1 Samuel 7

1 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.

The men of Kiriath Jearim came and took Yahweh’s ark, and brought it into Abinadab’s house on the hill, and consecrated Eleazar his son to keep Yahweh’s ark.

2 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.

From the day that the ark stayed in Kiriath Jearim, the time was long—for it was twenty years; and all the house of Israel lamented after Yahweh.

3 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.

Samuel spoke to all the house of Israel, saying, “If you are returning to Yahweh with all your heart, then put away the foreign gods and the Ashtaroth from among you, and direct your hearts to Yahweh, and serve him only; and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.”

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

Then the children of Israel removed the Baals and the Ashtaroth, and served Yahweh only.

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

Samuel said, “Gather all Israel to Mizpah, and I will pray to Yahweh for you.”

6 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.

They gathered together to Mizpah, and drew water, and poured it out before Yahweh, and fasted on that day, and said there, “We have sinned against Yahweh.” Samuel judged the children of Israel in Mizpah.

7 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.

When the Philistines heard that the children of Israel were gathered together at Mizpah, the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. When the children of Israel heard it, they were afraid of the Philistines.

8 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.

The children of Israel said to Samuel, “Don’t stop crying to Yahweh our God for us, that he will save us out of the hand of the Philistines.”

9 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.

Samuel took a suckling lamb, and offered it for a whole burnt offering to Yahweh. Samuel cried to Yahweh for Israel, and Yahweh answered him.

10 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.

As Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines came near to battle against Israel; but Yahweh thundered with a great thunder on that day on the Philistines and confused them; and they were struck down before Israel.

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

The men of Israel went out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines, and struck them until they came under Beth Kar.

12 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.

Then Samuel took a stone and set it between Mizpah and Shen, and called its name Ebenezer, saying, “Yahweh helped us until now.”

13 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.

So the Philistines were subdued, and they stopped coming within the border of Israel. Yahweh’s hand was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel.

14 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.

The cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron even to Gath; and Israel recovered its border out of the hand of the Philistines. There was peace between Israel and the Amorites.

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

Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life.

16 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.

He went from year to year in a circuit to Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpah; and he judged Israel in all those places.

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

His return was to Ramah, for his house was there, and he judged Israel there; and he built an altar to Yahweh there.