1 Samuel
7
- So the men of Kiriath Jearim came and took
up the ark of the LORD. They took it to Abinadab's house on the hill and consecrated
Eleazar his son to guard the ark of the LORD.
- It was a long time, twenty years in all,
that the ark remained at Kiriath Jearim, and all the people of Israel mourned
and sought after the LORD.
- And Samuel said to the whole house of Israel,
"If you are returning to the LORD with all your hearts, then rid yourselves
of the foreign gods and the Ashtoreths and commit yourselves to the LORD and
serve him only, and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines."
- So the Israelites put away their Baals and
Ashtoreths, and served the LORD only.
- Then Samuel said, "Assemble all Israel
at Mizpah and I will intercede with the LORD for you."
- When they had assembled at Mizpah, they
drew water and poured it out before the LORD. On that day they fasted and
there they confessed, "We have sinned against the LORD." And Samuel
was leader of Israel at Mizpah.
- When the Philistines heard that Israel had
assembled at Mizpah, the rulers of the Philistines came up to attack them.
And when the Israelites heard of it, they were afraid because of the Philistines.
- They said to Samuel, "Do not stop crying
out to the LORD our God for us, that he may rescue us from the hand of the
Philistines."
- Then Samuel took a suckling lamb and offered
it up as a whole burnt offering to the LORD. He cried out to the LORD on Israel's
behalf, and the LORD answered him.
- While Samuel was sacrificing the burnt offering,
the Philistines drew near to engage Israel in battle. But that day the LORD
thundered with loud thunder against the Philistines and threw them into such
a panic that they were routed before the Israelites.
- The men of Israel rushed out of Mizpah and
pursued the Philistines, slaughtering them along the way to a point below
Beth Car.
- Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between
Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, "Thus far has the LORD
helped us."
- So the Philistines were subdued and did
not invade Israelite territory again. Throughout Samuel's lifetime, the hand
of the LORD was against the Philistines.
- The towns from Ekron to Gath that the Philistines
had captured from Israel were restored to her, and Israel delivered the neighboring
territory from the power of the Philistines. And there was peace between Israel
and the Amorites.
- Samuel continued as judge over Israel all
the days of his life.
- From year to year he went on a circuit from
Bethel to Gilgal to Mizpah, judging Israel in all those places.
- But he always went back to Ramah, where
his home was, and there he also judged Israel. And he built an altar there
to the LORD.
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