2And the ark remained in Kiriath-jearim for twenty years: and all the house of Israel mourned because it seems that the LORD had abandoned them. 3Then Samuel said to all the Israelites, “If you are returning to the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the strange (foreign) gods and Ashtareths from among you; prepare and commit your hearts unto the LORD, and serve Him only; then He will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines”. 4Then the children of Israel put away Baalim (plural for Baals) and Ashtareths, and served the LORD only. 5And Samuel said, “Gather all Israel to Mizpah, and I will pray unto the LORD for you.” 6And they assembled at Mizpah, and drew water, and poured it out before the LORD, and fasted on that day, and confessed, “We have sinned against the LORD.” And it was at Mizpah that Samuel began serving as judge over Israel.

7And when the Philistines heard that the children of Israel had gathered at Mizpah, the Philistine lords came up to attack Israel. And when the children of Israel heard it, they feared the Philistines. 8And they said to Samuel, “Cry without ceasing to the LORD our God for us, that He will save us from the Philistines”. 9And Samuel took a suckling lamb, and offered it for as a whole burnt offering unto the LORD. And Samuel cried to the LORD for Israel; and the LORD heard him. 10And as Samuel was offering the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to engage Israel in battle: but the LORD thundered with a great thunder on that day upon the Philistines, and routed them; and they were routed in panic before Israel. 11And the men of Israel rushed out of Mizpah, and pursued the Philistines, and slaughtered them, until they came to Beth-car. 12Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpah and Shen, and he named it, “Ebenezer”, saying, “Thus far, the LORD has helped us”. 13So the Philistines were subdued, and they no longer invaded the border of Israel: and the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel’s life. 14And the towns that the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron to Gath; and Israel recovered neighboring land from the Philistines. And there was peace between Israel and the Amorites.

15And Samuel continued as Israel’s judge (leader) all the days of his life. 16And he went from year to year in circuit from Bethel to Gilgal to Mizpah, judging Israel in all those places. 17And he always returned to Ramah, where his home was, and he held court there for Israel; and he built an altar unto the LORD there.