Third Millennium Bible TMB
GOD'S WORD Translation GW
1 And the men of Kirjathjearim came and fetched up the ark of the LORD, and brought it into the house of Abinadab on the hill, and sanctified Eleazar his son to keep the ark of the LORD.
1
The men of Kiriath Jearim came to take the LORD's ark and brought it into Abinadab's house on the hill. They gave Abinadab's son Eleazar the holy occupation of guarding the LORD's ark.
2 And it came to pass, while the ark remained in Kirjathjearim, that the time was long, for it was twenty years; and all the house of Israel lamented after the LORD.
2
A long time passed after the ark came to stay at Kiriath Jearim. For 20 years the entire nation of Israel mournfully sought the LORD.
3 And Samuel spoke unto all the house of Israel, saying, "If ye do return unto the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods 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."
3
Samuel told the entire nation of Israel, "If you are returning to the LORD wholeheartedly, get rid of the foreign gods you have, including the statues of the goddess Astarte. Make a commitment to the LORD, and serve only him. Then he will rescue you from the Philistines."
4 Then the children of Israel put away the Baalim and Ashtaroth, and served the LORD only.
4
So the Israelites got rid of the statues of Baal and Astarte and served only the LORD.
5 And Samuel said, "Gather all Israel to Mizpah, and I will pray for you unto the LORD."
5
Then Samuel said, "Gather all the Israelites together at Mizpah, and I will pray to the LORD for you."
6 And they gathered together at Mizpah, and drew water and poured it out before the LORD, and fasted on that day, and said there, "We have sinned against the LORD." And Samuel judged the children of Israel at Mizpah.
6
So the Israelites gathered together at Mizpah. They drew some water, poured it out in front of the LORD, and fasted that day. They confessed, "We have sinned against the LORD." So Samuel judged Israel in Mizpah.
7 And when the Philistines heard that the children of Israel were gathered together at Mizpah, the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. And when the children of Israel heard it, they were afraid of the Philistines.
7
When the Philistines heard that the Israelites had gathered at Mizpah, the Philistine rulers came to attack Israel. The Israelites heard [about the Philistine plan] and were afraid of them.
8 And the children of Israel said to Samuel, "Cease not to cry unto the LORD our God for us, that He will save us out of the hand of the Philistines."
8
The Israelites said to Samuel, "Don't turn a deaf ear to us! Don't stop crying to the LORD our God for us! Ask him to save us from the Philistines!"
9 And Samuel took a sucking lamb and offered it for a burnt offering wholly unto the LORD; and Samuel cried unto the LORD for Israel, and the LORD heard him.
9
Then Samuel took a lamb, one still feeding on milk, and sacrificed it as a burnt offering to the LORD. Samuel cried to the LORD on behalf of Israel, and the LORD answered him.
10 And as Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel; but the LORD thundered with a great thunder on that day upon the Philistines and discomfited them, and they were smitten before Israel.
10
While Samuel was sacrificing the burnt offering, the Philistines came to fight against Israel. On that day the LORD thundered loudly at the Philistines and threw them into such confusion that they were defeated by Israel.
11 And the men of Israel went out of Mizpah, and pursued the Philistines and smote them until they came under Bethcar.
11
Israel's soldiers left Mizpah, pursued the Philistines, and killed them as far as Beth Car.
12 Then Samuel took a stone and set it between Mizpah and Shen, and called the name of it Ebenezer [that is, The stone of help], saying, "Hitherto hath the LORD helped us."
12
Then Samuel took a rock and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer [Rock of Help] and said, "Until now the LORD has helped us."
13 So the Philistines were subdued, and they came no more into the border of Israel; and the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel.
13
The power of the Philistines was crushed, so they didn't come into Israel's territory again. The LORD restrained the Philistines as long as Samuel lived.
14 And the cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron even unto Gath; and the borders thereof did Israel deliver out of the hands of the Philistines. And there was peace between Israel and the Amorites.
14
The cities between Ekron and Gath which the Philistines took from Israel were returned to Israel. And Israel recovered the territory controlled by these cities from the Philistines. There was also peace between Israel and the Amorites.
15 And Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life.
15
Samuel judged Israel as long as he lived.
16 And he went from year to year in circuit to Bethel and Gilgal and Mizpah, and judged Israel in all those places.
16
Every year he went around to Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpah in order to judge Israel in all those places.
17 And his return was to Ramah, for there was his house; and there he judged Israel, and there he built an altar unto the LORD.
17
Then he would return home to Ramah. There, too, he judged Israel. And in Ramah he built an altar to the LORD.
Third Millennium Bible (TMB), New Authorized Version, Copyright 1998 by Deuel Enterprises, Inc., Gary, SD 57237. All rights reserved.
GOD'S WORD® is a copyrighted work of God's Word to the Nations. Copyright © 1995 by God's Word to the Nations. All rights reserved. Used by permission.