1 Samuel 7

1Then the menH582 of Kiriath-jearimH7157 cameH935 for the arkH727 of the LORDH3068 and tookH5927 itH853 intoH413 Abinadab’sH41 houseH1004 on the hillH1389. AndH853 they consecratedH6942 his sonH1121 EleazarH499 to guardH8104 the arkH727 of the LORDH3068.

2And from that dayH3117 a longH7235 timeH3117 passedH1961, twentyH6242 yearsH8141 in allH1961, as the arkH727 remainedH3427 at Kiriath-jearimH7157. And allH3605 the houseH1004 of IsraelH3478 mournfullyH5091 soughtH310 the LORDH3068.

3Then SamuelH8050 saidH559 toH413 allH3605 the houseH1004 of IsraelH3478, “IfH518 youH859 are returningH7725 toH413 the LORDH3068 with allH3605 your heartsH3824, then put awayH5493 the foreignH5236 godsH430 and AshtorethsH6252 among youH8432, prepareH3559 your heartsH3824 forH413 the LORDH3068, and serve HimH5647 onlyH905. And He will deliverH5337 youH853 from the handH3027 of the PhilistinesH6430.”

4So the IsraelitesH1121H3478 put awayH5493 the BaalsH1168 andH853 AshtorethsH6252 and servedH5647 onlyH905 the LORDH3068.

5Then SamuelH8050 saidH559, “GatherH6908 allH3605 IsraelH3478 to MizpahH4709, and I will prayH6419 toH413 the LORDH3068 on your behalfH1157.”

6When they had gatheredH6908 at MizpahH4709, they drewH7579 waterH4325 and poured it outH8210 beforeH6440 the LORDH3068. On thatH1931 dayH3117 they fastedH6684, and thereH8033 they confessedH559, “We have sinnedH2398 against the LORDH3068.” And SamuelH8050 judgedH81991 the IsraelitesH1121H3478 at MizpahH4709.

7When the PhilistinesH6430 heardH8085 thatH3588 the IsraelitesH1121H3478 had gatheredH6908 at MizpahH4709, theirH6430 rulersH5633 marched upH5927 towardH413 IsraelH3478. And when the IsraelitesH1121H3478 learned of thisH8085, they fearedH3372H6440 the PhilistinesH6430 8and saidH559 toH413 SamuelH8050, “Do notH408 stopH2790 crying outH2199 toH413 the LORDH3068 our GodH430 for usH4480, that He may save usH3467 from the handH3027 of the PhilistinesH6430.”

9Then SamuelH8050 tookH3947 aH259 sucklingH2461 lambH2924 and offered itH5927 as a wholeH3632 burnt offeringH5930 to the LORDH3068. HeH8050 cried outH2199 toH413 the LORDH3068 on behalf ofH1157 IsraelH3478, and the LORDH3068 answered himH6030. 10As the PhilistinesH6430 drew nearH5066 to fightH4421 against IsraelH3478, SamuelH8050 wasH1961 offering upH5927 the burnt offeringH5930. But thatH1931 dayH3117 the LORDH3068 thunderedH7481 loudlyH6963H1419 againstH5921 the PhilistinesH6430 and threw them into such confusionH2000 that they fledH5062 beforeH6440 IsraelH3478.

11Then the menH582 of IsraelH3478 charged outH3318 ofH4480 MizpahH4709 and pursuedH7291 the PhilistinesH6430, striking them downH5221 all the way toH5704H8478 an area below Beth-carH1033.

12Afterward, SamuelH8050 tookH3947 aH259 stoneH68 and set it upH7760 betweenH996 MizpahH4709H996 and ShenH8129.2 He namedH7121 it EbenezerH72,3 sayingH559, “ThusH2008 farH5704 the LORDH3068 has helped usH5826.”

13So the PhilistinesH6430 were subduedH3665, and they stoppedH3808 invadingH935 the territoryH1366 of IsraelH3478. And the handH3027 of the LORDH3068 wasH1961 against the PhilistinesH6430 allH3605 the daysH3117 of SamuelH8050. 14The citiesH5892 from EkronH6138 toH5704 GathH1661, whichH834 the PhilistinesH6430H854 had takenH3947, were restoredH7725 to IsraelH3478, who also deliveredH5337 the surrounding territoryH1366 from the handH3027 of the PhilistinesH6430. And there wasH1961 peaceH7965 betweenH996 the IsraelitesH3478H996 and the AmoritesH567.

15So SamuelH8050 judgedH8199 IsraelH3478 allH3605 the daysH3117 of his lifeH2416. 16Every yearH8141 he would goH1980 on a circuitH5437 fromH1767 BethelH1008 to GilgalH1537 to MizpahH4709, judgingH8199 IsraelH3478 inH853 allH3605 theseH428 placesH4725. 17Then he would returnH8666 to RamahH7414 becauseH3588 his homeH1004 was thereH8033, and thereH8033 he judgedH8199 IsraelH3478 and builtH1129 an altarH4196 to the LORDH3068.