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.
