King James Version

1 And the men of Kiriath-Jearim came and brought up the ark of the LORD, and they brought it to the house of Abinadab on the hill, and they consecrated his son Eleazar to keep the ark of the LORD. 2 And it was from the day that the Ark remained in Kiryat-Jearim, and the days were multiplied, and it became twenty years, and all the house of Israel turned after the LORD. 3 And Samuel said to all the house of Israel, “If you are returning to the Lord with all your heart, remove the foreign gods and the Ashtaroth from among you and prepare your hearts for the Lord and serve Him alone, and He will deliver you from the hand of the Philistines.” 4 And the sons of Israel removed the Baals and the Ashtaroth, and they served the LORD alone. 5 And Samuel said, "Gather all Israel at Mizpah, and I will pray to the Lord for you." 6 And they gathered at Mizpah and drew water and poured it out before the Lord, and they fasted on that day and said there, "We have sinned against the Lord." And Samuel judged the sons of Israel at Mizpah. 7 And the Philistines heard that the children of Israel had gathered at Mizpah, and the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. And the children of Israel heard and were afraid of the Philistines. 8 And the children of Israel said to Samuel, “Do not cease from crying out to the Lord our God for us, and he will save us from the hand of the Philistines.” 9 And Samuel took one young lamb and offered it as a whole burnt offering to the Lord, and Samuel cried out to the Lord for Israel, and the Lord answered him. 10 And it was, as Samuel offered the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near for battle against Israel, and the Lord thundered with a great sound on that day against the Philistines and confused them, and they were struck down before Israel. 11 And the men of Israel went out from Mizpah and pursued the Philistines and struck them down as far as below Beth Car. 12 And Samuel took one stone and set it between Mizpah and Shen, and he called its name Ebenezer, and he said, "Thus far the Lord has helped us." 13 And the Philistines were subdued and did not come again into the border of Israel, and the hand of the Lord was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel. 14 And the cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron to Gath, and Israel delivered their territory from the hand of the Philistines. And there was peace between Israel and the Amorites. 15 And Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life. 16 And he went year by year and went around Bethel and Gilgal and Mizpah and judged Israel at all these places. 17 And his return to Ramah, for there is his house, and there he judged Israel, and he built there an altar to the Lord.