| [an error occurred while processing this directive] | Berean Study Bible |
| 1[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 1Then the men of Kiriath-jearim came for the ark of the LORD and took it into Abinadab’s house on the hill. And they consecrated his son Eleazar to guard the ark of the LORD. |
| 2[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 2And from that day a long time passed, twenty years in all, as the ark remained at Kiriath-jearim. And all the house of Israel mourned and sought after the LORD. |
| 3[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 3Then Samuel said to all the house of Israel, “If you are returning to the LORD with all your hearts, then rid yourselves of the foreign gods and Ashtoreths among you, prepare your hearts for the LORD, and serve Him only. And He will deliver you from the hand of the Philistines.” |
| 4[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 4So the Israelites put away the Baals and Ashtoreths and served only the LORD. |
| 5[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 5Then Samuel said, “Gather all Israel to Mizpah, and I will pray to the LORD on your behalf.” |
| 6[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 6When they had gathered at Mizpah, they drew water and poured it out before the LORD. On that day they fasted, and there they confessed, “We have sinned against the LORD.” And Samuel judged the Israelites at Mizpah. |
| 7[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 7When the Philistines heard that the Israelites had gathered at Mizpah, their rulers marched up toward Israel. And when the Israelites learned of this, they feared the Philistines |
| 8[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 8and said to Samuel, “Do not stop crying out to the LORD our God for us, that He may save us from the hand of the Philistines.” |
| 9[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 9Then Samuel took a suckling lamb and offered it as a whole burnt offering to the LORD. He cried out to the LORD on behalf of Israel, and the LORD answered him. |
| 10[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 10As the Philistines drew near to fight against Israel, Samuel was sacrificing the burnt offering. But that day the LORD thundered loudly against the Philistines and threw them into such confusion that they fled before Israel. |
| 11[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 11Then the men of Israel charged out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines, striking them down all the way to an area below Beth-car. |
| 12[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 12Afterward, Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, “Thus far the LORD has helped us.” |
| 13[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 13So the Philistines were subdued, and they stopped invading the territory of Israel. And the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel. |
| 14[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 14The cities from Ekron to Gath, which the Philistines had taken, were restored to Israel, who also delivered the surrounding territory from the hand of the Philistines. And there was peace between the Israelites and the Amorites. |
| 15[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 15So Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life. |
| 16[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 16Every year he would go on a circuit from Bethel to Gilgal to Mizpah, judging Israel in all these places. |
| 17[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 17Then he would return to Ramah because his home was there, and there he judged Israel and built an altar to the LORD. |
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