1 Samuel 7:8-17 ▼

8 So the sons of Israel said to Samuel, “Do not cease to cry out to Yahweh our God for us, that He may save us from the hand of the Philistines.”

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

10 Now Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, and the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel. But Yahweh thundered with a great thunder on that day against the Philistines and confused them, so that they were defeated before Israel.

11 So the men of Israel went out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines and struck them down as far as below Beth-car.

12 Then Samuel took a stone and set it between Mizpah and Shen, and he named it Ebenezer. And he said, “Thus far Yahweh has helped us.”

13 So the Philistines were subdued, and they did not come anymore within the border of Israel. And the hand of Yahweh 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 to Gath; and Israel delivered their territory from the hand of the Philistines. So there was peace between Israel and the Amorites.

15 Thus Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life.

16 And he used to go annually on circuit to Bethel and Gilgal and Mizpah, and he judged Israel in all these places.

17 But his return would be to Ramah, for his house was there, and there he judged Israel; and he built there an altar to Yahweh.