1 Samuel 7:1-7

1 So the men of Kiriath-jearim came for the ark of the Lord and took it to Abinadab's house on the hill.^[a] They consecrated his son Eleazar to take care of it.

Victory at Mizpah

2 Time went by until 20 years had passed since the ark had been taken to Kiriath-jearim. Then the whole house of Israel began to seek the Lord.

3 Samuel told them, "If you are returning to the Lord with all your heart,^[b] get rid of the foreign gods and the Ashtoreths that are among you,^[c] dedicate yourselves to^[d] the Lord, and worship only Him. Then He will rescue you from the hand of the Philistines."

4 So the Israelites removed the Baals and the Ashtoreths^[e] and only worshiped the Lord.

5 Samuel said, "Gather all Israel at Mizpah, and I will pray to the Lord on your behalf."^[f]

6 When they gathered at Mizpah, they drew water and poured it out in the Lord's presence. They fasted that day, and there they confessed, "We have sinned against the Lord." And Samuel [began to lead] the Israelites at Mizpah as [their] judge.

7 When the Philistines heard that the Israelites had gathered at Mizpah, their rulers marched up toward Israel. When the Israelites heard [about it], they were afraid because of the Philistines.

1 Samuel 7:1-7 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO FIRST SAMUEL 7

This chapter gives an account of the ark being brought to Kirjathjearim, where it continued twenty years, 1Sa 7:1,2 of the exhortation of Samuel to the people of Israel to reform from idolatry, and which had its desired effect, 1Sa 7:3,4 of Samuel's praying for the people, and offering sacrifices for them, and of the success thereof, victory over their enemies, 1Sa 7:5-14, and of his administration of justice to them, and constancy in it, 1Sa 7:15-17.

Footnotes

• [a]. 2 Sm 6:3-4
• [b]. Dt 6:5; 30:10
• [c]. Ex 20:3
• [d]. Lit you and set your hearts on
• [e]. Jdg 2:13
• [f]. 1 Sm 12:23