1 The men of Kiriath Jearim came and
took the LORD’s ark, and brought it into
Abinadab’s house on the hill, and consecrated
Eleazar his son to keep the LORD’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 the LORD.
3 Samuel spoke to all the house of Israel,
saying, “If you are returning to the LORD
with all your heart, then put away the foreign
gods and the Ashtaroth from amongst
you, and direct your hearts to the LORD,
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 the
LORD only.
5 Samuel said, “Gather all Israel to Mizpah,
and I will pray to the LORD for you.”
6 They gathered together to Mizpah, and
drew water, and poured it out before the
LORD, and fasted on that day, and said
there, “We have sinned against the LORD.”
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 the LORD 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 the
LORD. Samuel cried to the LORD for Israel,
and the LORD answered him.
10 As Samuel was offering up the burnt
offering, the Philistines came near to battle
against Israel; but the LORD 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,† saying, “The LORD
helped us until now.”
13 So the Philistines were subdued, and
they stopped coming within the border of
Israel. The LORD’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 the LORD there.
