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1Samuel 28:3-19;
31:1-13; 2Samuel 1:17-27; Psalm 42:1-3; Proverbs 12:7
Now Samuel had died, and all Israel had lamented for him and
buried him in Ramah, in his own city. And Saul had put the mediums
and the spiritists out of the land.
Then the Philistines gathered together, and came and encamped at
Shunem. So Saul gathered all Israel together, and they encamped at
Gilboa. When Saul saw the army of the Philistines, he was afraid,
and his heart trembled greatly. And when Saul inquired of the
LORD, the LORD did not answer him, either by dreams or by Urim or
by the prophets.
Then Saul said to his servants, "Find me a woman who is a
medium, that I may go to her and inquire of her."
And his servants said to him, "In fact, there is a woman who
is a medium at En Dor."
So Saul disguised himself and put on other clothes, and he went,
and two men with him; and they came to the woman by night. And he
said, "Please conduct a sÇance for me, and bring up for me
the one I shall name to you." Then the woman said to him,
"Look, you know what Saul has done, how he has cut off the
mediums and the spiritists from the land.
Why then do you lay a snare for my life, to cause me to die?"
And Saul swore to her by the LORD, saying, "As the LORD
lives, no punishment shall come upon you for this thing."
Then the woman said, "Whom shall I bring up for you?"
And he said, "Bring up Samuel for me."
When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out with a loud voice. And
the woman spoke to Saul, saying, "Why have you deceived me?
For you are Saul!" And the king said to her, "Do not be
afraid. What did you see?"
And the woman said to Saul, "I saw a spirit ascending out of
the earth." So he said to her, "What is his form?"
And she said, "An old man is coming 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 down.
Now Samuel said to Saul, "Why have you disturbed me by
bringing me up?"
And Saul answered, "I am deeply distressed; for the
Philistines make war against me, and God has departed from me and
does not answer me anymore, neither by prophets nor by dreams.
Therefore I have called you, that you may reveal to me what I
should do."
Then Samuel said: "So why do you ask me, seeing the LORD has
departed from you and has become your enemy? And the LORD has done
for Himself as He spoke by me . For the LORD has torn the kingdom
out of your hand and given it to your neighbor, David. Because you
did not obey the voice of the LORD nor execute His fierce wrath
upon Amalek, therefore the LORD has done this thing to you this
day. Moreover the LORD will also deliver Israel with you into the
hand of the Philistines. And tomorrow you and your sons will be
with me. The LORD will also deliver the army of Israel into the
hand of the Philistines." Now the Philistines fought against
Israel; and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines,
and fell slain on Mount Gilboa. Then the Philistines followed hard
after Saul and his sons. And the Philistines killed Jonathan,
Abinadab, and Malchishua, Saul's sons. The battle became fierce
against Saul. The archers hit him, and he was severely wounded by
the archers.
Then Saul said to his armorbearer, "Draw your sword, and
thrust me through with it, lest these uncircumcised men come and
thrust me through and abuse me."
But his armorbearer would not, for he was greatly afraid.
Therefore Saul took a sword and fell on it. And when his
armorbearer saw that Saul was dead, he also fell on his sword, and
died with him. So Saul, his three sons, his armorbearer, and all
his men died together that same day.
And when the men of Israel who were on the other side of the
valley, and those who were on the other side of the Jordan, saw
that the men of Israel had fled and that Saul and his sons were
dead, they forsook the cities and fled; and the Philistines came
and dwelt in them. So it happened the next day, when the
Philistines came to strip the slain, that they found Saul and his
three sons fallen on Mount Gilboa. And they cut off his head and
stripped off his armor, and sent word throughout the land of the
Philistines, to proclaim it in the temple of their idols and among
the people. Then they put his armor in the temple of the
Ashtoreths, and they fastened his body to the wall of Beth Shan.
Now when the inhabitants of Jabesh Gilead heard what the
Philistines had done to Saul, all the valiant men arose and
traveled all night, and took the body of Saul and the bodies of
his sons from the wall of Beth Shan; and they came to Jabesh and
burned them there. Then they took their bones and buried them
under the tamarisk tree at Jabesh, and fasted seven days. Then
David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan
his son, and he told them to teach the children of Judah the Song
of the Bow; indeed it is written in the Book of Jasher:
"The beauty of Israel is slain on your high places!
How the mighty have fallen!
Tell it not in Gath,
Proclaim it not in the streets of Ashkelon- Lest the daughters of
the Philistines rejoice, Lest the daughters of the uncircumcised
triumph.
"O mountains of Gilboa,
Let there be no dew nor rain upon you,
Nor fields of offerings.
For the shield of the mighty is cast away there!
The shield of Saul, not anointed with oil.
From the blood of the slain,
From the fat of the mighty,
The bow of Jonathan did not turn back,
And the sword of Saul did not return empty.
"Saul and Jonathan were beloved and pleasant in their lives,
And in their death they were not divided; They were swifter than
eagles, They were stronger than lions.
"O daughters of Israel, weep over Saul,
Who clothed you in scarlet, with luxury; Who put ornaments of gold
on your apparel.
"How the mighty have fallen in the midst of the battle!
Jonathan was slain in your high places.
I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan; You have been very
pleasant to me; Your love to me was wonderful, Surpassing the love
of women.
"How the mighty have fallen,
And the weapons of war perished!"
Worship:
As the deer pants for the water brooks, So pants my soul for
You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When
shall I come and appear before God? My tears have been my food day
and night, While they continually say to me, "Where is your
God?" Psalm 42:1-3
Wisdom:
The wicked are overthrown and are no more,
But the house of the righteous will stand. (Prov.12:7)
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