1 Samuel 7

Modern

Literal

Samuel Subdues the Philistines

¹Then 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.

¹And the men of Kiriath-jearim came and took the ark of YHWH, and brought it into the house of Abinadab on the hill. And they consecrated Eleazar his son to guard the ark of YHWH.

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.

²And it came to pass that the ark remained at Kiriath-jearim, and the days were multiplied—and it was there twenty years. And all the house of Israel lamented after YHWH.

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.”

³And Samuel spoke to all the house of Israel, saying, “If with all your heart you are returning to YHWH, put away the foreign gods from your midst, and the Ashtoreths, and prepare your hearts for YHWH, and serve Him only. And He will snatch you up from the hand of the Philistines.”

⁴So the Israelites put away the Baals and Ashtoreths and served only the LORD.

⁴And the sons of Israel put away the Baals and the Ashtoreths, and they served YHWH only.

⁵Then Samuel said, “Gather all Israel to Mizpah, and I will pray to the LORD on your behalf.”

⁵And Samuel said, “Gather all Israel to Mizpah, and I will pray for you to YHWH.”

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^a the Israelites at Mizpah.

⁶And they gathered together at Mizpah, and they drew water and poured it out before the face of YHWH. And they fasted that day and said there, “We have sinned against YHWH.” And Samuel judged the sons of Israel at Mizpah.

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

⁷And the Philistines heard that the sons of Israel had gathered together at Mizpah, and the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. And the sons of Israel heard, and they were afraid of 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.”

⁸And the sons of Israel said to Samuel, “Do not cease from crying out to YHWH our God, 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.

⁹And Samuel took one suckling lamb and offered it as a whole burnt offering to YHWH. And Samuel cried out to YHWH for Israel, and YHWH 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.

¹⁰And Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, and the Philistines drew near to the battle against Israel. And YHWH thundered in a loud thunder that day upon the Philistines, and He confused them and they were struck before the face of 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.

¹¹And Israel went out from the men of Mizpah, and they pursued the Philistines and drove them back even as far as below Beth-car.

¹²Afterward, Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen.^a He named it Ebenezer,^b saying, “Thus far the LORD has helped us.”

¹²And Samuel took one stone and set it up between Mizpah and between Shen, and he called its name Ebenezer and said, “As far as here, YHWH 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.

¹³And the Philistines were subdued; and they added not anymore to come into the territory of Israel. And the hand of YHWH 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.

¹⁴And the cities that the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron to Gath; and its territory Israel delivered from the hand of the Philistines. And there was peace between Israel and between the Amorite.

¹⁵So Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life.

¹⁵And 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.

¹⁶And He went from year to year on a circuit to Bethel, and Gilgal, and Mizpah, and he judged 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.

¹⁷And his returning was to Ramath, for his house was there, and there he judged Israel. And he built there an altar to YHWH.