you lay a snare for my life, to cause me to die?"

¹⁰ Saul swore to her by Yahweh, saying, "As Yahweh lives, no punishment shall happen to you for this thing."

¹¹ Then the woman said, "Whom shall I bring up to you?" He said, "Bring Samuel up for me."

¹² When the woman saw Samuel, she cried with a loud voice; and the woman spoke to Saul, saying, "Why have you deceived me? For you are Saul!"

¹³ The king said to her, "Don't be afraid. For what do you see?" The woman said to Saul, "I see a god coming up out of the earth."

¹⁴ He said to her, "What does he look like?" She said, "An old man comes up. He is covered with a robe." Saul perceived that it was Samuel, and he bowed with his face to the ground, and did obeisance.

¹⁵ Samuel said to Saul, "Why have you disturbed me, to bring me up?" Saul answered, "I am very distressed; for the Philistines make war against me, and God has departed from me, and answers me no more, neither by prophets, nor by dreams. Therefore I have called you, that you may make known to me what I shall do."

¹⁶ Samuel said, "Why then do you ask of me, since Yahweh has departed from you and has become your adversary?

¹⁷ Yahweh has done to you as he spoke by me. Yahweh has torn the kingdom out of your hand, and given it to your neighbor, even to David.

¹⁸ Because you didn't obey the voice of Yahweh, and didn't execute his fierce wrath on Amalek, therefore Yahweh has done this thing to you this day.

¹⁹ Moreover Yahweh will deliver Israel also with you into the hand of the Philistines; and tomorrow you and your sons will be with me. Yahweh will deliver the army of Israel also into the hand of the Philistines."

²⁰ Then Saul fell immediately his full length on the earth, and was terrified, because of the words of Samuel. There was no strength in him; for he had eaten no bread all the day, nor all the night.

²¹ The woman came to Saul, and saw that he was very troubled, and said to him, "Behold, your handmaid has listened to your voice, and I have put my life in my hand, and have listened to your words which you spoke to me.

²² Now therefore, please listen also to the voice of your handmaid, and let me set a morsel of bread before you; and eat, that you may have strength, when you go on your way."

²³ But he refused, and said, I will not eat. But his servants, together with the woman, constrained him; and he listened to their voice. So he arose from the earth, and sat on the bed.

²⁴ The woman had a fattened calf in the house. She hurried and killed it; and she took flour, and kneaded it, and baked unleavened bread of it.

²⁵ She brought it before Saul, and before his servants; and they ate. Then they rose up, and went away that night.