基列·耶琳人就下來把耶和華的約櫃抬到山上,放在亞比拿達的家裡,派他的兒子以利亞撒看守耶和華的約櫃。

撒母耳征服非利士人

約櫃在基列·耶琳停留了二十年。那時,全體以色列人都痛悔地尋求耶和華。 撒母耳對他們說:「如果你們全心歸向耶和華,就要除掉你們那些外族的神明,包括亞斯她錄神像,一心歸向耶和華,單單事奉祂,祂必從非利士人手中救你們。」 於是,他們除掉了巴力和亞斯她錄神像,單單事奉耶和華。

撒母耳又說:「你們全體以色列人到米斯巴來,我會為你們向耶和華祈求。」 他們就在那裡聚集,打水倒在耶和華面前,並在當天禁食。他們說:「我們得罪了耶和華。」於是,撒母耳在米斯巴做以色列人的士師。 非利士人聽說以色列人在米斯巴聚集,他們的首領就率領軍隊來攻打以色列人。以色列人聽見消息後,非常害怕。 他們對撒母耳說:「請你為我們不停地呼求我們的上帝耶和華,求祂從非利士人手中拯救我們。」 撒母耳把一隻還在吃奶的羊獻給耶和華作全牲燔祭。他為以色列人呼求耶和華,耶和華垂聽了他的祈求。 10 撒母耳正在獻燔祭的時候,非利士人已經逼近了。那天,耶和華向非利士人發出雷霆之聲,使他們陷入一片恐慌,敗在了以色列人手下。 11 以色列人從米斯巴一路追殺他們,直到伯·甲附近。

12 撒母耳拿了一塊石頭放在米斯巴和善的中間,稱之為以便以謝[a],說:「耶和華到如今都幫助我們。」

13 這樣非利士人被征服了,沒有再侵犯以色列人。在撒母耳有生之年,耶和華一直嚴厲地對付非利士人。 14 以色列人收復了從以革倫到迦特之間被非利士人奪去的城邑,並奪回了這些城邑的周邊地區。那時以色列人與亞摩利人和平共處。

15 撒母耳一生做以色列人的士師。 16 他每年都到伯利恆、吉甲、米斯巴各地巡迴,審理以色列人的案件。 17 之後,他才回到拉瑪自己的家中,也在那裡審理以色列人的案件,並為耶和華築了一座祭壇。

Footnotes

  1. 7·12 以便以謝」意思是「援助之石」。

And then men of Cariathiarim came and fetched up the ark of the Lord and carried it into the house of Abinadab in Gabaa: and they sanctified Eleazar his son, to keep the ark of the Lord.

And it came to pass, that from the day the ark of the Lord abode in Cariathiarim days were multiplied, (for it was now the twentieth year,) and all the house of Israel rested following the Lord.

And Samuel spoke to all the house of Israel, saying: If you turn to the Lord with all your heart, put away the strange gods from among you, Baalim and Astaroth: and prepare your hearts unto the Lord, and serve him only, and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.

Then the children of Israel put away Baalim and Astaroth, and served the Lord only.

And Samuel said: Gather all Israel to Masphath, that I may pray to the Lord for you.

And they gathered together to Masphath: and they drew water, and poured it out before the Lord, and they fasted on that day, and they said there: We have sinned against the Lord. And Samuel judged the children of Israel in Masphath.

And the Philistines heard that the children of Israel were gathered together to Masphath, and the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. And when the children of Israel heard this, they were afraid of the Philistines.

And they said to Samuel: Cease not to cry to the Lord our God for us, that he may save us out of the hand of the Philistines.

And Samuel took a sucking lamb, and offered it whole for a holocaust to the Lord: and Samuel cried to the Lord for Israel, and the Lord heard him.

10 And it came to pass, when Samuel was offering the holocaust, the Philistines began the battle against Israel: but the Lord thundered with a great thunder on that day upon the Philistines, and terrified them, and they were overthrown before the face of Israel.

11 And the men of Israel going out of Masphath pursued after the Philistines, and made slaughter of them till they came under Bethchar.

12 And Samuel took a stone, and laid it between Masphath and Sen: and he called the place, the Stone of help. And he said: Thus far the Lord hath helped us.

13 And the Philistines were humbled, and they did not come any more into the borders of Israel. And the hand of the Lord was against the Philistines, all the days of Samuel.

14 And the cities, which the Philistines had taken from Israel, were restored to Israel, from Accaron to Geth, and their borders: and he delivered Israel from the hand of the Philistines, and there was peace between Israel and the Amorrhites.

15 And Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life:

16 And he went every year about to Bethel and to Galgal and to Masphath, and he judged Israel in the aforesaid places.

17 And he returned to Ramatha, for there was his house, and there he judged Israel: he built also there an altar to the Lord.