1 Samuel 7

1 Then the men of Kiriath-jearim came for the ark of the LORD and took it into Abinadab’s house on the hill. And they consecrated his son Eleazar to guard the ark of the LORD.

2 And from that day a long time passed, twenty years in all, as the ark remained at Kiriath-jearim. And all the house of Israel mournfully sought the LORD.

3 Then Samuel said to all the house of Israel, “If you are returning to the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the foreign gods and Ashtoreths among you, prepare your hearts for the LORD, and serve Him only. And He will deliver you from the hand of the Philistines.”

4 So the Israelites put away the Baals and Ashtoreths and served only the LORD.

5 Then Samuel said, “Gather all Israel to Mizpah, and I will pray to the LORD on your behalf.”

6 When they had gathered at Mizpah, they drew water and poured it out before the LORD. On that day they fasted, and there they confessed, “We have sinned against the LORD.” 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. And when the Israelites learned of this, they feared the Philistines

8 and said to Samuel, “Do not stop crying out to the LORD our God for us, that He may save us from the hand of the Philistines.”

9 Then Samuel took a suckling lamb 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.

10 As the Philistines drew near to fight against Israel, Samuel was offering up the burnt offering. But that day the LORD thundered loudly against the Philistines and threw them into such confusion that they fled before Israel.

11 Then the men of Israel charged out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines, striking them down all the way to an area below Beth-car.

12 Afterward, Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, “Thus far the LORD has helped us.”

13 So the Philistines were subdued, and they stopped invading the territory of Israel. And the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel.

14 The cities from Ekron to Gath, which the Philistines had taken, were restored to Israel, who also delivered the surrounding territory from the hand of the Philistines. And there was peace between the Israelites and the Amorites.

15 So Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life.

16 Every year he would go on a circuit from Bethel to Gilgal to Mizpah, judging Israel in all these places.

17 Then he would return to Ramah because his home was there, and there he judged Israel and built an altar to the LORD.

1 ¶ And the men of Kirjathjearim came, and fetched up the ark of the LORD, and brought it into the house of Abinadab in the hill, and sanctified Eleazar his son to keep the ark of the LORD.

2 And it came to pass, while the ark abode in Kirjathjearim, that the time was long; for it was twenty years: and all the house of Israel lamented after the LORD.

3 ¶ And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying, If ye do return unto the LORD with all your hearts, [then] put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts unto the LORD, and serve him only: and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.

4 Then the children of Israel did put away Baalim and Ashtaroth, and served the LORD only.

5 And Samuel said, Gather all Israel to Mizpeh, and I will pray for you unto the LORD.

6 And they gathered together to Mizpeh, and drew water, and poured [it] out before the LORD, and fasted on that day, and said there, We have sinned against the LORD. And Samuel judged the children of Israel in Mizpeh.

7 ¶ And when the Philistines heard that the children of Israel were gathered together to Mizpeh, the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. And when the children of Israel heard [it], they were afraid of the Philistines.

8 And the children of Israel said to Samuel, Cease not to cry unto the LORD our God for us, that he will save us out of the hand of the Philistines.

9 And Samuel took a sucking lamb, and offered [it for] a burnt offering wholly unto the LORD: and Samuel cried unto the LORD for Israel; and the LORD heard him.

10 And as Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel: but the LORD thundered with a great thunder on that day upon the Philistines, and discomfited them; and they were smitten before Israel.

11 And the men of Israel went out of Mizpeh, and pursued the Philistines, and smote them, until [they came] under Bethcar.

12 Then Samuel took a stone, and set [it] between Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it Ebenezer, saying, Hitherto hath the LORD helped us.

13 ¶ So the Philistines were subdued, and they came no more into the coast of Israel: and the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel.

14 And the cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron even unto Gath; and the coasts thereof did Israel deliver out of the hands of the Philistines. And there was peace between Israel and the Amorites.

15 And Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life.

16 And he went from year to year in circuit to Bethel, and Gilgal, and Mizpeh, and judged Israel in all those places.

17 And his return [was] to Ramah; for there [was] his house; and there he judged Israel; and there he built an altar unto the LORD.

1 So the men of Kiriathjearim came and took up the ark of the LORD, and brought it into the house of Abinadab in Gibeah: and they sanctified Eleazar his son to keep the ark of the LORD.

2 And from the day that the ark of the LORD abode in Kiriathjearim, time delayed until twenty years: and all the house of Israel wept before the LORD.

3 And Samuel said unto all the house of Israel, If ye turn unto the LORD with all your heart, then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and set your heart on the LORD, and serve him only; and he shall deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.

4 And the children of Israel put away Baalim and Ashtaroth from them, and served the LORD only.

5 And Samuel said, Gather all Israel together to Mizpeh, that I may pray unto the LORD for you.

6 And they came together to Mizpeh, and drew water, and poured it out before the LORD, and fasted that day, and said there: We have sinned against the LORD. So Samuel judged the children of Israel at Mizpeh.

7 And when the Philistines heard that the children of Israel were come together to Mizpeh, the princes of the Philistines went up against Israel. And when the children of Israel heard it, they were afraid of the Philistines.

8 And they said unto Samuel, Cease not to cry unto the LORD our God for us, that he may save us out of the hand of the Philistines.

9 And Samuel took a kid of the lamb, and offered a whole burnt offering unto the LORD, and cried unto the LORD for Israel: and the LORD hearkened unto him.

10 And while Samuel was offering the burnt offering, the Philistines came near to fight against Israel. And the LORD thundered a great thunder that day upon the Philistines, and discomfited them, and they were smitten before Israel.

11 And the men of Israel went out from Mizpeh, and pursued the Philistines, and smote them unto Bethcar.

12 And Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpeh and Sen, and called his name Eben- Ezer, and said, Hitherto hath the LORD helped us.

13 So the Philistines were subdued, and came no more within the border of Israel: and the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel.

14 So the cities which the Philistines had taken from them, from Ekron even unto Gath, and the coasts thereof, were restored unto Israel, which delivered Israel out of the hand of the Philistines: for Israel had peace with the Amorites.

15 And Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life.

16 And he went about yearly to Bethel, and to Gilgal, and to Mizpah. And when he had judged Israel in all these places,

17 And he returned to Ramath, because there was his house: and there he judged Israel, and built there an altar unto the LORD.