1 A nd 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 keep the ark of the Lord.

So 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.

2 F rom the day that the ark remained at Kiriath-jearim, the time was long, for it was twenty years; and all the house of Israel lamented after the Lord.

And 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.

3 T hen Samuel spoke to all the house of Israel, saying, “ If you return to the Lord with all your heart, remove the foreign gods and the Ashtaroth from among you and direct your hearts to the Lord and serve Him alone; and He will deliver you from the hand of the Philistines.”

Then 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.

4 S o the sons of Israel removed the Baals and the Ashtaroth and served the Lord alone.

So the Israelites put away the Baals and the Ashtaroth, and served the Lord only.

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

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

6 T hey gathered to 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 sons of Israel at Mizpah.

So 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.

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

Now 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.

8 T hen the sons of Israel 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.”

And 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.

9 S amuel took a suckling lamb and offered it for a whole burnt offering to the Lord; and Samuel cried to the Lord for Israel and the Lord answered him.

So 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.

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

As 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.

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

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

12 T hen Samuel took a stone and set it between Mizpah and Shen, and named it Ebenezer, saying, “Thus far the Lord has helped us.”

Then 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.

13 S o the Philistines were subdued and they did not come anymore within the border of Israel. And the hand of the Lord was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel.

So 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.

14 T he 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. Samuel’s Ministry

The 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.

15 N ow Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life.

And Samuel judged Israel all his days.

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

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

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

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