| Chapter
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. |
