Study

¹And the people of Kiriath-jearim came and took up the ark of the L ord, and brought it to the house of Abinadab on the hill. They consecrated his son, Eleazar, to have charge of the ark of the L ord.

² From the day that the ark was lodged at Kiriath-jearim, a long time passed, some twenty years, and all the house of Israel lamented after the L ord.

Samuel as Judge

³ Then Samuel said to all the house of Israel, “If you are returning to the L ord with all your heart, then put away the foreign gods and the Astartes from among you. Direct your heart to the L ord, and serve him only, and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.” ⁴So Israel put away the Baals and the Astartes, and they served the L ord only.

⁵ Then Samuel said, “Gather all Israel at Mizpah, and I will pray to the L ord for you.” ⁶So they gathered at Mizpah, and drew water and poured it out before the L ord. They fasted that day, and said, “We have sinned against the L ord.” And Samuel judged the people of Israel at Mizpah.

⁷ When the Philistines heard that the people of Israel had gathered at Mizpah, the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. And when the people of Israel heard of it they were afraid of the Philistines. ⁸The people of Israel said to Samuel, “Do not cease to cry out to the L ord our God for us, and pray that he may save us from the hand of the Philistines.” ⁹So Samuel took a sucking lamb and offered it as a whole burnt offering to the L ord; Samuel cried out to the L ord for Israel, and the L ord answered him. ¹⁰As Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to attack Israel; but the L ord thundered with a mighty voice that day against the Philistines and threw them into confusion; and they were routed before Israel. ¹¹And the men of Israel went out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines, and struck them down as far as beyond Beth-car.

¹² Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Jeshanah, and named it Ebenezer; for he said, “Thus far the L ord has helped us.” ¹³So the Philistines were subdued and did not again enter the territory of Israel; the hand of the L ord was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel. ¹⁴The towns that the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron to Gath; and Israel recovered their territory from the hand of the Philistines. There was peace also between Israel and the Amorites.

¹⁵ Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life. ¹⁶He went on a circuit year by year to Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpah; and he judged Israel in all these places. ¹⁷Then he would come back to Ramah, for his home was there; he administered justice there to Israel, and built there an altar to the L ord.