1 Samuel 7

Israel Saved from the Philistines

1And the menH376 of Kiriath-jearimH7157 cameH935 and tookH5927 the arkH727 of the LordH3068 and 1broughtH935 it into the houseH1004 of AbinadabH41 on the hillH1389, and they 2consecratedH6942 his sonH1121 EleazarH499 to watchH8104 overH8104 the arkH727 of the LordH3068. 2From the dayH3117 that the arkH727 remainedH3427 at Kiriath-jearimH7157, the 3timeH3117 wasH7235 longH7235, for it was twentyH6242 yearsH8141; and allH3605 the houseH1004 of IsraelH3478 4mournedH5091 afterH310 the LordH3068.

3Then SamuelH8050 spokeH559 to allH3605 the houseH1004 of IsraelH3478, sayingH559, “5IfH518 you are returningH7725 to the LordH3068 with allH3605 your heartH3824, then 6removeH5493 the foreignH5236 godsH430 and the 7AshtarothH6252 from amongH8432 you, and 8directH3559 your heartsH3824 to the LordH3068 and 9serveH5647 Him aloneH905; and He will saveH5337 you from the handH3027 of the PhilistinesH6430.” 4So the sonsH1121 of IsraelH3478 removedH5493 the BaalsH1168 and the AshtarothH6252, and servedH5647 the LordH3068 aloneH905.

5Then SamuelH8050 saidH559, “GatherH6908 allH3605 IsraelH3478 to 10MizpahH4708 and 11I will prayH6419 to the LordH3068 for you.” 6So they gatheredH6908 to MizpahH4709, and drewH7579 waterH4325 and 12pouredH8210 it outH8210 beforeH6440 the LordH3068, and 13fastedH6684 on that dayH3117 and saidH559 thereH8033, “14We have sinnedH2398 against the LordH3068.” And SamuelH8050 judgedH8199 the sonsH1121 of IsraelH3478 at MizpahH4709.

7Now when the PhilistinesH6430 heardH8085 that the sonsH1121 of IsraelH3478 had gatheredH6908 at MizpahH4709, the governorsH5633 of the PhilistinesH6430 wentH5927 upH5927 againstH413 IsraelH3478. And when the sonsH1121 of IsraelH3478 heardH8085 about it, 15they wereH3372 afraidH3372 of the PhilistinesH6430. 8So the sonsH1121 of IsraelH3478 saidH559 to SamuelH8050, “16Do not stopH2790 cryingH2199 outH2199 to the LordH3068 our GodH430 for us, that He will saveH3467 us from the handH3027 of the PhilistinesH6430!” 9SamuelH8050 tookH3947 17a nursingH2461 lambH2924 and offeredH5927 it as a wholeH3632 burntH5930 offeringH5930 to the LordH3068; and SamuelH8050 criedH2199 outH2199 to the LordH3068 for IsraelH3478, and 18the LordH3068 answeredH6030 him. 10Now SamuelH8050 was offeringH5927 upH5927 the burntH5930 offeringH5930, and the PhilistinesH6430 advancedH5066 to battleH4421 IsraelH3478. But 19the LordH3068 thunderedH7481 with a greatH1419 20thunderH6963 on that dayH3117 againstH5921 the PhilistinesH6430 and 21confusedH2000 them, so that they were struckH5062 downH5062 beforeH6440 IsraelH3478. 11And the menH376 of IsraelH3478 cameH3318 outH3318 of MizpahH4709 and pursuedH7291 the PhilistinesH6430, and killedH5221 them as farH5704 as belowH4480H8478 Beth-carH1033.

12Then SamuelH8050 22tookH3947 a stoneH68 and placedH7760 it betweenH996 MizpahH4709 and ShenH8129, and namedH7121H8034 it 23EbenezerH72, sayingH559, “24SoH2008 farH5704 the LordH3068 has helpedH5826 us.” 1325So the PhilistinesH6430 were subduedH3665, and 26they did not comeH935 anymoreH3254H5750 within the borderH1366 of IsraelH3478. And the handH3027 of the LordH3068 was against the PhilistinesH6430 allH3605 the daysH3117 of SamuelH8050. 14The citiesH5892 whichH834 the PhilistinesH6430 had takenH3947 from IsraelH3478 were restoredH7725 to IsraelH3478, from EkronH6138 even to GathH1661; and IsraelH3478 27recoveredH5337 their territoryH1366 from the handH3027 of the PhilistinesH6430. So there was peaceH7965 betweenH996 IsraelH3478 and 28the AmoritesH567.

Samuel’s Ministry

15Now SamuelH8050 29judgedH8199 IsraelH3478 allH3605 the daysH3117 of his lifeH2425. 16And he used to goH1980 annuallyH1767H8141 onH5437 aH5437 circuitH5437 to 30BethelH1008, 31GilgalH1537, and 32MizpahH4709, and he judgedH8199 IsraelH3478 in allH3605 theseH428 placesH4725. 17Then he would make his returnH8666 to 33RamahH7414, becauseH3588 his houseH1004 was thereH8033, and thereH8033 he also judgedH8199 IsraelH3478; and thereH8033 he 34builtH1129 an altarH4196 to the LordH3068.