1 Samuel 7
World English Bible
7 The men of Kiriath Jearim came and took Yahweh’s ark, and brought it into Abinadab’s house on the hill, and consecrated Eleazar his son to keep Yahweh’s ark. 2 From the day that the ark stayed in Kiriath Jearim, the time was long—for it was twenty years; and all the house of Israel lamented after Yahweh. 3 Samuel spoke to all the house of Israel, saying, “If you are returning to Yahweh with all your heart, then put away the foreign gods and the Ashtaroth from among you, and direct your hearts to Yahweh, and serve him only; and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.” 4 Then the children of Israel removed the Baals and the Ashtaroth, and served Yahweh only. 5 Samuel said, “Gather all Israel to Mizpah, and I will pray to Yahweh for you.” 6 They gathered together to Mizpah, and drew water, and poured it out before Yahweh, and fasted on that day, and said there, “We have sinned against Yahweh.” Samuel judged the children of Israel in Mizpah.
7 When the Philistines heard that the children of Israel were gathered together at Mizpah, the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. When the children of Israel heard it, they were afraid of the Philistines. 8 The children of Israel said to Samuel, “Don’t stop crying to Yahweh our God for us, that he will save us out of the hand of the Philistines.” 9 Samuel took a suckling lamb, and offered it for a whole burnt offering to Yahweh. Samuel cried to Yahweh for Israel, and Yahweh answered him. 10 As Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines came near to battle against Israel; but Yahweh thundered with a great thunder on that day on the Philistines and confused them; and they were struck down before Israel. 11 The men of Israel went out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines, and struck them until they came under Beth Kar.
12 Then Samuel took a stone and set it between Mizpah and Shen, and called its name Ebenezer,[a] saying, “Yahweh helped us until now.” 13 So the Philistines were subdued, and they stopped coming within the border of Israel. Yahweh’s hand 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 recovered its border out of the hand of the Philistines. There was peace between Israel and the Amorites.
15 Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life. 16 He went from year to year in a circuit to Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpah; and he judged Israel in all those places. 17 His return was to Ramah, for his house was there, and he judged Israel there; and he built an altar to Yahweh there.
Footnotes
- 7:12 “Ebenezer” means “stone of help”.
1 Samuel 7
Christian Standard Bible Anglicised
7 So the people of Kiriath-jearim came for the ark of the Lord and took it to Abinadab’s house on the hill.(A) They consecrated his son Eleazar to take care of it.
Victory at Mizpah
2 Time went by until twenty years had passed since the ark had been taken to Kiriath-jearim. Then the whole house of Israel longed for the Lord. 3 Samuel told them, ‘If you(B) are returning to the Lord(C) with all your heart,(D) get rid of the foreign gods(E) and the Ashtoreths that are among you, set your hearts on the Lord, and worship only him.(F) Then he will rescue you from the Philistines.’ 4 So the Israelites removed the Baals and the Ashtoreths(G) and only worshipped the Lord.
5 Samuel said, ‘Gather all Israel at Mizpah,(H) and I will pray to the Lord on your behalf.’(I) 6 When they gathered at Mizpah, they drew water and poured it out in the Lord’s presence.(J) They fasted that day,(K) and there they confessed, ‘We have sinned against the Lord.’(L) And Samuel judged the Israelites at Mizpah.
7 When the Philistines heard that the Israelites had gathered at Mizpah, their rulers marched up towards Israel. When the Israelites heard about it, they were afraid because of the Philistines. 8 The Israelites said to Samuel, ‘Don’t stop crying out to the Lord our God for us, so that he will save us from the Philistines.’
9 Then Samuel took a young lamb(M) and offered it as a whole burnt offering to the Lord. He cried out to the Lord on behalf of Israel, and the Lord answered him.(N) 10 Samuel was offering the burnt offering as the Philistines approached to fight against Israel. The Lord thundered loudly(O) against the Philistines that day and threw them into such confusion that they were defeated by Israel.(P) 11 Then the men of Israel charged out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines striking them down all the way to a place below Beth-car.
12 Afterwards, Samuel took a stone and set it upright(Q) between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer,[a] explaining, ‘The Lord has helped us to this point.’ 13 So the Philistines were subdued(R) and[b] did not invade Israel’s territory again.(S) The Lord’s hand was against the Philistines all of Samuel’s life. 14 The cities from Ekron to Gath, which they had taken from Israel, were restored; Israel even rescued their surrounding territories from Philistine control. There was also peace between Israel and the Amorites.
15 Samuel judged Israel throughout his life.(T) 16 Every year he would go on a circuit to Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpah and would judge Israel at all these locations. 17 Then he would return to Ramah(U) because his home was there, he judged Israel there, and he built an altar to the Lord there.
by Public Domain. The name "World English Bible" is trademarked.
Copyright © 2024 by Holman Bible Publishers.
Scripture quotations marked SBLGNT are from the The Greek New Testament: SBL Edition. Copyright © 2010 by Society of Biblical Literature and Logos Bible Software