1 And the men of Kiriath-jearim came and took the ark of the Loʀᴅ and A2 Sam 6:3, 4brought it into the house of Abinadab on the hill, and consecrated Eleazar his son to keep the ark of the Loʀᴅ. 2 From the day that the ark remained at Kiriath-jearim, the time was long, for it was twenty years; and all the house of Israel lamented after the Loʀᴅ.

3 Then Samuel spoke to all the house of Israel, saying, “A1 Kin 8:48; Is 55:7; Hos 6:1; Joel 2:12-14If you return to the Loʀᴅ with all your heart, BGen 35:2; Josh 24:14, 23; Judg 10:16remove the foreign gods and the CJudg 2:13; 1 Sam 31:10Ashtaroth from among you and DDeut 13:4; 2 Chr 19:3direct your hearts to the Loʀᴅ and EDeut 6:13; 10:20; 13:4; Josh 24:14; Matt 4:10; Luke 4:8serve Him alone; and He will deliver you from the hand of the Philistines.” 4 So the sons of Israel removed the Baals and the Ashtaroth and served the Loʀᴅ alone.

5 Then Samuel said, “Gather all Israel to AJudg 10:17; 20:1Mizpah and B1 Sam 8:6; 12:17-19I will pray to the Loʀᴅ for you.” 6 They gathered to Mizpah, and drew water and A1 Sam 1:15; Ps 62:8; Lam 2:19poured it out before the Loʀᴅ, and BLev 16:29; Neh 9:1fasted on that day and said there, “CJudg 10:10; 1 Kin 8:47; Ps 106:6We have sinned against the Loʀᴅ.” And Samuel judged the sons of Israel at Mizpah.

7 Now when the Philistines heard that the sons of Israel had gathered to Mizpah, the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. And when the sons of Israel heard it, A1 Sam 13:6; 17:11they were afraid of the Philistines. 8 Then the sons of Israel said to Samuel, “A1 Sam 12:19-24; Is 37:4Do not cease to cry to the Loʀᴅ our God for us, that He may save us from the hand of the Philistines.” 9 Samuel took ALev 22:27a suckling lamb and offered it for a whole burnt offering to the Loʀᴅ; and Samuel cried to the Loʀᴅ for Israel and BPs 99:6; Jer 15:1the Loʀᴅ answered him. 10 Now Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, and the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel. But A1 Sam 2:10; 2 Sam 22:14, 15; Ps 29:3, 4the Loʀᴅ thundered with a great 1Lit voicethunder on that day against the Philistines and BJosh 10:10; Ps 18:14confused them, so that they were 2Lit smittenrouted before Israel. 11 The men of Israel went out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines, and struck them down as far as below Beth-car.

12 Then Samuel AGen 35:14; Josh 4:9; 24:26took a stone and set it between Mizpah and Shen, and named it 1I.e. The stone of helpEbenezer, saying, “Thus far the Loʀᴅ has helped us.” 13 AJudg 13:1-15So the Philistines were subdued and B1 Sam 13:5they did not come anymore within the border of Israel. And the hand of the Loʀᴅ 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 Israel delivered their territory from the hand of the Philistines. So there was peace between Israel and ANum 13:29; Josh 10:5-10the Amorites.

15 Now Samuel A1 Sam 7:6judged Israel all the days of his life. 16 He used to go annually on circuit to AGen 28:19; 35:6Bethel and BJosh 5:9, 10Gilgal and C1 Sam 7:5Mizpah, and he judged Israel in all these places. 17 Then his return was to A1 Sam 1:1, 19; 2:11Ramah, for his house was there, and there he judged Israel; and he BJudg 21:4built there an altar to the Loʀᴅ.