4 And Samuel’s word came to all Israel.

The Philistines Capture the Ark

Now the Israelites went out to fight against the Philistines. The Israelites camped at Ebenezer,^(A) and the Philistines at Aphek.^{(B) 2} The Philistines deployed their forces to meet Israel, and as the battle spread, Israel was defeated by the Philistines, who killed about four thousand of them on the battlefield. ³ When the soldiers returned to camp, the elders of Israel asked, “Why^(C) did the Lord bring defeat on us today before the Philistines? Let us bring the ark^(D) of the Lord’s covenant from Shiloh,^(E) so that he may go with us^(F) and save us from the hand of our enemies.”

⁴ So the people sent men to Shiloh, and they brought back the ark of the covenant of the Lord Almighty, who is enthroned between the cherubim.^(G) And Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.

⁵ When the ark of the Lord’s covenant came into the camp, all Israel raised such a great shout^(H) that the ground shook. ⁶ Hearing the uproar, the Philistines asked, “What’s all this shouting in the Hebrew^(I) camp?”

When they learned that the ark of the Lord had come into the camp, ⁷ the Philistines were afraid.^(J) “A god has^[a] come into the camp,” they said. “Oh no! Nothing like this has happened before. ⁸ We’re doomed! Who will deliver us from the hand of these mighty gods? They are the gods who struck^(K) the Egyptians with all kinds of plagues^(L) in the wilderness. ⁹ Be strong, Philistines! Be men, or you will be subject to the Hebrews, as they^(M) have been to you. Be men, and fight!”

¹⁰ So the Philistines fought, and the Israelites were defeated^(N) and every man fled to his tent. The slaughter was very great; Israel lost thirty thousand foot soldiers. ¹¹ The ark of God was captured, and Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, died.^(O)

² 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) 3} 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.” ⁴ So the Israelites put away their Baals and Ashtoreths, and served the Lord only.

⁵ Then Samuel^(I) said, “Assemble all Israel at Mizpah,^(J) and I will intercede^(K) with the Lord for you.” ⁶ When they had assembled at Mizpah,^(L) they drew water and poured^(M) 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](N) of Israel at Mizpah.

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^(O) because of the Philistines. ⁸ They said to Samuel, “Do not stop crying^(P) out to the Lord our God for us, that he may rescue us from the hand of the Philistines.” ⁹ Then Samuel^(Q) 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.^(R)

¹⁰ While Samuel was sacrificing the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to engage Israel in battle. But that day the Lord thundered^(S) with loud thunder against the Philistines and threw them into such a panic^(T) 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^(U) and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer,^[b](V) saying, “Thus far the Lord has helped us.”

¹³ So the Philistines were subdued^(W) 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^(X) 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.^(Y)

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