1 Samuel Chapter 7

1 Samuel Chapter 7
1 Then the men of Kiriath-jearim came,
and took up the ark of the Lord, and
brought it into the house of Abinadab in
the hill: and they sanctified Eleazar his
son, to keep the ark of the Lord.
2 (For while the ark abode in Kiriathjearim,
the time was long, for it was
twenty years) and all the house of Israel
lamented after the Lord. 3 Then Samuel
spake unto all the house of Israel, saying,
If ye be come again unto the Lord with
all your heart, put away the strange gods
from among you, and Ashtaroth, and
direct your hearts unto the Lord, and
serve him only, and he shall deliver you
out of the hand of the Philistines.
4 Then the children of Israel did put
away Baalim and Ashtaroth, and served
the Lord only.
5 And Samuel said, Gather all Israel to
Mizpeh, and I will pray for you unto the
Lord.
6 And they gathered together to Mizpeh,
and drew water and poured it out before
the Lord, and fasted the same day, and
said there, We have sinned against the
Lord. And Samuel judged the children of
Israel in Mizpeh. 7 When the Philistines
heard that the children of Israel were
gathered together to Mizpeh, the princes
of the Philistines went up against Israel:
and when the children of Israel heard
that, they were afraid of the Philistines.
8 And the children of Israel said to
Samuel, Cease not to cry unto the Lord
our God for us, that he may save us out
of the hand of the Philistines. 9 Then
Samuel took a sucking lamb, and offered
it all together for a burnt offering unto
the Lord, and Samuel cried unto the Lord
for Israel, and the Lord heard him.
10 And as Samuel offered the burnt
offering, the Philistines came to fight
against Israel: but the Lord thundered
with a great thunder that day upon the
Philistines, and scattered them: so they
were slain before Israel. 11 And the men
of Israel went from Mizpeh and pursued
the Philistines, and smote them until they
came under Beth-car.
12 Then Samuel took a stone and pitched
it between Mizpeh and Shen, and called
the name thereof, Eben-ezer, and he said,
Hitherto hath the Lord holpen us.
13 So the Philistines were brought
under, and they came no more again into
the coasts of Israel: and the hand of the
Lord was against the Philistines all the
days of Samuel.
14 Also the cities which the Philistines
had taken from Israel, were restored to
Israel, from Ekron even to Gath: and
Israel delivered the coasts of the same
out of the hands of the Philistines: and
there was peace between Israel and the
Amorites.
15 And Samuel judged Israel all the
days of his life,
16 And went about year by year to Bethel,
and Gilgal, and Mizpeh, and judged
Israel in all those places.
17 Afterward he returned to Ramah: for
there was his house, and there he judged
Israel: also he built an altar there unto
the Lord.