1 Samuel 7

1 So the men of Kiriath-jearim came and took the ark of the Lord to the house of Abinadab in Gibeah, and they made his son Eleazar holy and put the ark in his care.

Then came the men of Kiriath-jearim and fetched up the ark of Yahweh, and brought it into the house of Abinadab, in the hill, —and, Eleazar his son, hallowed they, to guard the ark of Yahweh.

2 And the ark was in Kiriath-jearim for a long time, as much as twenty years: and all Israel was searching after the Lord with weeping.

And so it was, that, from the day the ark came to dwell in Kiriath-jearim, the days multiplied, and became twenty years, —and all the house of Israel went mourning after Yahweh.

3 Then Samuel said to all Israel, If with all your hearts you would come back to the Lord, then put away all the strange gods and the Astartes from among you, and let your hearts be turned to the Lord, and be servants to him only: and he will make you safe from the hands of the Philistines.

And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying, If, with all your heart, ye are returning unto Yahweh, then put away the gods of the foreigner out of your midst, and the Ashtoreths—and firmly set your heart towards Yahweh, and serve him, alone, that he may deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.

4 So the children of Israel gave up the worship of Baal and Astarte, and became worshippers of the Lord only.

So the sons of Israel put away the Baals, and the Ashtoreths, —and served Yahweh, alone.

5 Then Samuel said, Let all Israel come to Mizpah and I will make prayer to the Lord for you.

And Samuel said, Gather all Israel unto Mizpah, —that I may pray for you, unto Yahweh.

6 So they came together to Mizpah, and got water, draining it out before the Lord, and they took no food that day, and they said, We have done evil against the Lord. And Samuel was judge of the children of Israel in Mizpah.

So they gathered themselves unto Mizpah, and drew water, and poured it out before Yahweh, and fasted on that day, and said, there, We have sinned against Yahweh. And Samuel judged the sons of Israel in Mizpah.

7 Now when the Philistines had news that the children of Israel had come together at Mizpah, the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. And the children of Israel, hearing of it, were full of fear.

And, when the Philistines heard that the sons of Israel had gathered themselves together unto Mizpah, the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel, —and, when the sons of Israel heard it, they shrank with fear, from the face of the Philistines.

8 And the children of Israel said to Samuel, Go on crying to the Lord our God for us to make us safe from the hands of the Philistines.

And the sons of Israel said unto Samuel, Do not turn in silence from us, from making outcry unto Yahweh our God, —that he would save us out of the hand of the Philistines.

9 And Samuel took a young lamb, offering all of it as a burned offering to the Lord; and Samuel made prayers to the Lord for Israel and the Lord gave him an answer.

So Samuel took one sucking lamb, and offered it up, as an entire ascending-sacrifice unto Yahweh, —and Samuel made outcry unto Yahweh, for Israel, and Yahweh answered him.

10 And while Samuel was offering the burned offering, the Philistines came near for the attack on Israel; but at the thunder of the Lord's voice that day the Philistines were overcome with fear, and they gave way before Israel.

And, when Samuel was offering up the ascending-sacrifice, the Philistines, drew near to fight against Israel, —but Yahweh thundered with a great noise throughout that day, over the Philistines, and confused them, and they were smitten before Israel.

11 And the men of Israel went out from Mizpah and went after the Philistines, attacking them till they came under Beth-car.

And the men of Israel went forth out of Mizpah, and pursued the Philistines, —and smote them as far as under Beth-car.

12 Then Samuel took a stone and put it up between Mizpah and Jeshanah, naming it Eben-ezer, and saying, Up to now the Lord has been our help.

And Samuel took a certain stone, and set it between Mizpah and Yeshanah, and called the name thereof Eben-ezer, —and said, Hitherto, hath Yahweh helped us.

13 So the Philistines were overcome, and did not come into the country of Israel again: and all the days of Samuel the hand of the Lord was against the Philistines.

So the Philistines were subdued, and, no more, came within the boundary of Israel, —and the hand of Yahweh was against the Philistines, all the days of Samuel.

14 And the towns which the Philistines had taken were given back to Israel, from Ekron to Gath, and all the country round them Israel made free from the power of the Philistines. And there was peace between Israel and the Amorites.

And the cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron even as far as Gath; even the boundaries thereof, did Israel rescue out of the hand of the Philistines, —thus came there to be peace between Israel and the Amorites.

15 And Samuel was judge of Israel all the days of his life.

And Samuel judged Israel, all the days of his life.

16 From year to year he went in turn to Beth-el and Gilgal and Mizpah, judging Israel in all those places.

And he used to take his journey, from year to year, and go round to Bethel, and Gilgal, and Mizpah, —and used to judge Israel, at all these places.

17 And his base was at Ramah, where his house was; there he was judge of Israel and there he made an altar to the Lord.

And, his returning, was to Ramah, for, there, was his house, and, there, judged he Israel, —so he built there an altar unto Yahweh.