1 Samuel 7
International Standard Version
The Ark is Stored in Kiriath-Jearim
7 The men of Kiriath-jearim came and took the Ark of the Lord. They brought it to the house of Abinadab on the hill, and they consecrated his son Eleazar to care for the Ark of the Lord.
2 A long time passed—it was twenty years—from the time the Ark came to reside in Kiriath-jearim, and all the house of Israel mourned because of the Lord.
The Philistines are Defeated at Ebenezer
3 Then Samuel told the whole house of Israel, “If you’re returning to the Lord with all your heart, then remove the foreign gods and the Ashtaroth[a] from among you, direct your hearts back to the Lord, and serve him only. Then he will deliver you from the control of the Philistines.” 4 So the Israelis removed the Baals[b] and Ashtaroth, and served the Lord only.
5 Samuel said, “Bring all Israel together at Mizpah, and I’ll pray to the Lord on your behalf.” 6 So they came together at Mizpah, drew water, and poured it out in the Lord’s presence.
On that day they fasted there and said, “We have sinned against the Lord.” Then Samuel judged the Israelis at Mizpah. 7 When the Philistines heard that the Israelis had gathered at Mizpah, the Philistine lords came up against Israel. When the Israelis heard this, they were afraid of the Philistines.
8 The Israelis told Samuel, “Don’t stop crying out to the Lord our God for us that he may deliver us from the hand of the Philistines.” 9 Then Samuel took a nursing lamb and offered it as a whole burnt offering to the Lord. Samuel cried out to the Lord on behalf of Israel, and the Lord answered him. 10 While Samuel was sacrificing the burnt offering, the Philistines approached to attack Israel. But that day the Lord thundered against the Philistines and threw them into panic, and they were defeated before Israel. 11 The men of Israel went out from Mizpah, pursued the Philistines, and struck them down as far as a point below Beth-car. 12 Then Samuel took a stone, placed it between Mizpah and Shen[c] and named it Ebenezer.[d] He said, “The Lord has helped us this far.” 13 The Philistines were subdued, and they did not continue to enter the territory of Israel.
The Lord continued to oppose the Philistines all during Samuel’s life time. 14 The towns that the Philistines had taken from Israel were returned to Israel, from Ekron to Gath, and Israel delivered their territory from Philistine control. There was also peace between Israel and the Amorites.
15 Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life. 16 He went on a circuit each year to Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpah, and he judged Israel in all those places. 17 He would return to Ramah because his house was there, and judged Israel from there. He also built an altar to the Lord there.
Footnotes
- 1 Samuel 7:3 I.e. trees or images representing the Canaanite deity Asherah
- 1 Samuel 7:4 Images representing the Canaanite storm god
- 1 Samuel 7:12 Lit. the tooth; perhaps referring to a prominent rock formation. Syr reads Jeshanah
- 1 Samuel 7:12 MT means Stone of Help
1 Samuel 7
Lexham English Bible
Revival and Victory at Mizpah
7 The men of Kiriath Jearim came and brought up the ark of Yahweh, and they brought it to the house of Abinadab in Gibeah. They consecrated Eleazer his son to guard the ark of Yahweh. 2 From[a] the day the ark stayed in Kiriath Jearim, days multiplied and became twenty years[b] while all the house of Israel mourned after Yahweh. 3 And Samuel spoke to all the house of Israel, saying, “If with all your heart you are turning to Yahweh, remove the foreign gods and Ashtoreths[c] from your midst. Commit your hearts to Yahweh and serve him alone. Then he will deliver you from the hand of the Philistines.” 4 So the Israelites[d] removed the Baals[e] and the Ashtoreths, and they served Yahweh alone.
5 Then Samuel said, “Gather all Israel to Mizpah, and I will pray to Yahweh for you.” 6 So they gathered to Mizpah and drew water and poured it out before Yahweh. They fasted on that day and said there, “We have sinned against Yahweh!” So Samuel judged the Israelites[f] at Mizpah. 7 Now when the Philistines heard that the Israelites[g] had gathered at Mizpah, the rulers of the Philistines went up against Israel. And when the Israelites[h] heard of it, they were afraid of the Philistines.[i] 8 Then the Israelites[j] said to Samuel, “You must not cease[k] from crying out to Yahweh our God, so that he will deliver us from the hand of the Philistines.” 9 So Samuel took a single nursing lamb[l] and sacrificed it as a whole burnt offering to Yahweh. Then Samuel cried out to Yahweh on behalf of Israel, and Yahweh answered him. 10 While[m] Samuel was sacrificing the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near for the battle against Israel. But Yahweh thundered against the Philistines with a great noise on that day and threw them into confusion so that they were defeated before Israel. 11 Then the men of Israel went out from Mizpah and pursued the Philistines and they struck them down as far as below Beth Car.
12 So Samuel took a single stone and put it between Mizpah and Shen, and he named it Ebenezer and said, “Up to here Yahweh has helped us.” 13 So the Philistines were subdued and they did not come into the territory of Israel again, and the hand of Yahweh was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel. 14 The towns[n] which the Philistines had taken from Israel were returned to Israel from Ekron to Gath, and Israel delivered their territories from the hand of the Philistines. Then there was peace between Israel and the Amorites.
The Circuit Ministry of Samuel
15 Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life. 16 He used to go on the circuit from year to year.[o] He went around Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpah, and he judged Israel in all these places. 17 Then he returned[p] to Ramah, because his house was there, and there he judged Israel, and he built an altar to Yahweh there.
Footnotes
- 1 Samuel 7:2 Literally “And it happened from”
- 1 Samuel 7:2 Literally “and the days were numerous, and they were twenty years”
- 1 Samuel 7:3 Hebrew plural “Ashtaroth” (Ashtoreth was the female consort of Ba’al)
- 1 Samuel 7:4 Literally “sons/children of Israel”
- 1 Samuel 7:4 Hebrew plural “Be’alim” (Ba’al was a major Canaanite deity)
- 1 Samuel 7:6 Literally “sons/children of Israel”
- 1 Samuel 7:7 Literally “sons/children of Israel”
- 1 Samuel 7:7 Literally “sons/children of Israel”
- 1 Samuel 7:7 Literally “and they were afraid from (= because of) the presence of the Philistines”
- 1 Samuel 7:8 Literally “sons/children of Israel”
- 1 Samuel 7:8 Literally “You must not be silent from us”
- 1 Samuel 7:9 Literally “lamb of milk”
- 1 Samuel 7:10 Literally “And it happened”
- 1 Samuel 7:14 Or “cities”
- 1 Samuel 7:16 Literally “from what is required year in year”
- 1 Samuel 7:17 Literally “and his return was”
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