1And the men of Kiriath-jearim came , and fetched up the ark of Jehovah , and brought it into the house of Abinadab in the hill , and sanctified Eleazar his son to keep the ark of Jehovah . 2And it came to pass , from the day that the ark abode in Kiriath-jearim , that the time was long ; for it was twenty years : and all the house of Israel lamented after Jehovah . 3And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel , saying, If ye do return unto Jehovah with all your heart , then put away the foreign gods and the Ashtaroth from among you , and direct your hearts unto Jehovah , and serve him only ; and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines . 4Then the children of Israel did put away the Baalim and the Ashtaroth , and served Jehovah only. 5And Samuel said, Gather all Israel to Mizpah , and I will pray for you unto Jehovah . 6And they gathered together to Mizpah , and drew water , and poured it out before Jehovah , and fasted on that day , and said there , We have sinned against Jehovah . And Samuel judged the children of Israel in Mizpah .
The Philistine Threat
7And when the Philistines heard that the children of Israel were gathered together to Mizpah , the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel . And when the children of Israel heard it , they were afraid of the Philistines . 8And the children of Israel said to Samuel , Cease not to cry unto Jehovah our God for us , that he will save us out of the hand of the Philistines . 9And Samuel took a sucking lamb , and offered it for a whole burnt-offering unto Jehovah : and Samuel cried unto Jehovah for Israel ; and Jehovah answered him . 10And as Samuel was offering up the burnt-offering, the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel ; but Jehovah thundered with a great thunder on that day upon the Philistines , and discomfited them ; and they were smitten down before Israel . 11And the men of Israel went out of Mizpah , and pursued the Philistines , and smote them , until they came under Beth-car .
God's Deliverance
12Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpah and Shen , and called the name of it Eben-ezer, saying, Hitherto hath Jehovah helped us . 13So the Philistines were subdued , and they came no more within the border of Israel : and the hand of Jehovah was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel . 14And the cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel , from Ekron even unto Gath ; and the border thereof did Israel deliver out of the hand of the Philistines . And there was peace between Israel and the Amorites.
Samuel's Leadership and the Establishment of Worship
15And Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life . 16And he went from year to year in circuit to Beth-el , and Gilgal , and Mizpah ; and he judged Israel in all those places . 17And his return was to Ramah , for there was his house ; and there he judged Israel : and he built there an altar unto Jehovah .