1 S o 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 consecrated Eleazar his son to have charge of the ark of the Lord.

Then the men of Kirjath Jearim came and took the ark of the Lord, and brought it into the house of Abinadab on the hill, and consecrated Eleazar his son to keep the ark of the Lord. Samuel Judges Israel

2 A nd the ark remained in Kiriath-jearim a very long time. For it was twenty years before all the house of Israel lamented after the Lord.

So it was that the ark remained in Kirjath Jearim a long time; it was there twenty years. And all the house of Israel lamented after the Lord.

3 T hen Samuel said to all the house of Israel, If you are returning to the Lord with all your hearts, then put away the foreign gods and the Ashtaroth from among you and direct your hearts to the Lord and serve Him only, and He will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.

Then Samuel spoke to all the house of Israel, saying, “If you return to the Lord with all your hearts, then put away the foreign gods and the Ashtoreths from among you, and prepare your hearts for the Lord, and serve Him only; and He will deliver you from the hand of the Philistines.”

4 S o the Israelites put away the Baals and the Ashtaroth, and served the Lord only.

So the children of Israel put away the Baals and the Ashtoreths, and served the Lord only.

5 S amuel said, Gather all Israel to Mizpah and I will pray to the Lord for you.

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

6 S o they gathered at 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 Israelites at Mizpah.

So they gathered together at Mizpah, drew water, and poured it out before the Lord. And they fasted that day, and said there, “We have sinned against the Lord.” And Samuel judged the children of Israel at Mizpah.

7 N ow when the Philistines heard that the Israelites had gathered at Mizpah, the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. And when the Israelites heard of it, they were afraid of the Philistines.

Now when the Philistines heard that the children of Israel had gathered together at Mizpah, the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. And when the children of Israel heard of it, they were afraid of the Philistines.

8 A nd the Israelites said to Samuel, Do not cease to cry to the Lord our God for us, that He may save us from the hand of the Philistines.

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

9 S o Samuel took a sucking lamb and offered it as a whole burnt offering to the Lord; and Samuel cried to the Lord for Israel, and the Lord answered him.

And Samuel took a suckling lamb and offered it as a whole burnt offering to the Lord. Then Samuel cried out to the Lord for Israel, and the Lord answered him.

10 A s Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to attack Israel. But the Lord thundered with a great voice that day against the Philistines and threw them into confusion, and they were defeated before Israel.

Now as Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel. But the Lord thundered with a loud thunder upon the Philistines that day, and so confused them that they were overcome before Israel.

11 A nd the men of Israel went out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines and smote them as far as below Beth-car.

And the men of Israel went out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines, and drove them back as far as below Beth Car.

12 T hen Samuel took a stone and set it between Mizpah and Shen, and he called the name of it Ebenezer, saying, Heretofore the Lord has helped us.

Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen, and called its name Ebenezer, saying, “Thus far the Lord has helped us.”

13 S o the Philistines were subdued and came no more into Israelite territory. And the hand of the Lord was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel.

So the Philistines were subdued, and they did not come anymore into the territory of Israel. And the hand of the Lord was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel.

14 T he cities the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron to Gath, and Israel rescued territory from the Philistines. There was peace also between Israel and the Amorites.

Then the cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron to Gath; and Israel recovered its territory from the hands of the Philistines. Also there was peace between Israel and the Amorites.

15 A nd Samuel judged Israel all his days.

And Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life.

16 A nd he went from year to year on a circuit to Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpah, and was judge for Israel in all those places.

He went from year to year on a circuit to Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpah, and judged Israel in all those places.

17 T hen he would return to Ramah, for his home was there; there he judged Israel, and there he built an altar to the Lord.

But he always returned to Ramah, for his home was there. There he judged Israel, and there he built an altar to the Lord.