1
And the men of Kirjathjearimcame, and fetched up the ark of the LORD, and brought it into the house of Abinadab in the hill, and sanctifiedEleazar his son to keep the ark of the LORD.
2
And it came to pass, while the arkabode in Kirjathjearim, that the time was long; for it was twentyyears: and all the house of Israellamentedafter the LORD.
3
And Samuelspake unto all the house of Israel,saying, If ye do return unto the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the strangegods and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts unto the LORD, and serve him only: and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.
4
Then the children of Israel did put awayBaalim and Ashtaroth, and served the LORD only.
5
And Samuelsaid, Gather all Israel to Mizpeh, and I will pray for you unto the LORD.
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And they gathered together to Mizpeh, and drewwater, and poured it outbefore the LORD, and fasted on that day, and said there, We have sinned against the LORD. And Samueljudged the children of Israel in Mizpeh.
7
And when the Philistinesheard that the children of Israel were gathered together to Mizpeh, the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. And when the children of Israelheard it, they were afraidof the Philistines.
8
And the children of Israelsaid to Samuel,Cease[a] not to cry unto the LORD our God for us, that he will save us out of the hand of the Philistines.
9
And Samueltookasuckinglamb, and offered it for a burnt offeringwholly unto the LORD: and Samuelcried unto the LORD for Israel; and the LORDheard[b] him.
10
And as Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel: but the LORDthundered with a greatthunder on that day upon the Philistines, and discomfited them; and they were smittenbeforeIsrael.
11
And the men of Israel went out of Mizpeh, and pursued the Philistines, and smote them, until they came under Bethcar.
12
Then Samueltookastone, and set it between Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it Ebenezer,[c]saying, Hitherto hath the LORDhelped us.
13
So the Philistines were subdued, and they came no more into the coast of Israel: and the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel.
14
And the cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron even unto Gath; and the coasts thereof did Israeldeliver out of the hands of the Philistines. And there was peace between Israel and the Amorites.
15
And SamueljudgedIsrael all the days of his life.
16
And he wentfromyear to year in circuit[d] to Bethel, and Gilgal, and Mizpeh, and judgedIsrael in all those places.
17
And his return was to Ramah; for there was his house; and there he judgedIsrael; and there he built an altar unto the LORD.