After twenty years, Samuel calls Israel to turn from foreign gods. At Mizpah they confess, and God thunders against the Philistines, who are routed. Samuel sets up a stone called Ebenezer and judges Israel.
1 And the men of Kirjathjearim came , and fetched up the ark of the LORD , and brought it into the house of Abinadab in the hill , and sanctified Eleazar his son to keep the ark of the LORD .
2 And it came to pass, while the ark abode in Kirjathjearim , that the time was long ; for it was twenty years : and all the house of Israel lamented after the LORD .
3 And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel , saying , If ye do return unto the LORD with all your hearts , then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts unto the LORD , and serve him only: and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines .
4 Then the children of Israel did put away Baalim and Ashtaroth , and served the LORD only.
5 And Samuel said , Gather all Israel to Mizpeh , and I will pray for you unto the LORD .
6 And they gathered together to Mizpeh , and drew water , and poured it out before the LORD , and fasted on that day , and said there, We have sinned against the LORD . And Samuel judged 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 up 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 , Cease not to cry unto the LORD our God for us, that he will save us out of the hand of the Philistines .
9 And Samuel took a sucking lamb , and offered it for a burnt offering wholly unto the LORD : and Samuel cried unto the LORD for Israel ; and the LORD heard him.
10 And as Samuel was offering up the burnt offering , the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel : but the LORD thundered with a great thunder on that day upon 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, until they came under Bethcar .
12 Then Samuel took a stone , and set it between Mizpeh and Shen , and called the name of it Ebenezer , saying , Hitherto hath the LORD helped us.
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 days of Samuel .
14 And the cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel , from Ekron even unto Gath ; and the coasts thereof did Israel deliver out of the hands 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 from year to year in circuit to Bethel , and Gilgal , and Mizpeh , and judged Israel in all those places .
17 And his return was to Ramah ; for there was his house ; and there he judged Israel ; and there he built an altar unto the LORD .