[1] The men of Kiriath-jearim came, and fetched up the ark of Yahweh, and
brought it into the house of Abinadab in the hill, and sanctified Eleazar
his son to keep the ark of Yahweh. [2] It happened, from the day that the
ark abode in Kiriath-jearim, that the time was long; for it was twenty
years: and all the house of Israel lamented after Yahweh. [3] Samuel spoke
to all the house of Israel, saying, If you do return to Yahweh with all
your heart, then put away the foreign gods and the Ashtaroth from among
you, and direct your hearts to Yahweh, 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 the Baals and the Ashtaroth, and served Yahweh only.
[5] Samuel said, Gather all Israel to Mizpah, and I will pray for you to
Yahweh. [6] They gathered together to Mizpah, and drew water, and poured it
out before Yahweh, and fasted on that day, and said there, We have sinned
against Yahweh. 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 cease to cry to Yahweh our God
for us, that he will save us out of the hand of the Philistines." [9]
Samuel took a sucking lamb, and offered it for a whole burnt-offering to
Yahweh: and Samuel cried to Yahweh for Israel; and Yahweh answered him.
[10] As Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew
near to battle against Israel; but Yahweh 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-car. [12] Then
Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpah and Shen, and called the
name of it Eben-ezer, saying, Hitherto has Yahweh helped us. [13] So the
Philistines were subdued, and they came no more within the border of
Israel: and the hand of Yahweh 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 the border of it did
Israel deliver 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 circuit to Bethel and Gilgal, and
Mizpah; and he judged Israel in all those places. [17] His return was to
Ramah, for there was his house; and there he judged Israel: and he built
there an altar to Yahweh.
