1 Samuel 7

1 So the people of Kiriath-jearim came and took the Ark of the Lord. They put it in Abinadab's house on the hill. They dedicated his son Eleazar to take care of the Ark of the Lord.

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 The Ark remained there in Kiriath-jearim from that day for a long time, in fact for twenty years. Everyone in Israel mourned and in repentance came back to the Lord.

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 of Israel, “If you sincerely wish to come back to the Lord, then get rid of the foreign gods and the Ashtoreth images you have, and commit yourselves to the Lord and only worship him, and he will save you from 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 The people of Israel got rid of their Baals and Ashtoreth images and worshiped only the Lord.

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

5 Then Samuel said, “Have all the people of Israel gather at Mizpah, and I will pray to the Lord for you.”

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

6 Once they had gathered at Mizpah, they drew water and poured it out before the Lord. They fasted that day, and admitted, “We have sinned against the Lord.” Samuel became the leader of the Israelites at 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 When the Philistines found out that the Israelites had gathered at Mizpah, their rulers led an attack on Israel. When the Israelites heard about this, they were terrified at what the Philistines might do.

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 They told Samuel, “Don't stop pleading with the Lord our God for us so he can save us from 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 Samuel took a young lamb and presented it as a whole burnt offering to the Lord. He cried out for help to the Lord for Israel, and the Lord responded.

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 While Samuel was presenting the burnt offering, the Philistines approached to attack Israel. But the Lord thundered extremely loudly against the Philistines that day, which totally confused them, and they were defeated as Israel watched.

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 Then the men of Israel ran out from Mizpah and chased them, killing them all the way to a place near 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 After this Samuel took a stone and placed it between Mizpah and Shen. He called it Ebenezer, saying, “The Lord helped us right up to here!”

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 In this way the Philistines were kept under control and did not invade Israel again. During Samuel's lifetime the Lord used his power 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 The towns the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, all the way from Ekron to Gath, and Israel also liberated the neighboring territory from the hands of the Philistines. There was also 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 Samuel was Israel's leader for the rest of his life.

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

16 Every year he went around, going to Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpah. At all these places he ruled Israel.

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 Then he would return to Ramah because that was where he lived. He ruled Israel from there, and also built 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.