1 Samuel 7 - Introduction

1 They of Kiriath-iearim bring the Arke into the house of Abinadab, and sanctifie Eleazar his sonne to keepe it.

2 After twentie yeeres

3 The Israelites, by Samuels meanes, solemnly repent at Mizpeh.

7 While Samuel prayeth and sacrificeth, the Lord discomfiteth the Philistines by thunder, at Eben-ezer.

13 The Philistines are subdued.

15 Samuel peaceably and religiously iudgeth Israel.

[Israel repenteth.]

1 And the men of Kiriath-iearim came, and fetcht vp the Arke of the Lord, and brought it into the house of Abinadab in the hill, and sanctified Eleazar his sonne, to keepe the Arke of the Lord.

2 And it came to passe while the Arke abode in Kiriath-iearim, that the time was long: for it was twentie yeeres: and all the house of Israel lamented after the Lord.

3 And Samuel spake vnto all the house of Israel, saying, If ye doe returne vnto the Lord with all your hearts, then [Note: Joshua 14:15; Joshua 14:23.] put away the strange gods, and [Note: Judges 2:13.] Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts vnto the Lord, and [Note: Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 4:10; Luke 4:8.] serue him onely: & he will deliuer you out of the hand of the Philistines.

4 Then the children of Israel did put away [Note: Judges 2:11.] Baalim, and Ashtaroth, and serued the Lord onely.

5 And Samuel said, Gather all Israel to Mizpeh, and I will pray for you vnto the Lord.

6 And they gathered together to Mizpeh, and drew water, and powred it out before the Lord, and fasted on that day, and said there, We haue sinned against the Lord. And Samuel iudged the children of Israel in Mizpeh.

7 And when the Philistines heard that the children of Israel were gathered together to Mizpeh, the lords of the Philistines went vp against Israel: and when the children of Israel heard it, they were afraid of the Philistines.

8 And the children of Israel said to Samuel, [Note: Hebrew: be not silent from vs from crying.] Cease not to crie vnto the Lord our God for vs, that he will saue vs out of the hand of the Philistines.

9 And Samuel tooke a sucking lambe, and offered it for a burnt offering wholly vnto the Lord; and Samuel cried vnto the Lord for Israel, and the Lord [Note: Or, answered.] heard him.

10 And as Samuel was offering vp the burnt offering, the Philistines drewe neere to battell against Israel: but the Lord thundred with a great thunder on that day vpon the Philistines, and discomfited them, and they were smitten before Israel.

11 And the men of Israel went out of Mizpeh, and pursued the Philistines, and smote them, vntill they came vnder Bethcar.

[Samuels sonnes.]

12 Then Samuel tooke a stone, and set it betweene Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it [Note: That is, the stone of helpe.] Eben-Ezer, saying, Hitherto hath the Lord helped vs.

13 So the Philistines were subdued, and they came no more into the coast of Israel: and the hand of the Lord was against the Philistines, all the dayes of Samuel.

14 And the cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel, were restored to Israel, from Ekron euen vnto Gath, and the coasts thereof did Israel deliuer out of the hands of the Philistines: and there was peace betweene Israel and the Amorites.

15 And Samuel iudged Israel all the dayes of his life.

16 And he went from yeere to yeere [Note: Hebrew: and he circuited.] in circuit to Bethel, and Gilgal, and Mizpeh, and iudged Israel in all those places.

17 And his returne was to Ramah: for there was his house: and there hee iudged Israel, and there hee built an altar vnto the Lord.