Chapter 7

And the men of Kirjathjearim came,⁴ and fetched up⁵⁵ the ark of the LORD, and brought⁵⁵ it into the house of Abinadab in the hill, ¹³⁹⁰ and sanctified¹⁴ Eleazar his son to keep² the ark of the LORD.

And it came to pass, while the ark abode² in Kirjathjearim, that the time was long;⁴ for it was twenty years: and all the house of Israel lamented¹¹ after the LORD.

And Samuel spake⁴ unto all the house of Israel, saying,² If ye do return⁶ unto the LORD with all your hearts, [then] put away⁵⁴ the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare⁵⁴ your hearts unto the LORD, and serve³ him only: and he will deliver⁵⁵ you out of the hand of the Philistines.

Then the children of Israel did put away⁵⁵ Baalim and Ashtaroth, and served⁴ the LORD only.

And Samuel said,⁴ Gather³ all Israel to Mizpeh, and I will pray¹⁰¹ for you unto the LORD.

And they gathered together¹¹ to Mizpeh, and drew⁴ water, and poured [it] out⁴ before the LORD, and fasted⁴ on that day, and said⁴ there, We have sinned¹ against the LORD. And Samuel judged⁴ the children of Israel in Mizpeh.

And when the Philistines heard⁴ that the children of Israel were gathered together⁹⁸ to Mizpeh, the lords of the Philistines went up⁴ against Israel. And when the children of Israel heard⁴ [it], they were afraid⁴ of the Philistines.

And the children of Israel said⁴ to Samuel, Cease⁵⁵ not to cry² unto the LORD our God for us, that he will save⁵⁵ us out of the hand of the Philistines.

And Samuel took⁴ a sucking lamb, and offered⁵⁵ [it for] a burnt offering wholly unto the LORD: and Samuel cried⁴ unto the LORD for Israel; and the LORD heard⁴ him.

And as Samuel was offering up⁵⁶ the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near⁸ to battle against Israel: but the LORD thundered⁵⁵ with a great thunder on that day upon the Philistines, and discomfited⁴ them; and they were smitten¹¹ before Israel.

And the men of Israel went out⁴ of Mizpeh, and pursued⁴ the Philistines, and smote⁵⁵ them, until [they came] under Bethcar.

Then Samuel took⁴ a stone, and set⁴ [it] between Mizpeh and Shen, and called⁴ the name of it Ebenezer, saying,⁴ Hitherto hath the LORD helped¹ us.

So the Philistines were subdued,¹¹ and they came² no more¹ into the coast of Israel: and the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel.

And the cities which the Philistines had taken¹ from Israel were restored⁴ to Israel, from Ekron even unto Gath; and the coasts thereof did Israel deliver⁵² out of the hands of the Philistines. And there was peace between Israel and the Amorites.

And Samuel judged⁴ Israel all the days of his life.

And he went¹ from year to year in circuit¹ to Bethel, and Gilgal, and Mizpeh, and judged¹ Israel in all those places.

And his return [was] to Ramah; for there [was] his house; and there he judged¹ Israel; and there he built⁴ an altar unto the LORD.