The Philistians fighting against Saul, David promiseth fidelity to Achis. 3. Saul destroyeth magicians, 6. but God not answering him, 7. seeketh a woman that hath a Python spirit, 12. Willeth her to raise up Samuel. 15. who appearing foretelleth him, that he, and his sons shall die the next day.The Philistians fighting against Saul, Dauid promiseth fidelitie to Achis. 3. Saul destroyeth magicians, 6. but God not answering him, 7. seeketh a woman that hath a Pithon spirite, 12. Willeth her to raise vp Samuel. 15. who appearing foretelleth him, that he, and his sonnes shal die the next day.✦
The fourth part. Of the ruin of Saul, and David.The fourth part. Of the ruine of Saul, and Dauid.
And it came to pass that in those days the Philisthiims gathered together their companies, that they might be prepared to battle against Israel: and Achis said to David: Knowing know thou now, that thou shalt go forth with me in the camp, thou, and thy men.AND it came to passe that in those daies the Philistiims gathered together their companies, that they might be prepared to battel against Israel: and Achis sayd to Dauid: Knowing know thou now, that thou shalt goe forth with me in the campe, thou, and thy men.Factum est autem in diebus illis, congregaverunt Philisthiim agmina sua, ut præpararentur ad bellum contra Israël : dixitque Achis ad David : Sciens nunc scito quoniam mecum egredieris in castris, tu et viri tui.
2And David said to Achis: Now thou shalt know what thy servant will do. And Achis said to David: And I will appoint thee keeper of my head all days.And Dauid sayd to Achis: Now thou shalt know what thy seruant wil doe. And Achis sayd to Dauid: And I wil appoint thee keper of my head al daies.✦Dixitque David ad Achis : Nunc scies quæ facturus est servus tuus. Et ait Achis ad David : Et ego custodem capitis mei ponam te cunctis diebus.
3And Samuel was dead, and all Israel mourned for him, and buried him in Ramatha his city. And Saul took all the magicians and hariolos: diviners, foretellers of things to come out of the land.And Samuel was dead, and al Israel mourned for him, and buried him in Ramatha his citie. And Saul tooke al the magicians and soothsayers out of the land.✦Samuel autem mortuus est, planxitque eum omnis Israël, et sepelierunt eum in Ramatha urbe sua. Et Saul abstulit magos et hariolos de terra.
4And the Philisthiims were gathered together, and came and camped in Sunam: and Saul also gathered together all Israel, and came into Gelboe.And the Philistijms were gathered together, and came and camped in Sunam: and Saul also gathered together al Israel, and came into Gelboe.Congregatique sunt Philisthiim, et venerunt, et castrametati sunt in Sunam : congregavit autem et Saul universum Israël, et venit in Gelboë.
5And Saul saw the camp of the Philisthiims, and feared, and his heart was afraid exceedingly.And Saul saw the campe of the Philistiims, and feared, and his hart was afrayd exceedingly.Et vidit Saul castra Philisthiim, et timuit, et expavit cor ejus nimis.
6And he consulted our Lord, and he answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by priests, nor by prophets.And he consulted our Lord, and he answered him not, neither by dreames, nor by priestes, nor by prophetes.✦Consuluitque Dominum, et non respondit ei neque per somnia, neque per sacerdotes, neque per prophetas.
7And Saul said to his servants: Seek me a woman that hath a pythonem: of a divining or oracular spirit, a familiar spirit, not the serpent spirit, and I will go to her, and will ask by her. And his servants said to him: There is a woman that hath a pythonical spirit in Endor.And Saul sayd to his seruantes: Seeke me a woman that hath a pithonical spirite, and I wil go to her, and wil aske by her. And his seruantes sayd to him: There is a woman that hath a pithonical spirite in Endor.✦Dixitque Saul servis suis : Quærite mihi mulierem habentem pythonem, et vadam ad eam, et sciscitabor per illam. Et dixerunt servi ejus ad eum : Est mulier pythonem habens in Endor.
