1 Samuel 7
1. And the men of Kirjathjearim came * , and fetched up * the ark of the LORD, and brought * it into the house of Abinadab in the hill, and sanctified * Eleazar his son to keep * the ark of the LORD.
2. And it came to pass, while the ark abode * in Kirjathjearim, that the time was long * ; for it was twenty years:and all the house of Israel lamented * after the LORD.
3. And Samuel spake * 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.
4. Then the children of Israel did put away * Baalim and Ashtaroth, and served * the LORD only.
5. And Samuel said * , Gather * all Israel to Mizpeh, and I will pray * for you unto the LORD.
6. And they gathered together * to Mizpeh,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 in Mizpeh.
7. And when the Philistines heard * that the children of Israel were gathered together * to Mizpeh, the lords of the Philistines went up * against Israel. And when the children of Israel heard * it, they were afraid * of the Philistines.
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.
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.
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.
11. And the men of Israel went out * of Mizpeh, and pursued * the Philistines, and smote * them, until they came under Bethcar.
12. Then Samuel took * a stone, and set * it between Mizpeh and Shen, and called * the name of it Ebenezer, saying * , Hitherto hath the LORD helped * 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 Israel deliver * out of the hands of the Philistines. And there was peace between Israel and the Amorites.
15. And Samuel judged * Israel all the days of his life.
16. And he went * from year to year in circuit * to Bethel, and Gilgal, and Mizpeh, and judged * 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.
