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.

The men of Kiriath-jearim came and took the special box of the Lord and brought it to the house of Abinadab on the hill. They set apart his son Eleazar to keep the special box of the Lord. Samuel Judges for Israel

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.

The special box stayed in Kiriath-jearim a long time, for it was twenty years. And all the family of Israel cried with sorrow for 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 family of Israel, “Return to the Lord with all your heart. Put away the strange gods and the false goddess Ashtaroth from among you. Turn your hearts to the Lord and worship Him alone. Then He will save you from the Philistines.”

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

So the people of Israel put away from among them the false gods of Baal and Ashtaroth and worshiped the Lord alone.

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

Then Samuel said, “Gather all Israel together at 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. They got water and poured it out before the Lord as a gift, and did not eat that day. They said there, “We have sinned against the Lord.” And Samuel judged the people of Israel 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.

The Philistines heard that the people of Israel had gathered at Mizpah, so the leaders of the Philistines went to battle against them. When the people of Israel heard about 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.”

The Israelites said to Samuel, “Do not stop crying to the Lord our God for us, that He may save us from 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.

Samuel took a young lamb and gave it as a whole burnt gift to the Lord. 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 burning the gift to the Lord, the Philistines came near to battle against Israel. But the Lord made a loud thunder that day against the Philistines, making them afraid. So they lost the battle with 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.

The men of Israel left Mizpah and went after the Philistines, killing them almost as far as Bethcar.

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. He gave it the name Ebenezer, saying, “The Lord has helped us this far.”

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 beaten. They did not come into the land of Israel again. And the hand of the Lord was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel’s life.

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 returned, from Ekron to Gath. Israel saved their land from the Philistines. So there was peace between Israel and the Amorites.

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

Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life.

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

Every year he went around to Bethel, Gilgal and Mizpah, and he judged Israel in all these 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. He judged Israel there also, and built an altar to the Lord.