1 Samuel 7:4

1 Samuel 7:4 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Then the children of Israel did put away Baalim and Ashtaroth, and served the Lord only.
• New International Version (NIV)So the Israelites put away their Baals and Ashtoreths, and served the Lord only.
• English Standard Version (ESV)So the people of Israel put away the Baals and the Ashtaroth, and they served the Lord only.
• New King James Version (NKJV)So the children of Israel put away the Baals and the Ashtoreths, and served the Lord only.

Context of 1 Samuel 7:4

2The Ark remained in Kiriath-jearim for a long time—twenty years in all. During that time all Israel mourned because it seemed the Lord had abandoned them. 3Then Samuel said to all the people of Israel, “If you want to return to the Lord with all your hearts, get rid of your foreign gods and your images of Ashtoreth. Turn your hearts to the Lord and obey him alone; then he will rescue you from the Philistines.” So the Israelites got rid of their images of Baal and Ashtoreth and worshiped only the Lord. 5Then Samuel told them, “Gather all of Israel to Mizpah, and I will pray to the Lord for you.” 6So they gathered at Mizpah and, in a great ceremony, drew water from a well and poured it out before the Lord. They also went without food all day and confessed that they had sinned against the Lord. (It was at Mizpah that Samuel became Israel’s judge.)

1 Samuel 7:4 word by word

וַיָּסִ֙ירוּ֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אֶת־הַבְּעָלִ֖ים וְאֶת־הָעַשְׁתָּרֹ֑ת וַיַּעַבְד֥וּ אֶת־יְהוָ֖ה לְבַדּֽוֹ׃ פRead the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Then the childrenבֵּןbên · son: descendant/peopleH1121
• of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478
• did put awayסוּרsûr ώûr · to turn aside: removeH5493
• Baalimבַּעַלba‛al · BaalH1168
• and Ashtarothעַשְׁתָּרוֹת‛ashtârôth ‛ashtârôth · AshtarothH6252
• and servedעָבַד‛âbad · to serveH5647
• the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068

Cross-references for 1 Samuel 7:4

• Judges 2:11The Israelites did evil in the Lord’s sight and served the images of Baal.
• Judges 10:15But the Israelites pleaded with the Lord and said, “We have sinned. Punish us as you see fit, only rescue us today from our enemies.”
• 1 Kings 11:33For Solomon has abandoned me and worshiped Ashtoreth, the goddess of the Sidonians; Chemosh, the god of Moab; and Molech, the god of the Ammonites. He has not followed my ways and done what is pleasing in my sight. He has not obeyed my decrees and regulations as David his father did.
• Hosea 14:3Assyria cannot save us, nor can our warhorses. Never again will we say to the idols we have made, ‘You are our gods.’ No, in you alone do the orphans find mercy.”

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 7:4

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4Put away Baalim and Ashtaroth - These were not two particular deities, but two genera of idols; the one masculine, Baalim; the other feminine, Ashtaroth; both the words are in the plural number, and signify all their gods and goddesses.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 3-5Verses 3-5 Compare the marginal references. Twenty years of Samuel‘s life had passed away since the last mention of him 1 Samuel 4:1. Now he appears in the threefold character of prophet, Judge, and the acknowledged leader of the whole people. His words were an answer to a profession of repentance on the part of Israel, the practical proof of which would be the putting away all their false gods. (Compare Judges 6:10 note.) Will pray for you … - So Moses…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 3-10Israel's victory over the Philistines was due to their improved relationship with God, not because of the ark's presence (see 1 Samuel 4:3–11).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 3-63-6. Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel--A great national reformation was effected through the influence of Samuel. Disgusted with their foreign servitude, and panting for the restoration of liberty and independence, they were open to salutary impressions; and convinced of their errors, they renounced idolatry. The re-establishment of the faith of their fathers was inaugurated at a great public meeting, held at Mizpeh in Judah, and hallowed by the…Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Samuel 7:4

• Ashtoreth
• Baal
• Baalim
• Repentance
• Revivals
• Samuel

In the dictionaries

• Israel
• Israel, Israelites
• Jacob, Israel
• Children of Israel
• Ashtoreth
• Baal
• Baalim
• David
• Judges, Book of
• Samuel

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 7

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings