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[1]Then the men of Kiriath-jearim came, and took up the ark of the Lord, and brought it into the house of Abinadab in the hill: and they sanctified Eleazar his son, to keep the ark of the Lord.
[2](For while the ark abode in Kiriath-jearim, the time was long, for it was twenty years) and all the house of Israel lamented after the Lord.
[3]Then Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying, If ye be come again unto the Lord with all your heart, put away the strange gods from among you, and Ashtaroth, and direct your hearts unto the Lord, and serve him only, and he shall deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.
[4]Then the children of Israel did put away Baalim and Ashtaroth, and served the Lord only.
[5]And Samuel said, Gather all Israel to Mizpeh, and I will pray for you unto the Lord.
[6]And they gathered together to Mizpeh, and drew water and poured it out before the Lord, and fasted the same day, and said there, We have sinned against the Lord. And Samuel judged the children of Israel in Mizpeh.
[7]When the Philistines heard that the children of Israel were gathered together to Mizpeh, the princes of the Philistines went up against Israel: and when the children of Israel heard that, they were afraid of the Philistines.
[8]And the children of Israel said to Samuel, Cease not to cry unto the Lord our God for us, that he may save us out of the hand of the Philistines.
[9]Then Samuel took a sucking lamb, and offered it all together for a burnt offering unto the Lord, and Samuel cried unto the Lord for Israel, and the Lord heard him.
[10]And as Samuel offered the burnt offering, the Philistines came to fight against Israel: but the Lord thundered with a great thunder that day upon the Philistines, and scattered them: so they were slain before Israel.
[11]And the men of Israel went from Mizpeh and pursued the Philistines, and smote them until they came under Beth-car.
[12]Then Samuel took a stone and pitched it between Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name thereof, Eben-ezer, and he said, Hitherto hath the Lord holpen us.
[13]So the Philistines were brought under, and they came no more again into the coasts of Israel: and the hand of the Lord was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel.
[14]Also the cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel, were restored to Israel, from Ekron even to Gath: and Israel delivered the coasts of the same out of the hands of the Philistines: and there was peace between Israel and the Amorites.
[15]And Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life,
[16]And went about year by year to Beth-el, and Gilgal, and Mizpeh, and judged Israel in all those places.
[17]Afterward he returned to Ramah: for there was his house, and there he judged Israel: also he built an altar there unto the Lord.
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