I Samuel 7

1. And the men of Kirjath Jearim came and brought 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. And it came to pass from the day the ark began to dwell in Kirjath Jearim, the days became many; yea, they were twenty years. And all the house of Israel yearned after the LORD.

3. And Samuel spoke to all the house of Israel saying, “If you return to the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts to the LORD, and serve Him only, that He will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.”

4. And the children of Israel put away the Baalim and the Ashtaroth, and served the LORD only.

5. And Samuel said, “Gather all Israel to Mizpeh, and I will pray for you to the LORD.”

6. And they were gathered to Mizpeh, and drew water, and poured 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. And the Philistines heard that the children of Israel had come together to Mizpeh. And the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. And the children of Israel heard, and they were afraid of the Philistines.

8. And the children of Israel said to Samuel, “Do not cease from crying out to the LORD our God for us, so that He will save us out of the hand of the Philistines.”

9. And Samuel took a suckling lamb, and offered a whole burnt offering to the LORD. And Samuel cried out to the LORD for Israel, and the LORD answered him.

10. And it came to pass as Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel. But the LORD thundered with a great noise on that day against the Philistines, and troubled them. And they were beaten before Israel.

11. And the men of Israel went out of Mizpeh, and pursued the Philistines, and struck them as far as below Beth Car.

12. And Samuel took a stone and set it between Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it Ebenezer, saying, “The LORD has helped us until now.”

13. And the Philistines were beaten, and they did not come any more into the border of Israel. And the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel.

14. And the cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were given back to Israel, from Ekron even to Gath. And Israel delivered its borders out of the hand 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 he went from year to year in a circuit to Bethel and Gilgal and Mizpeh, and judged Israel in all those places.

17. And his return was to Ramah, for his house was there. And he judged Israel there. And he built an altar there to the LORD.