Page 217 - Bible History

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190 GOD'S CHOSEN PEOPLE UNDER KINGS
Saul." But Saul said to her, "Fear not, but tell me what thou hast seen.'' The woman answered, ''An old man cometh up and he is covered with a mantle.'' Saul knew that it was Samuel, and he bowed his face to the ground.
Then Saul heard the voice of Samuel speaking to him. ''Why hast thou disturbed my restf'' he asked. Saul answered, ''I am in great distress, for the Philis­ tines ght against me, and God hath departed from me and will not hear my prayers. Therefore have I called thee that thou mayest show me what to do."
Then Samuel said, '' The Lord hath departed from thee and gone over to thy rival. He will rend thy king­ dom out of thy hand and give it to David, because thou didst not obey the voice of the Lord. The Lord will deliver Israel with thee into the hands of the Philis­ tines. Tomorrow thou and thy sons shall be with me.''
Saul fainted and fell to the ground. The words of Samuel lled him with terror and, besides, he had had nothing to eat since the day before. The witch pre­
pared a meal for him, and his servants forced him to eat it. When he had eaten, his strength returned to him, and he journeyed back to his army.
The next day, the trumpets sounded for battle. The Philistines were successful from the start. Thousands of the Israelites were slain and the rest took to ight. Jonathan and his brothers were slain and Saul was wounded by arrows. He begged his armor-bearer to slay him, but the servant was struck with a great fear and refused. Then Saul took his own sword and fell