8He therefore changed his habitum: dress, attire, clothing, not a custom and was clothed with other garments, and he went himself, and two men with him, and they came to the woman in the night, and said to her: Divine unto me in the pythonical spirit, and raise me up whom I shall tell thee.He therefore changed his habite and was clothed with other garmentes, and he went himselfe, and two men with him, and they came to the woman in the night, and sayd to her: Diuine vnto me in the pythonical spirite, and rayse me vp whom I shal tell thee.Mutavit ergo habitum suum, vestitusque est aliis vestimentis, et abiit ipse, et duo viri cum eo : veneruntque ad mulierem nocte, et ait illi : Divina mihi in pythone, et suscita mihi quem dixero tibi.
9And the woman said to him: Lo, thou knowest what great things Saul hath done, and how he hath eraserit: rooted out, removed, not "raised" (its near-homophone opposite) the magicians and soothsayers out of the land: why therefore dost thou lie in wait for my life, that I may be slain?And the woman sayd to him: Loe, thou knowest what great thinges Saul hath done, and how he hath rased the magicians and soothsayers out of the land: why therefore doest thou lye in waite for my life, that I may be slaine?Et ait mulier ad eum : Ecce, tu nosti quanta fecerit Saul, et quomodo eraserit magos et hariolos de terra : quare ergo insidiaris animæ meæ, ut occidar ?
10And Saul sware unto her in our Lord, saying: Our Lord liveth, there shall no evil happen unto thee for this thing.And Saul sware vnto her in our Lord, saying: Our Lord liueth, there shal no euil happen vnto thee for this thing.Et juravit ei Saul in Domino, dicens : Vivit Dominus, quia non eveniet tibi quidquam mali propter hanc rem.
11And the woman said to him: Whom shall I raise up to thee? Who said: Raise me up Samuel.And the woman sayd to him: Whom shal I rayse vp to thee? Who sayd: Raise me vp Samuel.✦Dixitque ei mulier : Quem suscitabo tibi ? Qui ait : Samuelem mihi suscita.
12And when the woman had seen Samuel, she cried out with a loud voice, and said to Saul: Why hast thou deceived me? for thou art Saul.And when the woman had seene Samuel, she cried out with a loud voice, and sayd to Saul: Why hast thou deceiued me? for thou art Saul.✦Cum autem vidisset mulier Samuelem, exclamavit voce magna, et dixit ad Saul : Quare imposuisti mihi ? tu es enim Saul.
13And the King said to her: Fear not: what sawest thou? And the woman said to Saul: I saw gods coming out of the earth.And the King sayd to her: Feare not: what sawest thou? And the woman sayd to Saul: I saw Goddes coming out of the earth.✦Dixitque ei rex : Noli timere : quid vidisti ? Et ait mulier ad Saul : Deos vidi ascendentes de terra.
14And he said to her: What manner of form hath he? who said: An old man is come up, and he is clothed with a mantle. And Saul understood that it was Samuel, and he bowed himself upon his face on the earth, and adored.And he sayd to her: What maner of forme hath he? who sayd: An old man is come vp, and he is clothed with a mantel. And Saul * vnderstood that it was Samuel, and he bowed himselfe vpon his face on the earth, and adored.¶Dixitque ei : Qualis est forma ejus ? Quæ ait : Vir senex ascendit, et ipse amictus est pallio. Et intellexit Saul quod Samuel esset, et inclinavit se super faciem suam in terra, et adoravit.
15And Samuel said to Saul: why hast thou disquieted me, that I should be raised up? And Saul said, I am in great distress: for the Philisthiims fight against me, and God is departed from me, and would not hear me, neither in the hand of prophets, nor by dreams: therefore I have called thee, that thou shouldst shew me, what I shall do.And Samuel sayd to Saul: why hast thou disquieted me, that I should be raised vp? And Saul sayd, I am in great distresse: for the Philistiims fight against me, and God is departed from me, and would not heare me, neither in the hand of prophetes, nor by dreames: therefore I haue called thee, that thou shouldest shew me, what I shal doe.✦Dixit autem Samuel ad Saul : Quare inquietasti me ut suscitarer ? Et ait Saul : Coarctor nimis : siquidem Philisthiim pugnant adversum me, et Deus recessit a me, et exaudire me noluit neque in manu prophetarum, neque per somnia : vocavi ergo te, ut ostenderes mihi quid faciam.
