1 Samuel 7

1So the men of Kiriath-jearim came and took up the ark of Yahweh. They brought it to the house of Abinadab on the hill, and they consecrated his son Eleazar to take care of the ark of Yahweh.

2From the day the ark came to stay at Kiriath-jearim, a long time passed—twenty years—and the whole house of Israel mourned and longed for Yahweh.

3Then Samuel said to the whole house of Israel, “If you are returning to Yahweh with all your heart, get rid of the foreign gods and the Ashtoreths among you. Commit your hearts to Yahweh and serve him alone, and he will rescue you from the power of the Philistines.”

4So the Israelites got rid of the Baals and the Ashtoreths and served Yahweh alone.

5Then Samuel said, “Gather all Israel at Mizpah, and I will pray to Yahweh for you.”

6When they had gathered at Mizpah, they drew water and poured it out before Yahweh. On that day they fasted, and there they said, “We have sinned against Yahweh.” And Samuel judged the Israelites at Mizpah.

7When the Philistines heard that the Israelites had gathered at Mizpah, the rulers of the Philistines went up to attack Israel. When the Israelites heard about it, they were afraid of the Philistines.

8They said to Samuel, “Do not stop crying out to Yahweh our God for us, so that he will save us from the power of the Philistines.”

9So Samuel took a nursing lamb and offered it whole as a burnt offering to Yahweh. He cried out to Yahweh for Israel, and Yahweh answered him.

10While Samuel was offering the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to fight against Israel. But that day Yahweh thundered with a mighty sound against the Philistines and threw them into confusion, and they were defeated by Israel.

11The men of Israel rushed out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines, striking them down all the way to a point below Beth-car.

12Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, “Up to this point Yahweh has helped us.”

13So the Philistines were subdued, and they did not come into Israel’s territory again. The hand of Yahweh was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel.

14The towns from Ekron to Gath that the Philistines had taken from Israel were given back to Israel, and Israel freed their territory from the power of the Philistines. There was also peace between Israel and the Amorites.

15Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life.

16Every year he went on a circuit to Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpah, and he judged Israel in all these places.

17Then he would return to Ramah, because his home was there, and there he also judged Israel. He built an altar to Yahweh there.