Israel Saved from the Philistines

And the men of Kiriath-jearim came and took the ark of the Lord and (A)brought it into the house of Abinadab on the hill, and they [a]consecrated his son Eleazar to watch over the ark of the Lord. From the day that the ark remained at Kiriath-jearim, the [b]time was long, for it was twenty years; and all the house of Israel [c]mourned after the Lord.

Then Samuel spoke to all the house of Israel, saying, “(B)If you are returning to the Lord with all your heart, then (C)remove the foreign gods and the (D)Ashtaroth from among you, and (E)direct your hearts to the Lord and (F)serve Him alone; and He will save you from the hand of the Philistines.” So the sons of Israel removed the Baals and the Ashtaroth, and served the Lord alone.

Then Samuel said, “Gather all Israel to (G)Mizpah and (H)I will pray to the Lord for you.” So they gathered to Mizpah, and drew water and (I)poured it out before the Lord, and (J)fasted on that day and said there, “(K)We have sinned against the Lord.” And Samuel judged the sons of Israel at Mizpah.

Now when the Philistines heard that the sons of Israel had gathered at Mizpah, the governors of the Philistines went up against Israel. And when the sons of Israel heard about it, (L)they were afraid of the Philistines. So the sons of Israel said to Samuel, “(M)Do not stop crying out to the Lord our God for us, that He will save us from the hand of the Philistines!” Samuel took (N)a nursing lamb and offered it as a whole burnt offering to the Lord; and Samuel cried out to the Lord for Israel, and (O)the Lord answered him. 10 Now Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, and the Philistines advanced to battle Israel. But (P)the Lord thundered with a great [d]thunder on that day against the Philistines and (Q)confused them, so that they were struck down before Israel. 11 And the men of Israel came out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines, and killed them as far as below Beth-car.

12 Then Samuel (R)took a stone and placed it between Mizpah and Shen, and named it [e]Ebenezer, saying, “[f]So far the Lord has helped us.” 13 (S)So the Philistines were subdued, and (T)they did not come anymore within the border of Israel. And the hand of the Lord 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 [g]recovered their territory from the hand of the Philistines. So there was peace between Israel and (U)the Amorites.

Samuel’s Ministry

15 Now Samuel (V)judged Israel all the days of his life. 16 And he used to go annually on a circuit to (W)Bethel, (X)Gilgal, and (Y)Mizpah, and he judged Israel in all these places. 17 Then he would make his return to (Z)Ramah, because his house was there, and there he also judged Israel; and there he (AA)built an altar to the Lord.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Samuel 7:1 Lit made holy; i.e., ordained
  2. 1 Samuel 7:2 Lit days increased
  3. 1 Samuel 7:2 Or followed after
  4. 1 Samuel 7:10 Lit voice
  5. 1 Samuel 7:12 I.e., the stone of help
  6. 1 Samuel 7:12 Lit As far as here
  7. 1 Samuel 7:14 Lit saved

So the men of Kiriath Jearim came and took up the ark(A) of the Lord. They brought it to Abinadab’s(B) house on the hill and consecrated Eleazar his son to guard the ark of the Lord. The ark remained at Kiriath Jearim(C) a long time—twenty years in all.

Samuel Subdues the Philistines at Mizpah

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

Then Samuel(K) said, “Assemble all Israel at Mizpah,(L) and I will intercede(M) with the Lord for you.” When they had assembled at Mizpah,(N) they drew water and poured(O) it out before the Lord. On that day they fasted and there they confessed, “We have sinned against the Lord.” Now Samuel was serving as leader[a](P) of Israel at Mizpah.

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(Q) because of the Philistines. They said to Samuel, “Do not stop crying(R) out to the Lord our God for us, that he may rescue us from the hand of the Philistines.” Then Samuel(S) 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.(T)

10 While Samuel was sacrificing the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to engage Israel in battle. But that day the Lord thundered(U) with loud thunder against the Philistines and threw them into such a panic(V) 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.

12 Then Samuel took a stone(W) and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer,[b](X) saying, “Thus far the Lord has helped us.”

13 So the Philistines were subdued(Y) and they stopped invading Israel’s territory. Throughout Samuel’s lifetime, the hand of the Lord was against the Philistines. 14 The towns from Ekron(Z) to Gath that the Philistines had captured from Israel were restored to Israel, and Israel delivered the neighboring territory from the hands of the Philistines. And there was peace between Israel and the Amorites.(AA)

15 Samuel(AB) continued as Israel’s leader(AC) all(AD) the days of his life. 16 From year to year he went on a circuit from Bethel(AE) to Gilgal(AF) to Mizpah, judging(AG) Israel in all those places. 17 But he always went back to Ramah,(AH) where his home was, and there he also held court(AI) for Israel. And he built an altar(AJ) there to the Lord.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Samuel 7:6 Traditionally judge; also in verse 15
  2. 1 Samuel 7:12 Ebenezer means stone of help.