Mennene fra Kirjat-Jearim kom og hentet Herrens ark og brakte den til huset til Abinadab oppe på haugen. De helliggjorde Eleasar, hans sønn, til å vokte Herrens ark.

And the men of Kirjath-jearim 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.

Mens arken ble værende i Kirjat-Jearim, gikk det lang tid, hele tjue år. Hele Israels hus sørget og lengtet etter Herren.

And it came to pass, while the ark abode in Kirjath-jearim, that the time was long; for it was twenty years: and all the house of Israel lamented after the LORD.

Samuel talte til hele Israels hus og sa: Om dere vil vende tilbake til Herren av hele hjertet, så fjern de fremmede gudene og Astarte-bildene fra blant dere, og vend deres hjerter til Herren og tjen ham alene. Da vil han fri dere fra filisternes hånd.

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.

Israels barn fjernet da Baal- og Astarte-gudene, og de tjente Herren alene.

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

Samuel sa: Samle hele Israel til Mispa, så skal jeg be til Herren for dere.

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

De samlet seg i Mispa, øste vann og helte det ut for Herren, fastet den dagen og sa der: Vi har syndet mot Herren. Og Samuel dømte Israels barn i Mispa.

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.

Da filistrene hørte at Israels barn var samlet i Mispa, dro filistrenes herrer opp mot Israel. Da Israels barn hørte dette, ble de redde for filistrene.

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.

Israels barn sa til Samuel: Hold ikke opp med å rope til Herren vår Gud for oss, så han kan redde oss fra filistrenes hånd.

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.

Samuel tok et diende lam og ofret det som et brennoffer, fullstendig for Herren. Samuel ropte til Herren for Israel, og Herren hørte ham.

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.

Mens Samuel ofret brennofferet, nærmet filistrene seg for å kjempe mot Israel. Men Herren tordnet med stor torden den dagen over filistrene og drev dem i forvirring, og de ble slått for 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.

Israels menn dro ut fra Mispa, forfulgte filistrene og slo dem inntil de kom under Bet-Kar.

And the men of Israel went out of Mizpeh, and pursued the Philistines, and smote them, until they came under Beth-car.

Samuel tok en stein og satte den mellom Mispa og Sen, og kalte den Eben-Eser, og sa: Hittil har Herren hjulpet oss.

Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it Eben-ezer, saying, Hitherto hath the LORD helped us.

Så ble filistrene underlagt, og de kom ikke mer inn i Israels område. Herrens hånd var mot filistrene alle Samuels dager.

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.

Byene som filistrene hadde tatt fra Israel, ble tilbakeført til Israel, fra Ekron til Gat. Israel frigjorde området fra filistrenes hånd, og det var fred mellom Israel og amorittene.

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.

Samuel dømte Israel alle sitt livs dager.

And Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life.

Han reiste hvert år rundt til Betel, Gilgal og Mispa og dømte Israel på alle disse stedene.

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

Han vendte tilbake til Rama, for der bodde han, og der dømte han Israel. Der bygde han også et alter for Herren.

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.