1 Samuel 7

¹ And the men ofA city in the tribe of Judah, called also Kirjathbaal, in (Jos_15:60).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 lamentedLamented for their sins, and followed the Lord.after the LORD.

³ Then Samuel spake vnto all the house of Israel, saying, If ye be come againe vnto the Lord with all your heart, put away the strange gods from among you, and Ashtaroth, & direct your hearts vnto the Lord, & serue him only, and he shall deliuer you out of the hand of ye Philistims.

⁴ Then the children of Israel did put away Baalim & Ashtaroth, & serued the Lord onely.

⁵ And Samuel said, Gather all Israel toFor Shiloh was now desolate, because the Philistines had taken the ark from it.Mizpeh, and I will pray for you unto the LORD.

⁶ And they gathered together to Mizpeh, andThe Chaldee text says that they drew water out of their heart: that is, wept abundantly for their sins.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 When the Philistims heard that the children of Israel were gathered together to Mizpeh, the princes of the Philistims went vp against Israel: and when the children of Israel heard that, they were afraide of the Philistims.

⁸ And the children of Israel said to Samuel, Cease not toSignifying that in the prayers of the godly, there should be a vehement zeal.cry unto the LORD our God for us, that he will save us out of the hand of the Philistines.

⁹ Then Samuel tooke a sucking lambe, and offered it all together for a burnt offering vnto the Lord, and Samuel cryed vnto 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 LORDAccording to the prophecy of Hannah Samuel's mother, (1Sa_2:10).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 from Mizpeh and pursued the Philistims, and smote them vntill they came vnder Beth-car.

¹² Then Samuel took a stone, and set [it] between Mizpeh andWhich was a great rock over against Mizpeh.Shen, and called the name of it Ebenezer, saying, Hitherto hath the LORD helped us.

¹³ So the Philistims were brought vnder, and they came no more againe into the coastes of Israel: and the hand of the Lorde was against the Philistims all the dayes 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 theMeaning, the Philistines.Amorites.

¹⁵ And Samuel iudged Israel all the dayes of his life,

¹⁶ And went about yeere by yere to Beth-el, and Gilgal, and Mizpeh, and iudged 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 anWhich was not contrary to the Law: for as yet a certain place was not appointed.altar unto the LORD.