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 Kar. 12 Then Samuel took a stone, and set it
between Mizpah and Shen, and called the name of it Ebenezer, 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.
World English Bible - Public Domain |
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