After Samuel's death and burial with due mourning ceremonies in Ramah, Saul had driven all necromancers and magicians from Israel. Then, in a bitter irony, Saul sought out the witch, anonymously and in disguise, only after he received no answer from God from dreams, prophets, or the Urim and Thummim as to his best course of action against the assembled forces of the Philistines. The prophet's ghost offered no advice but berated him for disobeying God, as well as predicting Saul's downfall as king and Israel's defeat in battle the next day. Saul was shocked and afraid, and the next day the army was defeated. He committed suicide after being wounded.