7:1 Then the people of Kiriath Jearim came and took up the ark of the LORD and brought it to the house of Abinadab located on the hill. They consecrated Eleazar his son to guard the ark of the LORD.

7:2 It was quite a long time—some twenty years in all—that the ark stayed at Kiriath Jearim. All the house of Israel went mourning after the LORD. 7:3 Samuel said to all the house of Israel, “If you are really turning to the LORD with all your hearts, remove from your midst the foreign gods and the Ashtarot.¹ Give your hearts to the LORD and serve only him, and he will deliver you from the hand of the Philistines.” 7:4 So the people of Israel removed their Baals and Ashtarot. They served only the LORD.

7:5 Then Samuel said, “Gather all Israel to Mizpah, and I will pray to the LORD in your behalf.” 7:6 After they had assembled at Mizpah, they drew water and poured it out before the LORD. They fasted on that day, and they acknowledged there, “We have sinned against the LORD.” And Samuel judged the people of Israel at Mizpah.

7:7 When the Philistines heard that the Israelites had gathered at Mizpah, the leaders of the Philistines went up against Israel. When the Israelites heard about this, they were afraid of the Philistines. 7:8 The Israelites said to Samuel, “Don’t stop crying out to the LORD our² God so that he may save us from the hand of the Philistines.” 7:9 So Samuel took a nursing lamb³ and offered it as a whole burnt offering to the LORD. Samuel cried out to the LORD in Israel’s behalf, and the LORD answered him.

7:10 As Samuel was offering burnt offerings, the Philistines drew near to Israel for battle. But on that day the LORD thundered forth against the Philistines with a loud voice. They were thoroughly confused and were defeated before Israel. 7:11 Then the men of Israel went out from Mizpah and pursued the Philistines, striking them down all the way to an area below Beth Car.

7:12 Then Samuel took a stone and placed it between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer saying, “Up to here the LORD has helped us.” 7:13 So the Philistines were subdued; they did not again approach the border of Israel. The hand of the LORD was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel.

7:14 The cities that the Philistines had captured from Israel were returned to Israel, from Ekron to Gath. Israel also delivered their environs from the control⁴ of the Philistines. Peace also prevailed between Israel and the Amorites. 7:15 So Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life. 7:16 Year after year he used to travel the circuit of Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpah; he used to judge Israel in all of these places. 7:17 Then he would return to Ramah, because his home was there. He also judged Israel there and built there an altar there to the LORD.