16And Samuel said: Why askest thou, whereas our Lord is departed from thee, and is passed to thine adversary?And Samuel sayd: Why askest thou, whereas our Lord is departed from thee, and is passed to thine aduersarie?Et ait Samuel : Quid interrogas me, cum Dominus recesserit a te, et transierit ad æmulum tuum ?
17For our Lord will do to thee as he spake in my hand, and he will cut thy kingdom out of thy hand, and will give it to thy neighbour David:For our Lord wil doe to thee as he spake in my hand, and he wil cut thy kingdome out of thy hand, & wil geue it to thy neighbour Dauid:Faciet enim tibi Dominus sicut locutus est in manu mea, et scindet regnum tuum de manu tua et dabit illud proximo tuo David :
18because thou hast not obeyed the voice of our Lord, neither didst thou the wrath of his fury in Amalec. Therefore that which thou sufferest hath our Lord done to thee this day.because thou hast not obeyed the voice of our Lord, neither didst thou the wrath of his furie in Amalec. Therefore that which thou sufferest hath our Lord done to thee this day.quia non obedisti voci Domini, neque fecisti iram furoris ejus in Amalec : idcirco quod pateris, fecit tibi Dominus hodie.
19And our Lord will give Israel also with thee into the hands of the Philisthiims: and tomorrow thou and thy sons shall be with me: yea the camp also of Israel will our Lord deliver into the hands of the Philisthiims.And our Lord wil geue Israel also with thee into the handes of the Philistiims: and to morow thou and thy sonnes shal be with me: yea the campe also of Israel wil our Lord deliuer into the handes of the Philistiims.✦Et dabit Dominus etiam Israël tecum in manus Philisthiim : cras autem tu et filii tui mecum eritis : sed et castra Israël tradet Dominus in manus Philisthiim.
20And forthwith Saul fell stretched forth on the ground, for he feared much the words of Samuel, and there was no strength in him, because he had not eaten bread all that day.And forthwith Saul fel stretched forth on the ground, for he feared much the wordes of Samuel, and there was no strength in him, because he had not eaten bread al that day.Statimque Saul cecidit porrectus in terram : extimuerat enim verba Samuelis, et robur non erat in eo, quia non comederat panem tota die illa.
21That woman therefore went unto Saul (for he was very much troubled) and said to him: Behold thy handmaid hath obeyed thy voice, and I have put my life in my hand: and I heard the words, which thou spakest to me.That woman therefore went vnto Saul (for he was very much troubled) and sayd to him: Behold thy handmaide hath obeied thy voice, and I haue put my life in my hand: and I heard the wordes, which thou spakest to me.✦Ingressa est itaque mulier illa ad Saul (conturbatus enim erat valde), dixitque ad eum : Ecce obedivit ancilla tua voci tuæ, et posui animam meam in manu mea : et audivi sermones tuos, quos locutus es ad me.
22Now therefore hear thou also the voice of thy handmaid, and I will set before thee a morsel of bread, that eating thou mayest recover strength, and be able to go on thy journey.Now therefore heare thou also the voice of thy handmaide, and I wil set before thee a morsel of bread, that eating thou mayest recouer strength, and be able to goe on thy iourney.Nunc igitur audi et tu vocem ancillæ tuæ, et ponam coram te buccellam panis, ut comedens convalescas, et possis iter agere.
23Who refused, and said: I will not eat. But his servants and the woman forced him, and at length hearing their voice, he arose from the ground, and sat upon the bed.Who refused, and sayd: I wil not eate. But his seruantes and the woman forced him, and at length hearing their voice, he arose from the ground, and sate vpon the bed.Qui renuit, et ait : Non comedam. Coëgerunt autem eum servi sui et mulier, et tandem audita voce eorum surrexit de terra, et sedit super lectum.
