Samuel told them, “If you(A) are returning to the Lord(B) with all your heart,(C) get rid of the foreign gods(D) and the Ashtoreths that are among you, set your hearts on the Lord, and worship only him.(E) Then he will rescue you from the Philistines.” So the Israelites removed the Baals and the Ashtoreths(F) and only worshiped the Lord.

Samuel said, “Gather all Israel at Mizpah,(G) and I will pray to the Lord on your behalf.”(H) When they gathered at Mizpah, they drew water and poured it out in the Lord’s presence.(I) They fasted that day,(J) and there they confessed, “We have sinned against the Lord.”(K) And Samuel judged the Israelites at Mizpah.

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. 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.”

Then Samuel took a young lamb(L) 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.(M) 10 Samuel was offering the burnt offering as the Philistines approached to fight against Israel. The Lord thundered loudly(N) against the Philistines that day and threw them into such confusion that they were defeated by Israel.(O) 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(P) between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer,[a] explaining, “The Lord has helped us to this point.” 13 So the Philistines were subdued(Q) and[b] did not invade Israel’s territory again.(R) 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.

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Footnotes

  1. 7:12 = Stone of Help
  2. 7:13 LXX reads The Lord humbled the Philistines and they

Then Samuel spoke to all the house of Israel, saying, “(A)If you are returning to the Lord with all your heart, then (B)remove the foreign gods and the (C)Ashtaroth from among you, and (D)direct your hearts to the Lord and (E)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 (F)Mizpah and (G)I will pray to the Lord for you.” So they gathered to Mizpah, and drew water and (H)poured it out before the Lord, and (I)fasted on that day and said there, “(J)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, (K)they were afraid of the Philistines. So the sons of Israel said to Samuel, “(L)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 (M)a nursing lamb and offered it as a whole burnt offering to the Lord; and Samuel cried out to the Lord for Israel, and (N)the Lord answered him. 10 Now Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, and the Philistines advanced to battle Israel. But (O)the Lord thundered with a great [a]thunder on that day against the Philistines and (P)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 (Q)took a stone and placed it between Mizpah and Shen, and named it [b]Ebenezer, saying, “[c]So far the Lord has helped us.” 13 (R)So the Philistines were subdued, and (S)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 [d]recovered their territory from the hand of the Philistines. So there was peace between Israel and (T)the Amorites.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Samuel 7:10 Lit voice
  2. 1 Samuel 7:12 I.e., the stone of help
  3. 1 Samuel 7:12 Lit As far as here
  4. 1 Samuel 7:14 Lit saved