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1 Samuel 7

Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

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1 So the people of Kiriath-jearim came for the ark of the LORD and took it to Abinadab’s house on the hill. ⓔ They consecrated his son Eleazar to take care of it.
2 Time went by until twenty years had passed since the ark had been taken to Kiriath-jearim. Then the whole house of Israel longed for the LORD.
3 Samuel told them, “If you ⓕ are returning to the LORD ⓖ with all your heart, ⓗ get rid of the foreign gods ⓘ and the Ashtoreths that are among you, dedicate yourselves to [1] the LORD, and worship only him. ⓙ Then he will rescue you from the Philistines.”
4 So the Israelites removed the Baals and the Ashtoreths ⓚ and only worshiped the LORD.
5 Samuel said, “Gather all Israel at Mizpah, ⓛ and I will pray to the LORD on your behalf.” ⓜ
6 When they gathered at Mizpah, they drew water and poured it out in the LORD’s presence. ⓝ They fasted that day, ⓐ and there they confessed, “We have sinned against the LORD.” ⓑ And Samuel judged the Israelites at Mizpah.
7 When the Philistines heard that the Israelites had gathered at Mizpah, their rulers marched up toward Israel. When the Israelites heard about it, they were afraid because of the Philistines.
8 The Israelites said to Samuel, “Don’t stop crying out to the LORD our God for us, so that he will save us from the Philistines.”
9 Then Samuel took a young 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 Samuel was offering the burnt offering as the Philistines approached to fight against Israel. The LORD thundered loudly ⓔ against the Philistines that day and threw them into such confusion that they were defeated by Israel. ⓕ
11 Then the men of Israel charged out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines striking them down all the way to a place below Beth-car.
12 Afterward, Samuel took a stone and set it upright ⓖ between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, [2] explaining, “The LORD has helped us to this point.”
13 So the Philistines were subdued ⓗ and [3] did not invade Israel’s territory again. ⓘ The LORD’s hand was against the Philistines all of Samuel’s life.
14 The cities from Ekron to Gath, which they had taken from Israel, were restored; Israel even rescued their surrounding territories from Philistine control. There was also peace between Israel and the Amorites.
15 Samuel judged Israel throughout his life. ⓙ
16 Every year he would go on a circuit to Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpah and would judge Israel at all these locations.
17 Then he would return to Ramah ⓚ because his home was there, he judged Israel there, and he built an altar to the LORD there.
Footnotes & Cross-References
Footnotes
1 Samuel 7:6 [20] Traditionally judge; also in verse 15
1 Samuel 7:12 [21] Ebenezer means stone of help.