7
1 The
men of
Kiriath Jearim came
and took the
LORD’s ark, and
brought it
into Abinadab’s house
on the hill,
and consecrated Eleazar
his son to
keep the LORD’s
ark.
2 From
the day that
the ark stayed in
Kiriath Jearim, the
time was long—for
it was twenty
years; and all
the house of
Israel lamented
after the LORD.
3 Samuel spoke
to all the
house of Israel,
saying, “If you are
returning to the
LORD with all
your heart, then
put away the
foreign gods and
the Ashtaroth from
among you, and
direct your hearts
to the LORD,
and serve him
only; and he
will deliver you
out of the
hand of the
Philistines.”
4 Then
the children of
Israel removed the
Baals and the
Ashtaroth, and
served the
LORD only.
5 Samuel said,
“Gather all Israel
to Mizpah, and
I will pray
to the LORD
for you.”
6 They
gathered together
to Mizpah, and
drew water, and
poured it out
before the LORD,
and fasted on
that day, and said
there, “We have
sinned against the
LORD.” Samuel
judged the
children of Israel
in Mizpah.
7 When
the Philistines
heard that the
children of Israel
were gathered
together at Mizpah,
the lords of
the Philistines
went up against
Israel. When the
children of Israel
heard it, they
were afraid of
the Philistines.
8 The
children of Israel
said to Samuel,
“Don’t stop crying to
the LORD our
God for us,
that he will
save us out
of the hand
of the
Philistines.”
9 Samuel
took a suckling
lamb, and offered
it for a
whole burnt
offering to the
LORD. Samuel cried
to the LORD
for Israel, and
the LORD answered
him.
10 As
Samuel was
offering up the
burnt offering,
the Philistines
came near to
battle against
Israel; but the
LORD thundered
with a great
thunder on that
day on the
Philistines and
confused them; and
they were struck
down before Israel.
11 The
men of Israel
went out of
Mizpah and pursued
the Philistines,
and struck them
until they came
under Beth Kar.
12 Then
Samuel took a stone
and set it
between Mizpah and
Shen, and called
its name Ebenezer,
saying, “The LORD
helped us until
now.”
13 So
the Philistines
were subdued, and
they stopped coming
within the border
of Israel. The
LORD’s hand was
against the
Philistines all
the days of
Samuel.
14 The
cities which the
Philistines had
taken from Israel
were restored to
Israel, from Ekron
even to Gath;
and Israel
recovered its
border out of
the hand of
the Philistines.
There was peace
between Israel and
the Amorites.
15 Samuel
judged Israel all
the days of
his life.
16 He
went from year
to year in
a circuit to
Bethel, Gilgal,
and Mizpah; and
he judged Israel
in all those
places.
17 His
return was to
Ramah, for his
house was there,
and he judged
Israel there; and
he built an
altar to the
LORD there.