1 Samuel 7

1Then the men of Kiriath-jearim came and brought up the ark of Yahweh, and they brought it into the house of Abinadab on the hill. And they consecrated Eleazar his son to keep the ark of Yahweh.

2From the day the ark remained at Kiriath-jearim, the days became many, and they were twenty years; and all the house of Israel lamented after Yahweh.

3Then Samuel said to all the house of Israel, “If you are returning to Yahweh with all your heart, remove the foreign gods and the Ashtaroths from among you, and direct your heart to Yahweh and serve him alone, and he will deliver you from the hand of the Philistines.”

4So the sons of Israel removed the Baals and the Ashtaroths, and they served Yahweh alone.

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

6So they gathered at Mizpah, drew water, and poured it out before Yahweh. They fasted on that day and said there, “We have sinned against Yahweh.” And Samuel judged the sons of Israel at Mizpah.

7When the Philistines heard that the sons of Israel had gathered at Mizpah, the rulers of the Philistines went up against Israel. When the sons of Israel heard it, they were afraid because of the Philistines.

8Then the sons of Israel said to Samuel, “Do not be silent for us from crying out to Yahweh our God, that he may save us from the hand of the Philistines.”

9So Samuel took one nursing lamb and offered it as a whole burnt offering to Yahweh. And Samuel cried out to Yahweh on behalf of Israel, and Yahweh answered him.

10And as Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near for battle against Israel. But Yahweh thundered with a great sound on that day against the Philistines and threw them into confusion, and they were defeated before Israel.

11Then the men of Israel went out from Mizpah, pursued the Philistines, and struck them down as far as below Beth-car.

12Then Samuel took one stone and set it between Mizpah and Shen, and he called its name Ebenezer, for he said, “Up to this point the LORD has helped us.”

13So the Philistines were subdued and did not again come into the territory of Israel. And the hand of Yahweh was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel.

14And the cities that the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron to Gath; and Israel delivered its territory from the hand of the Philistines. And there was peace between Israel and the Amorites.

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

16And he would go year by year and make the circuit of Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpah, and he judged Israel in all these places.

17Then he would return to Ramah, for his house was there, and there he judged Israel. He built there an altar to Yahweh.