1 Samuel 7

And the men of Kiriath Jearim came and lifted up the Box of God and brought it to the house of Abinadab on the hill. And they consecrated Eleazar his son to keep the Box of God. \*

And it happened from the day of the dwelling of the Box in Kiriath Jearim that the days were many, and they were 20 years. And all of the house of Israel lamented after God.

And Samuel spoke to all of the house of Israel, saying “If with all of your heart you are returning to God, remove the gods of the foreigner and the Ashtoreths from your midst and direct your heart toward God and serve him alone, and he will deliver you from the hand of the Philistines.”

And the sons of Israel removed the Baals and the Ashtoreths, and they served God alone. \*

And Samuel said, “Gather all of Israel to Mizpah, and I will pray for you to God.”

And they gathered at Mizpah, and they drew water and poured {it} to the face of God. And they fasted on that day, and they said there, “We have sinned against God.” And Samuel judged the sons of Israel at Mizpah. \*

And the Philistines heard that the sons of Israel had gathered themselves at Mizpah, and the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. And the sons of Israel heard, and they feared from the face of the Philistines.

And the sons of Israel said to Samuel, “Do not cease from crying out for us to God our God, and may he save us from the hand of the Philistines!”

And Samuel took a lamb of milk, and he offered it, a whole burnt offering to God. And Samuel cried out to God for Israel, and God answered him. \*

And Samuel was offering the burnt offering, and the Philistines approached for battle with Israel. And God thundered with a great sound on that day against the Philistines, and he panicked them, and they were struck to the face of Israel.

For the men of Israel went out from Mizpah, and they pursued the Philistines, and they struck them unto below Beth Kar. \*

And Samuel took a stone and set {it} up between Mizpah and between Shen. And he called its name Ebenezer, for he said, “Unto here has God helped us.”

So the Philistines were subdued, and they did not resume again to enter into the border of Israel. And the hand of God was against the Philistines all of the days of Samuel.

And the cities that the Philistines had taken from Israel returned to Israel, from Ekron and unto Gath, and Israel delivered their border from the hand of the Philistines. And peace was between Israel and between the Amorite. \*

And Samuel judged Israel all of the days of his life.

And he went according to year by year and went around Bethel and Gilgal and Mizpah, and he judged Israel {in} all of those places.

And his return was to Ramah, for his house was there, and there he judged Israel. And he built an altar there to God. \*