1 Samuel 7:8-17

8 Then the sons of Israel said to Samuel, "¹Do not cease to cry to the LORD our God for us, that He may save us from the hand of the Philistines."

9 Samuel took ²a suckling lamb and offered it for a whole burnt offering to the LORD; and Samuel cried to the LORD for Israel and ³the LORD answered him.

10 Now Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, and the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel. But ⁴the LORD thundered with a great thunder on that day against the Philistines and ⁵confused them, so that they were routed before Israel.

11 The men of Israel went out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines, and struck them down as far as below * Beth-car.

12 Then Samuel ⁶took a stone and set it between Mizpah and Shen, and named * it Ebenezer, saying, "Thus far the LORD has helped us."

13 ⁷So the Philistines were subdued and ⁸they did not come anymore within the border of Israel. And the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel.

14 The cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron even to Gath; and Israel delivered their territory from the hand of the Philistines. So there was peace between Israel and ⁹the Amorites.

Samuel's Ministry

15 Now Samuel ¹⁰judged Israel all the days of his life.

16 He used to go annually * on circuit to ¹¹Bethel and ¹²Gilgal and ¹³Mizpah, and he judged Israel in all these places.

17 Then his return was to ¹⁴Ramah, for his house was there, and there he judged Israel; and he ¹⁵built there an altar to the LORD.

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1 Samuel 7:8-17 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.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

Cross References 15

1. 1 Samuel 12:19-24; Isaiah 37:4
2. Leviticus 22:27
3. Psalms 99:6; Jeremiah 15:1
4. 1 Samuel 2:10; 2 Samuel 22:14, 15; Psalms 29:3, 4
5. Joshua 10:10; Psalms 18:14
6. Genesis 35:14; Joshua 4:9; Joshua 24:26
7. Judges 13:1-15
8. 1 Samuel 13:5
9. Numbers 13:29; Joshua 10:5-10
10. 1 Samuel 7:6
11. Genesis 28:19; Genesis 35:6
12. Joshua 5:9, 10
13. 1 Samuel 7:5
14. 1 Samuel 1:1, 19; 1 Samuel 2:11
15. Judges 21:4

Footnotes 3

[a]. Lit "voice"
[b]. Lit "smitten"
[c]. I.e. The stone of help