< 撒母耳記上 7 >
1 克黎雅特耶阿陵人遂下來,將上主的約櫃抬上去,送到住在丘嶺上的阿彼納達布家裏,並且祝聖他的兒子厄肋阿匝爾,看守上主的約櫃。
And the men of Kirjath-Jearim come and bring up the ark of Jehovah, and bring it in unto the house of Abinadab, in the height, and Eleazar his son they have sanctified to keep the ark of Jehovah.
2 自從約櫃停放在克黎雅特耶阿陵的那天起,過了很長的時間,大約二十年之久,以色列全家又歸向上主。
And it cometh to pass, from the day of the dwelling of the ark in Kirjath-Jearim, that the days are multiplied — yea, they are twenty years — and wail do all the house of Israel after Jehovah.
3 那時撒慕爾對以色列全家說:「如果你們全心歸向上主,就該將外邦的神由你們中間剷除,一心歸向上主,惟獨事奉上主,他必由培肋舍特人手中解救你們。」
And Samuel speaketh unto all the house of Israel, saying, 'If with all your heart ye are turning back unto Jehovah — turn aside the gods of the stranger from your midst, and Ashtaroth; and prepare your heart unto Jehovah, and serve Him only, and He doth deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.'
4 以色列子民遂剷除了巴耳和阿市托勒特,唯獨事奉上主。
And the sons of Israel turn aside the Baalim and Ashtaroth, and serve Jehovah alone;
5 於是撒慕爾說:「你們把全以色列聚集在米茲帕,我要為你們懇求上主。」
and Samuel saith, 'Gather all Israel to Mizpeh, and I pray for you unto Jehovah.'
6 他們便集在米茲帕,汲了水來,倒在上主面前,並且在那一天禁食說:「我們犯了罪,得罪了上主! 」從此撒慕爾在米茲帕治理以色列子民。
And they are gathered to Mizpeh, and draw water, and pour out before Jehovah, and fast on that day, and say there, 'We have sinned against Jehovah;' and Samuel judgeth the sons of Israel in Mizpeh.
7 培肋舍特人一聽說以色列子民聚集在米茲帕,培肋舍特的酋長就上來攻打以色列,以色列子民聽說培肋舍特人前來,大為震驚,
And the Philistines hear that the sons of Israel have gathered themselves to Mizpeh; and the princes of the Philistines go up against Israel, and the sons of Israel hear, and are afraid of the presence of the Philistines.
8 對撒慕爾說:「你不要停止為我們哀求上主,我們的天主,好叫他救我們脫離培肋舍特人的威脅。」
And the sons of Israel say unto Samuel, 'Keep not silent for us from crying unto Jehovah our God, and He doth save us out of the hand of the Philistines.'
9 撒慕爾遂拿了一隻還在吃奶的羔羊獻給上主,作全燔祭,為以色列呼籲上主,上主應允了他。
And Samuel taketh a fat lamb, and causeth it to go up — a burnt-offering whole to Jehovah; and Samuel crieth unto Jehovah for Israel, and Jehovah answereth him;
10 當撒慕爾正在奉獻全燔祭時,培肋舍特人前來,要與以色列交戰;但上主在那一天使雷聲向著培肋舍特人大作,恐嚇他們,他們就在以色列面前潰退了。
and Samuel is causing the burnt-offering to go up — and the Philistines have drawn nigh to battle against Israel — and Jehovah doth thunder with a great noise, on that day, upon the Philistines, and troubleth them, and they are smitten before Israel.
11 以色列人遂從米茲帕出來追擊培肋舍特人,擊殺他們直到貝特加爾下邊。
And the men of Israel go out from Mizpeh, and pursue the Philistines, and smite them unto the place of Beth-Car.
12 以後,撒慕爾取了一塊石頭,豎立在米茲帕與耶撒納中間,給那石起名叫厄本厄則爾,說:「直到這時上主救助了我們。」
And Samuel taketh a stone, and setteth [it] between Mizpeh and Shen, and calleth its name Eben-Ezer, saying, 'Hitherto hath Jehovah helped us.'
13 培肋舍特人受了這次挫折以後,不敢再來侵犯以色列的邊境;撒慕爾活著時,上主的手常壓制了培肋舍特人。
And the Philistines are humbled, and have not added any more to come into the border of Israel, and the hand of Jehovah is on the Philistines all the days of Samuel.
14 培肋舍特人由以色列奪去的城市,自厄刻龍直到加特,都歸還了以色列人;以色列人由培肋舍特人手中收復了自己的領土;在那時以色列和阿摩黎人之間平安無事。
And the cities which the Philistines have taken from Israel are restored to Israel — from Ekron even unto Gath — and their border hath Israel delivered out of the hand of the Philistines; and there is peace between Israel and the Amorite.
And Samuel judgeth Israel all the days of his life,
16 他每年去視察貝特耳、基耳加耳和米茲帕,在這些地方治理以色列人。
and he hath gone from year to year, and gone round Beth-El, and Gilgal, and Mizpeh, and judged Israel [in] all these places;
17 以後他回到辣瑪,因為他的家在那裏,他也在那裏治理以色列人,並在那裏給上主建了一座祭壇。
and his returning [is] to Ramath, for there [is] his house, and there he hath judged Israel, and he buildeth there an altar to Jehovah.