Disguised Saul coerces the woman at Endor

The king who banned mediums seeks one by night, in disguise

Saul tells his servants to seek him a woman that hath a familiar spirit, that he may go and inquire of her. They say, Behold, there is a woman that hath a familiar spirit at Endor. He disguises himself, puts on other raiment, and goes with two men by night. He says, I pray thee, divine unto me by the familiar spirit, and bring me him up whom I shall name unto thee.

This is not a how-to. The KJV's older phrase names a prohibited medium; call her the woman or medium at Endor, not a slur. A ruler who outlawed her work now endangers her by arriving as a customer.

She is afraid of the trap; he swears she will not be punished; then he asks what she sees

The woman says, Behold, thou knowest what Saul hath done, how he hath cut off those that have familiar spirits and the wizards out of the land: wherefore then layest thou a snare for my life, to cause me to die? Saul swears by the LORD, As the LORD liveth, there shall no punishment happen to thee for this thing. She asks whom she shall bring up. He says, Bring me up Samuel. When the woman sees Samuel, she cries with a loud voice and says to Saul, Why hast thou deceived me? for thou art Saul. The king tells her not to be afraid, and asks what she sees. She says she sees gods coming up out of the earth. He asks, What form is he of? She says, An old man cometh up, and he is covered with a mantle. Saul perceives that it is Samuel, stoops with his face to the ground, and bows himself.

She names the mortal risk before any apparition. He coerces by royal pressure and an oath of immunity. Whether she sees Samuel, a permitted appearance, a deception, a vision, or a literary figure remains disputed. The text does not teach a method for contacting the dead, and it does not excuse the king who forced a frightened woman to work after he had made that work a capital crime.