1And the menof Kiriath-jearimcameand tookthe arkof the LORDand broughtit into the houseof Abinadabon the hill,and consecratedEleazarhis sonto keepthe arkof the LORD.2From the daythat the arkremainedat Kiriath-jearim,the timewas long,for it was twentyyears;and allthe houseof Israellamentedafterthe LORD.
3Then Samuelspoketo allthe houseof Israel,saying,"Ifyou returnto the LORDwith allyour heart,removethe foreigngodsand the Ashtarothfrom amongyou and directyour heartsto the LORDand serveHim alone;and He will deliveryou from the handof the Philistines."4So the sonsof Israelremovedthe Baalsand the Ashtarothand servedthe LORDalone.
5Then Samuelsaid,"GatherallIsraelto Mizpahand I will prayto the LORDfor you."6They gatheredto Mizpah,and drewwaterand pouredit out beforethe LORD,and fastedon that dayand saidthere,"We have sinnedagainst the LORD."And Samueljudgedthe sonsof Israelat Mizpah.
7Now when the Philistinesheardthat the sonsof Israelhad gatheredto Mizpah,the lordsof the Philistineswentup againstIsrael.And when the sonsof Israelheardit, they were afraidof the Philistines.8Then the sonsof Israelsaidto Samuel,"Do not ceaseto cryto the LORDour Godfor us, that He may saveus from the handof the Philistines."9Samueltooka sucklinglamband offeredit for a wholeburntofferingto the LORD;and Samuelcriedto the LORDfor Israeland the LORDansweredhim.10Now Samuelwas offeringup the burntoffering,and the Philistinesdrewnearto battleagainst Israel.But the LORDthunderedwith a greatthunderon that dayagainstthe Philistinesand confusedthem, so that they were routedbeforeIsrael.11The menof Israelwentout of Mizpahand pursuedthe Philistines,and struckthem downas faras belowBeth-car.
12Then Samueltooka stoneand setit betweenMizpahand Shen,and namedit Ebenezer,saying,"Thusfarthe LORDhas helpedus."13So the Philistineswere subduedand they didnot comeanymorewithin the borderof Israel.And the handof the LORDwas against the Philistinesallthe daysof Samuel.14The citieswhichthe Philistineshad takenfrom Israelwere restoredto Israel,from Ekroneven to Gath;and Israeldeliveredtheir territoryfrom the handof the Philistines.So there was peacebetweenIsraeland the Amorites.
15Now SamueljudgedIsraelallthe daysof his life.16He used to goannuallyon circuitto Betheland Gilgaland Mizpah,and he judgedIsraelin alltheseplaces.17Then his return[was] to Ramah,for his house[was] there,and therehe judgedIsrael;and he builttherean altarto the LORD.