24And that woman had a pasture fed calf in the house, and she made haste, and killed him: and taking meal kneaded it, and baked azyma: unleavened bread, loaves baked without leaven,And that woman had a pasture fed calfe in the house, and she made hast, and killed him: and taking meale kneded it, and baked azimes,Mulier autem illa habebat vitulum pascualem in domo, et festinavit, et occidit eum : tollensque farinam, miscuit eam, et coxit azyma,
25and set before Saul, and before his servants, who when they had eaten rose up, and walked all that night.and sette before Saul, and before his seruantes, who when they had eaten rose vp, and walked al that night.et posuit ante Saul et ante servos ejus. Qui cum comedissent, surrexerunt, et ambulaverunt per totam noctem illam.
Annotationsfrom the original 1609 Douay Old Testament
14Saul understood that it was Samuel. It is not defined nor certain, whether the soul of Samuel appeared, or an evil spirit took his shape, and spake to Saul. St. Augustine (l. 2. q. 3. ad Simplician.) proposeth both the opinions as probable. Where first he sheweth, that Samuel's soul might appear; either brought thither by the evil spirit, which is not so much to be marvelled at, as that our Lord and Saviour suffered himself to be set upon the pinnacle of the temple, and to be carried into a high mountain by the devil: yea to be taken prisoner, bound, whipped, and crucified, by the devil's ministers: or else that the spirit of the holy prophet was not raised by force of the enchantment, or any power of the devil, but by God's secret ordinance unknown to the pythonical woman, and to Saul, and so appeared in the king's presence, and stroke him with divine sentence. Again he answereth, that there may be a more easy and ready sense of this place, to wit, that Samuel's spirit (or soul) was not in deed raised, but an imaginary illusion made by the devil's enchantment, which seemed to be Samuel, and which the Scripture calleth by the name of Samuel, as pictures or images are commonly called those persons or things, which they represent. So when we behold pictures in a table, or on a wall, we say, this is Cicero, that is Salust, that is Achilles, that is Rome. To this effect St. Augustine discourseth more at large in the place before cited. But in another work written after (de cura pro mortuis gerenda. c. 15.) teaching that souls of the dead appear sometimes to the living, he saith expressly, Samuel the prophet being dead, foretold future things to King Saul yet living. Though some be of opinion (saith he) that Samuel himself appeared not, but some evil spirit took his similitude. And this last judgment of St. Augustine is much confirmed; first by the words of this text, literally and plainly affirming that Samuel appeared, and spake to Saul, and Saul to him, and that Saul understood (or saw, not only thought, imagined, or supposed) that it was Samuel. Secondly, this apparition came sooner, preventing the enchantment, and in better order, than the pythonical woman expected, as appeareth by her answer, saying she saw God (or an excellent person) ascending in comely manner and attire: whereas evil spirits used to appear (as the Rabbins testify) in ugly bodies, with the heels into the air, and head downward. Thirdly, the Author of Ecclesiasticus (ch. 46.) amongst the praises of Samuel the prophet, saith, he slept, ( or died ) and certified the King, and shewed to him, the end of his life. Where it is shewed clear, that the same person that died, denounced God's will and sentence to Saul. Moreover if it had been an illusion of an evil spirit, it would hardly seem any praise at all. Fourthly, the devil could not naturally foretell that Saul and his sons, with many of the people should be slain the next day, and David reign after him: neither is it probable, that God revealed such secrets to evil spirits, whereby men might take more occasion to follow necromancy. Fifthly, most Fathers and Doctors are of the same judgment. St. Justin Martyr. to. 2. pag. Dialogo cum Triphone. St. Basil. Epist. 80. ad Eustathium. St. Ambrose l. 1. in Luc. 1. 210. St. Jerome in Isaie. 