Chapter 7
1 The men of Kiriath Jearim came and took the LORD ’s ark, and brought it into Abinadab’s house on the hill , and consecrated Eleazar his son to keep the LORD ’s ark.
2 From the day that the ark stayed in Kiriath Jearim, the time was long — for it was twenty years ; and all the house of Israel lamented after the LORD .
3 Samuel spoke to all the house of Israel , saying, "If you are returning to the LORD with all your heart , then put away the foreign gods and the Ashtaroth from amongst you , and direct your hearts to the LORD , and serve him only ; and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines ."
4 Then the children of Israel removed the Baals and the Ashtaroth , and served the LORD only.
5 Samuel said, " Gather all Israel to Mizpah , and I will pray to the LORD for you ."
6 They gathered together to 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 ." Samuel judged the children of Israel in Mizpah .
7 When the Philistines heard that the children of Israel were gathered together at Mizpah , the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel . When the children of Israel heard it , they were afraid of the Philistines .
8 The children of Israel said to Samuel , "Don’t stop crying to the LORD our God for us , that he will save us out of the hand of the Philistines ."
9 Samuel took a suckling lamb , and offered it for a whole burnt offering to the LORD . Samuel cried to the LORD for Israel , and the LORD answered him .
10 As Samuel was offering up the burnt offering , the Philistines came near to battle against Israel ; but the LORD thundered with a great thunder on that day on the Philistines and confused them ; and they were struck down before Israel .
11 The men of Israel went out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines , and struck them until they came under Beth Kar.
12 Then Samuel took a stone and set it between Mizpah and Shen , and called its name Ebenezer, saying, " The LORD helped us until now ."
13 So the Philistines were subdued , and they stopped coming within the border of Israel . The LORD ’s hand was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel .
14 The cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel , from Ekron even to Gath ; and Israel recovered its border out of the hand of the Philistines . There was peace between Israel and the Amorites.
15 Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life .
16 He went from year to year in a circuit to Bethel , Gilgal , and Mizpah ; and he judged Israel in all those places .
17 His return was to Ramah , for his house was there , and he judged Israel there ; and he built an altar to the LORD there .