Samuel Subdues the Philistines
The ark is placed at Kiriath-jearim, and after many years Israel begins to seek the LORD in grief. Samuel answers that longing with a plain call for wholehearted return, and the people put away their idols.
T1hen the men of Kiriath-jearim came for the ark of the LORD and took it into Abinadab’s house on the hill. And they consecrated his son Eleazar to guard the ark of the LORD. 2And from that day a long time passed, twenty years in all, as the ark remained at Kiriath-jearim. And all the house of Israel mournfully sought the LORD. 3Then 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 Ashtoreths among you, prepare your hearts for the LORD, and serve Him only. And He will deliver you from the hand of the Philistines.” 4So the Israelites put away the Baals and Ashtoreths and served only the LORD.
Samuel gathers Israel at Mizpah to pray for them before the LORD. There the people fast, confess their sin, and submit themselves to Samuel's judging leadership.
5Then Samuel said, “Gather all Israel to Mizpah, and I will pray to the LORD on your behalf.” 6When they had gathered at Mizpah, they drew water and poured it out before the LORD. On that day they fasted, and there they confessed, “We have sinned against the LORD.” And Samuel judged the Israelites at Mizpah.
When the Philistines advance on Mizpah, Israel turns to Samuel to keep crying out for them. As Samuel offers a burnt offering, the LORD answers with thunder, throws the Philistines into confusion, and gives Israel victory.
7When the Philistines heard that the Israelites had gathered at Mizpah, their rulers marched up toward Israel. And when the Israelites learned of this, they feared the Philistines 8and said to Samuel, “Do not stop crying out to the LORD our God for us, that He may save us from the hand of the Philistines.” 9Then Samuel took a suckling lamb and offered it as a whole burnt offering to the LORD. He cried out to the LORD on behalf of Israel, and the LORD answered him. 10As the Philistines drew near to fight against Israel, Samuel was offering up the burnt offering. But that day the LORD thundered loudly against the Philistines and threw them into such confusion that they fled before Israel. 11Then the men of Israel charged out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines, striking them down all the way to an area below Beth-car.
Samuel sets up Ebenezer to remember the LORD's help, and the Philistine threat recedes through his days. Restored towns, peace in the land, and Samuel's regular circuit of judging show a settled pattern of help and order.
12Afterward, Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, “Thus far the LORD has helped us.” 13So the Philistines were subdued, and they stopped invading the territory of Israel. And the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel. 14The cities from Ekron to Gath, which the Philistines had taken, were restored to Israel, who also delivered the surrounding territory from the hand of the Philistines. And there was peace between the Israelites and the Amorites. 15So Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life. 16Every year he would go on a circuit from Bethel to Gilgal to Mizpah, judging Israel in all these places. 17Then he would return to Ramah because his home was there, and there he judged Israel and built an altar to the LORD.