Samuel Judges Israel

So it was that the ark remained in Kirjath Jearim a long time; it was there twenty years. And all the house of Israel lamented after the Lord.

Then Samuel spoke to all the house of Israel, saying, “If you (A)return to the Lord with all your hearts, then (B)put away the foreign gods and the (C)Ashtoreths[a] from among you, and (D)prepare your hearts for the Lord, and (E)serve Him only; and He will deliver you from the hand of the Philistines.” So the children of Israel put away the (F)Baals and the [b]Ashtoreths, and served the Lord only.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Samuel 7:3 Images of Canaanite goddesses
  2. 1 Samuel 7:4 Images of Canaanite goddesses

The ark remained at Kiriath Jearim(A) a long time—twenty years in all.

Samuel Subdues the Philistines at Mizpah

Then all the people of Israel turned back to the Lord.(B) So Samuel said to all the Israelites, “If you are returning(C) to the Lord with all your hearts, then rid(D) yourselves of the foreign gods and the Ashtoreths(E) and commit(F) yourselves to the Lord and serve him only,(G) and he will deliver(H) you out of the hand of the Philistines.” So the Israelites put away their Baals and Ashtoreths, and served the Lord only.

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