1 Samuel 7 | New International Reader’s Version

New International Reader’s Version

1 So the men of Kiriath Jearim came and got the ark of the LORD. They brought it up to Abinadab’s house on the hill. They set his son Eleazar apart to guard the ark.

Samuel brings the Philistines under Israel’s control

2 The ark remained at Kiriath Jearim for a long time. It was there for a full 20 years. Then all the Israelites turned back to the LORD. 3 So Samuel spoke to all the Israelites. He said, ‘Do you really want to return to the LORD with all your hearts? If you do, get rid of your false gods. Get rid of your statues of female gods that are named Ashtoreth. Commit yourselves to the LORD. Serve him only. Then he will save you from the power of the Philistines.’ 4 So the Israelites put away their statues of gods that were named Baal. They put away their statues of female gods that were named Ashtoreth. They served the LORD only. 5 Then Samuel said, ‘Gather all the Israelites together at Mizpah. I will pray to the LORD for you.’ 6 When the people had come together at Mizpah, they went to the well and got water. They poured it out in front of the LORD. On that day they didn’t eat any food. They admitted they had sinned. They said, ‘We’ve sinned against the LORD.’ Samuel was serving as the leader of Israel at Mizpah. 7 The Philistines heard that Israel had gathered together at Mizpah. So the Philistine rulers came up to attack them. When the Israelites heard about it, they were afraid. 8 They said to Samuel, ‘Don’t stop crying out to the LORD our God to help us. Keep praying that he’ll save us from the power of the Philistines.’ 9 Then Samuel got a very young lamb. He sacrificed it as a whole burnt offering to the LORD. He cried out to the LORD to help Israel. And the LORD answered his prayer. 10 The Philistines came near to attack Israel. At that time Samuel was sacrificing the burnt offering. But that day the LORD thundered loudly against the Philistines. He threw them into such a panic that the Israelites were able to chase them away. 11 The men of Israel rushed out of Mizpah. They chased the Philistines all the way to a point below Beth Kar. They killed them all along the way. 12 Then Samuel got a big stone. He set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer. He said, ‘The LORD has helped us every step of the way.’ 13 So the Philistines were brought under Israel’s control. The Philistines didn’t attack their territory again. The LORD used his power against the Philistines as long as Samuel lived. 14 The Philistines had captured many towns between Ekron and Gath. But they had to give all of them back. Israel took back the territories near those towns from the control of the Philistines. During that time Israel and the Amorites were friendly towards each other. 15 Samuel continued to lead Israel all the days of his life. 16 From year to year he travelled from Bethel to Gilgal to Mizpah. He served Israel as judge in all those places. 17 But he always went back to Ramah. That’s where his home was. He served Israel as judge there too. And he built an altar there to honour the LORD.

English Standard Version

1 And the men of Kiriath-jearim came and took up the ark of the Lord and brought it to the house of Abinadab on the hill. And they consecrated his son Eleazar to have charge of the ark of the Lord. (2Sa 6:3) 2 From the day that the ark was lodged at Kiriath-jearim, a long time passed, some twenty years, and all the house of Israel lamented after the Lord.

Samuel Judges Israel

3 And Samuel said to all the house of Israel, “If you are returning to the Lord with all your heart, then put away the foreign gods and the Ashtaroth from among you and direct your heart to the Lord and serve him only, and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.” (Ge 35:2; De 6:13; De 10:20; De 13:4; De 30:2; Jos 24:14; Jos 24:23; Jud 2:13; Jud 10:16; 1Ki 8:48; 2Ch 19:3; 2Ch 30:19; Ezr 7:10; Isa 55:7; Ho 6:1; Joe 2:12; Mt 4:10; Lu 4:8)

Ge 35:2De 6:13De 10:20De 13:4De 30:2Jos 24:14Jos 24:23Jud 2:13Jud 10:161Ki 8:482Ch 19:32Ch 30:19Ezr 7:10Isa 55:7Ho 6:1Joe 2:12Mt 4:10Lu 4:8

4 So the people of Israel put away the Baals and the Ashtaroth, and they served the Lord only. 5 Then Samuel said, “Gather all Israel at Mizpah, and I will pray to the Lord for you.” (Jud 20:1) 6 So they gathered at Mizpah and drew water and poured it out before the Lord and fasted on that day and said there, “We have sinned against the Lord.” And Samuel judged the people of Israel at Mizpah. (Jud 10:10; 1Sa 7:5; 1Sa 31:13; 2Sa 14:14; Ne 9:1)

Jud 10:101Sa 7:51Sa 31:132Sa 14:14Ne 9:1

7 Now when the Philistines heard that the people of Israel had gathered at Mizpah, the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. And when the people of Israel heard of it, they were afraid of the Philistines. 8 And the people of Israel said to Samuel, “Do not cease to cry out to the Lord our God for us, that he may save us from the hand of the Philistines.” 9 So Samuel took a nursing lamb and offered it as a whole burnt offering to the Lord. And Samuel cried out to the Lord for Israel, and the Lord answered him. (Ps 99:6; Jer 15:1) 10 As Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to attack Israel. But the Lord thundered with a mighty sound that day against the Philistines and threw them into confusion, and they were defeated before Israel. (1Sa 2:10; 2Sa 22:14; Ps 18:13) 11 And the men of Israel went out from Mizpah and pursued the Philistines and struck them, as far as below Beth-car. 12 Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen^[1] and called its name Ebenezer;^[2] for he said, “Till now the Lord has helped us.” (Ge 28:18; Ge 31:45; Ge 35:14; Jos 4:9; Jos 24:26)

Ge 28:18Ge 31:45Ge 35:14Jos 4:9Jos 24:26

13 So the Philistines were subdued and did not again enter the territory of Israel. And the hand of the Lord was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel. (Jud 13:1) 14 The cities that the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron to Gath, and Israel delivered their territory from the hand of the Philistines. There was peace also between Israel and the Amorites. 15 Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life. (Jud 2:16; 1Sa 7:6; 1Sa 12:11) 16 And he went on a circuit year by year to Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpah. And he judged Israel in all these places. 17 Then he would return to Ramah, for his home was there, and there also he judged Israel. And he built there an altar to the Lord. (Jud 21:4; 1Sa 1:19; 1Sa 14:35)