⁷ When the Philistines heard that Israel had assembled at Mizpah, the rulers of the Philistines came up to attack them. When the Israelites heard of it, they were afraid^(A) because of the Philistines. ⁸ They said to Samuel, “Do not stop crying^(B) out to the Lord our God for us, that he may rescue us from the hand of the Philistines.” ⁹ Then Samuel^(C) took a suckling lamb and sacrificed it as a whole burnt offering to the Lord. He cried out to the Lord on Israel’s behalf, and the Lord answered him.^(D)

¹⁰ While Samuel was sacrificing the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to engage Israel in battle. But that day the Lord thundered^(E) with loud thunder against the Philistines and threw them into such a panic^(F) that they were routed before the Israelites. ¹¹ The men of Israel rushed out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines, slaughtering them along the way to a point below Beth Kar.