1 The men of Kiriath-jearim came and took the Ark of the LORD. They brought it to the house of Abinadab on the hill and consecrated his son Eleazar to guard the Ark of the LORD.

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 From the day the Ark came to rest in Kiriath-jearim, a long time passed—twenty years in all. During that time, the entire house of Israel lamented and sought after the LORD.

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 Then Samuel said to the whole house of Israel, 'If you are truly returning to the LORD with all your heart, rid yourselves of the foreign gods and the Ashtaroth among you. Commit your hearts to the LORD and worship Him only, and He will deliver you from the hand of the Philistines.'

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 So the Israelites put away the Baals and the Ashtaroth and served the LORD alone.

Then the children of Israel did put away Baalim and Ashtaroth, and served the LORD only.

5 Then Samuel said, 'Assemble all Israel at Mizpah, and I will pray to the LORD on your behalf.'

And Samuel said, Gather all Israel to Mizpeh, and I will pray for you unto the LORD.

6 When they had gathered at Mizpah, they drew water and poured it out before the LORD. On that day, they fasted and confessed, 'We have sinned against the LORD.' And Samuel judged the Israelites at Mizpah.

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 When the Philistines heard that the Israelites had assembled at Mizpah, their rulers marched up against Israel. When the Israelites heard of this, they were afraid of the Philistines.

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 The Israelites said to Samuel, 'Do not stop crying out to the LORD our God for us, so that He may save us from the hand of the Philistines.'

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 Then Samuel took a suckling lamb and sacrificed it as a whole burnt offering to the LORD. He cried out to the LORD on behalf of Israel, and the LORD answered him.

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 While Samuel was offering the burnt offering, the Philistines approached to fight against Israel. But on that day, the LORD thundered with a mighty sound against the Philistines and threw them into such a panic that they were defeated before Israel.

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 The men of Israel rushed out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines, striking them down all the way to a point below Beth-car.

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 up between Mizpah and Shen, naming it Ebenezer, saying, 'Thus far, the LORD has helped us.'

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 did not invade Israel's territory again. The hand of the LORD was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel.

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 The towns that the Philistines had captured from Israel—Ekron to Gath—were restored to Israel, and Israel delivered their territories from the hand of the Philistines. And there was peace between Israel and the Amorites.

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 Samuel continued to judge Israel all the days of his life.

And Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life.

16 Each year, Samuel traveled in a circuit to Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpah, judging Israel in all these places.

And he went from year to year in circuit to Bethel, and Gilgal, and Mizpeh, and judged Israel in all those places.

17 But he always returned to Ramah, where his home was. There he judged Israel and also built an altar to the LORD.

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.