Israel Saved from the Philistines

1And the men of Kiriath-jearim came and took the ark of the LORD and brought it into the house of Abinadab on the hill, and they [a]consecrated his son Eleazar to watch over the ark of the LORD. 2From the day that the ark remained at Kiriath-jearim, the [b]time was long, for it was twenty years; and all the house of Israel [c]mourned after the LORD.

3Then Samuel spoke to all the house of Israel, saying, “If you are returning to the LORD with all your heart, then remove the foreign gods and the Ashtaroth from among you, and direct your hearts to the LORD and serve Him alone; and He will save you from the hand of the Philistines.” 4So the sons of Israel removed the Baals and the Ashtaroth, and served the LORD alone.

5Then Samuel said, “Gather all Israel to Mizpah and I will pray to the LORD for you.” 6So they gathered to Mizpah, and drew water and poured it out before the LORD, and fasted on that day and said there, “We have sinned against the LORD.” And Samuel judged the sons of Israel at Mizpah.

7Now when the Philistines heard that the sons of Israel had gathered at Mizpah, the governors of the Philistines went up against Israel. And when the sons of Israel heard about it, they were afraid of the Philistines. 8So the sons of Israel said to Samuel, “Do not stop crying out to the LORD our God for us, that He will save us from the hand of the Philistines!” 9Samuel took a nursing lamb and offered it as a whole burnt offering to the LORD; and Samuel cried out to the LORD for Israel, and the LORD answered him. 10Now Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, and the Philistines advanced to battle Israel. But the LORD thundered with a great [d]thunder on that day against the Philistines and confused them, so that they were struck down before Israel. 11And the men of Israel came out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines, and killed them as far as below Beth-car.

12Then Samuel took a stone and placed it between Mizpah and Shen, and named it [e]Ebenezer, saying, “[f]So far the LORD has helped us.” 13So the Philistines were subdued, and they did not come anymore within the border of Israel. And the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel. 14The cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron even to Gath; and Israel [g]recovered their territory from the hand of the Philistines. So there was peace between Israel and the Amorites.

Samuel’s Ministry

15Now Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life. 16And he used to go annually on a circuit to Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpah, and he judged Israel in all these places. 17Then he would make his return to Ramah, because his house was there, and there he also judged Israel; and there he built an altar to the LORD.