Samuel now speaks directly to Saul without the intervention of the medium. Being brought back from the world of the dead is considered a serious interference with the normal course of events. So Samuel asks why such a thing should be done. Saul responds that this course of action was his only hope, since God had abandoned him and would not answer him.

God … answers me no more, either by prophets or by dreams: see verse 6. But note that in this case the second item mentioned in verse 6, the “Urim,” is omitted.

Therefore: or “that is why.” The transition word chosen should show clearly that this is the logical conclusion to the explanation of why Samuel was called back from the world of the dead. If it is more natural to do so in the receptor language, this element may be moved forward to the beginning of Saul’s response and worded “This is why I called you to tell me what to do:….”

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on the First and Second Books of Samuel, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .