1 Samuel 7
Christian Standard Bible
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 worshiped 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 toward 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 Afterward, 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.
1 Samuel 7
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
Chapter 7
1 So the inhabitants of Kiriath-jearim came for the ark of the Lord and brought it into the house of Abinadab on the hill, appointing his son Eleazar as guardian of the ark of the Lord.
Samuel the Judge. 2 From the day the ark came to rest in Kiriath-jearim, a long time, twenty years, elapsed, and the whole house of Israel turned to the Lord. 3 Then Samuel addressed the whole house of Israel: “If you would return to the Lord with your whole heart, remove your foreign gods and your Astartes, fix your hearts on the Lord, and serve him alone, then the Lord will deliver you from the hand of the Philistines.”(A) 4 So the Israelites removed their Baals and Astartes,[a] and served the Lord alone. 5 Samuel then gave orders, “Gather all Israel to Mizpah, that I may pray to the Lord for you.”(B) 6 When they had gathered at Mizpah, they drew water and poured it out[b] on the ground before the Lord, and they fasted that day, saying, “We have sinned against the Lord.” It was at Mizpah that Samuel began to judge the Israelites.(C)
Rout of the Philistines. 7 When the Philistines heard that the Israelites had gathered at Mizpah, their leaders went up against Israel. Hearing this, the Israelites became afraid of the Philistines 8 and appealed to Samuel, “Do not stop crying out to the Lord our God for us, to save us from the hand of the Philistines.”(D) 9 Samuel therefore took an unweaned lamb and offered it whole as a burnt offering to the Lord.(E) He cried out to the Lord for Israel, and the Lord answered him. 10 While Samuel was sacrificing the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near for battle with Israel. That day, however, the Lord thundered loudly against the Philistines, and threw them into such confusion that they were defeated by Israel.(F) 11 Thereupon the Israelites rushed out from Mizpah and pursued the Philistines, striking them down even beyond Beth-car. 12 Samuel then took a stone and placed it between Mizpah and Jeshanah; he named it Ebenezer,[c] explaining, “As far as this place the Lord has been our help.” 13 Thus were the Philistines subdued, never again to enter the territory of Israel, for the hand of the Lord was against them as long as Samuel lived.(G) 14 The cities from Ekron to Gath which the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to them. Israel also freed the territory of these cities from Philistine domination. There was also peace between Israel and the Amorites.[d]
15 Samuel judged Israel as long as he lived. 16 He made a yearly circuit, passing through Bethel, Gilgal and Mizpah[e] and judging Israel at each of these places. 17 Then he used to return to Ramah, for that was his home. There, too, he judged Israel and built an altar to the Lord.(H)
Footnotes
- 7:4 Baals and Astartes: a Deuteronomistic phrase; cf. Jgs 2:13; 10:6; 1 Sm 12:10. Baal and Astarte were Canaanite divinities.
- 7:6 Drew water and poured it out: this ritual act does not appear elsewhere in the Old Testament. Linked with fasting and admission of sin, it seems to function as a purification ritual that washes away the guilt incurred by worshiping the Canaanite Baal and his consort Astarte. Its effectiveness is immediately evident when the Lord thunders a response to Samuel’s offering.
- 7:12 Ebenezer: “stone of the helper,” i.e., the Lord.
- 7:14 The Amorites: enemies in Transjordan. Israel is now secure, safe from external and internal threat.
- 7:16 Bethel, Gilgal and Mizpah: Bethel and Mizpah are located about five and eight miles north of Jerusalem respectively, in the district around Ramah, Samuel’s home. Perhaps Gilgal, which has not been definitively located, was also in this area.
1 Samuel 7
Luther Bibel 1545
7 Also kamen die Leute von Kirjath-Jearim und holten die Lade des HERRN hinauf und brachten sie ins Haus Abinadabs auf dem Hügel; und seinen Sohn Eleasar heiligten sie, daß er die Lade des HERRN hütete.
2 Und von dem Tage an, da die Lade des HERRN zu Kirjath-Jearim blieb, verzog sich die Zeit so lange, bis es zwanzig Jahre wurden; und das ganze Haus Israel weinte vor dem HERRN.
3 Samuel aber sprach zum ganzen Hause Israel: So ihr euch mit ganzem Herzen bekehrt zu dem HERRN, so tut von euch die fremden Götter und die Astharoth und richtet euer Herz zu dem HERRN und dienet ihm allein, so wird er euch erretten aus der Philister Hand.
4 Da taten die Kinder Israel von sich die Baalim und die Astharoth und dienten dem HERRN allein.
5 Samuel aber sprach: Versammelt das ganze Israel gen Mizpa, daß ich für euch bitte zum HERRN.
6 Und sie kamen zusammen gen Mizpa und schöpften Wasser und gossen's aus vor dem HERRN und fasteten denselben Tag und sprachen daselbst: Wir haben an dem HERRN gesündigt. Also richtete Samuel die Kinder Israel zu Mizpa.
7 Da aber die Philister hörten, daß die Kinder Israel zusammengekommen waren gen Mizpa, zogen die Fürsten der Philister hinauf wider Israel. Da das die Kinder Israel hörten, fürchteten sie sich vor den Philistern
8 und sprachen zu Samuel: Laß nicht ab, für uns zu schreien zu dem HERRN, unserm Gott, daß er uns helfe aus der Philister Hand.
9 Samuel nahm ein Milchlämmlein und opferte dem HERRN ein ganzes Brandopfer und schrie zum HERRN für Israel; und der HERR erhörte ihn.
10 Und indem Samuel das Brandopfer opferte, kamen die Philister herzu, zu streiten wider Israel. Aber der HERR ließ donnern einen großen Donner über die Philister desselben Tages und schreckte sie, daß sie vor Israel geschlagen wurden.
11 Da zogen die Männer Israels aus von Mizpa und jagten die Philister und schlugen sie bis unter Beht-Kar.
12 Da nahm Samuel einen Stein und setzte ihn zwischen Mizpa und Sen und hieß ihn Eben-Ezer und sprach: Bis hierher hat uns der HERR geholfen.
13 Also wurden die Philister gedämpft und kamen nicht mehr in die Grenze Israels; und die Hand des HERRN war wider die Philister, solange Samuel lebte.
14 Also wurden Israel die Städte wieder, die die Philister ihnen genommen hatten, von Ekron an bis gen Gath, samt ihrem Gebiet; die errettete Israel von der Hand der Philister. Und Israel hatte Frieden mit den Amoritern.
15 Samuel aber richtete Israel sein Leben lang
16 und zog jährlich umher zu Beth-El und Gilgal und Mizpa. Und wenn er Israel an allen diesen Orten gerichtet hatte,
17 kam er wieder gen Rama (denn da war sein Haus) und richtete Israel daselbst und baute dem HERRN daselbst einen Altar.
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