7. Josephus l. 6. c. 15. Antiq. and many other old and late writers. The chiefest argument for the other opinion is the authority of Tertullian. l. de anima, Procopius and Eucherius upon this place. and the uncertain authors. Quæstionum apud Iustinum. q. 52. lib. de mirabil. Sac. Script. and quæst. vet. Testimenti. q. 27. apud Augustinum, tomo. 3. et. 4. As for the Protestants denying, that souls once parted from their bodies, can appear to any alive, St. Augustine confuteth them, both by this example of Samuel, supposing the book of Ecclesiasticus to be Canonical Scripture, and of Moyses being dead, and Elias yet living (whom they hold also to be dead) both appearing with Christ in his transfiguration. Matt. 17.Saul vnderstood that it was Samuel. It is not defined nor certaine, whether the soule of Samuel appeared, or an euil spirit tooke his shape, and spake to Saul. S. Augustin (li. 2. q. 3. ad simplician.) proposeth both the opinions as probable. VVhere first he sheweth, that Samuels soule might appeare; either brought thither by the euil spirite, which is not so much to be merueled at, as that our Lord and Sauiour suffered him self to be sette vpon the pinnacle of the temple, and to be caried into a high mountaine by the diuel: yea to be taken prisoner, bound, whipped, and crucified, by the diuels ministers: or els that the spirite of the holie prophet, was not raised by force of the inchantment, or anie powre of the diuel, but by Gods secrete ordinance vnknowen to the pythonical woman, and to Saul, and so appeared in the kings presence, and stroke him with diuine sentence. Againe he answereth, that there may be a more easie and readie sense of this place, to wit, that Samuels spirite (or soule) was not in deede raised, but an imaginarie illusion made by the diuels inchantment, which semed to be Samuel, and which the Scripture calleth by the name of Samuel, as pictures or images are commonly called those persons or thinges, which they represent. So when we behold pictures in a table, or on a wal, we say, this is Cicero, that is Salust, that is Achilles, that is Rome. To this effect S. Augustin discourseth more at large in the place before cited. But in an other worke written after (de cura pro mortuis gerenda. c. 15.) teaching that soules of the dead appeare sometimes to the liuing, he saith expresly, Samuel the prophet being dead, foretold future thinges to King Saul yet liuing. Though some be of opinion (saieth he) that Samuel himself appeared not, but some euil spirit tooke his similitude. And this last iudgement of S. Augustin is much confirmed; first by the wordes of this text, literally and plainly affirming that Samuel appeared, and spake to Saul, and Saul to him, and that Saul vnderstood (or sawe, not only thought, imagined, or supposed) that it was Samuel. Secondly, this apparition came sooner, preuenting the inchantment, and in better order, then the pithonical woman expected, as appeareth by her answer, saying she saw God (or an excellent person) ascending in comelie maner and attyre: whereas euil spirites vsed to appeare (as the Rabbins testifie) in vglie bodies, with the heeles into the ayer, and head downward. Thirdly, the Author of Ecclesiasticus (ch. 46.) amongst the prayses of Samuel the prophet, saieth, he slept, ( or died ) and certified the King, and shewed to him, the end of his life. VVhere it is shewed clere, that the same person that died, denounced Gods wil and sentence to Saul. Moreouer if it had bene an illusion of an euil spirite, it would hardly seme anie prayse at al. Fourthly, the diuel could not naturally foretel that Saul and his sonnes, with manie of the people should be slaine the next day, and Dauid reigne after him: neither is it probable, that God reueiled such secretes to euil spirites, whereby men might take more occasion to folow nicromancie. Fistly, most Fathers and Doctors are of the same iudgement. S. Iustinus Martyr. to. 2. pag. Dialogo cum Triphone. S. Basil. Epist. 80. ad Eustathium. S. Ambrose li. 1. in Luc. 1. 210. S. Hierom. in Isaie. 7. Iosephus li. 6. c. 15. Antiq. and manie other old and late writers. The chiefest argument for the other opinion is the authoritie of Tertullian. li. de anima, Procopius and Eucherius vpon this place. and the vncertaine authors. Quæstionum apud Iustinum. q. 52. lib. de mirabil. Sac. Script. and quæst. vet. Testimenti. q. 27. apud Augustinum, tomo. 3. et. 4. As for the Protestantes denying, that soules once parted from their bodies, can appeare to anie aliue, S. Augustin confuteth them, both by this example of Samuel, supposing the booke of Ecclesiasticus to be Canonical Scripture, and of Moyses being dead, and Elias yet liuing (whom they hold also to be dead) both appearing with Christ in his transfiguration. Mat. 17.
The reading text follows the 1582 first edition.