1 Samuel 7

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.

The men from Kirjathjearim, filled with reverence, retrieved the sacred Ark of the Lord. They carried it uphill to Abinadab's home, entrusting and blessing his son Eleazar with the holy duty of guarding the Ark.

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.

As the sacred ark rested in Kirjathjearim, the days stretched into twenty long years. During this time, every heart in Israel ached with longing for the Lord.

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.

Samuel passionately addressed all of Israel, "If you truly want to return to God, then abandon your false idols, including Ashtaroth. Dedicate your hearts solely to God and serve Him alone. He will rescue you from the grip of the Philistines."

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

The children of Israel finally abandoned their idols, Baalim and Ashtaroth, and devoted themselves solely to serving the Lord with all their hearts.

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

Samuel urged, "Bring everyone in Israel to Mizpeh. I will plead to the LORD on your behalf."

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.

They all came together at Mizpeh, drawing and offering water to the Lord in a heartfelt act of repentance. They fasted that day, admitting their sins against the Lord. Samuel, in his wisdom, guided the people of Israel in Mizpeh.

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.

When the Philistines learned that the Israelites had assembled at Mizpeh, their leaders decided to confront Israel. Upon hearing this, fear gripped the hearts of the Israelites, terrified 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.

The people of Israel pleaded with Samuel, "Don't stop praying to our God for us. Ask Him to rescue us from the grip of the Philistines."

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.

Samuel, with a tender lamb in his arms, offered it as a complete sacrifice to the Lord. His heart heavy with emotion, he pleaded with the Lord on behalf of Israel. And the Lord, in His mercy, listened.

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.

As Samuel performed the sacred ritual, the Philistines approached, ready for war. But that day the Lord thundered mightily against them, throwing them into panic, and they were struck down before Israel.

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

The brave men of Israel, filled with determination, left Mizpeh. They chased the Philistines with relentless fury, defeating them all the way to Bethcar.

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.

Then, Samuel placed a stone between Mizpeh and Shen, naming it Ebenezer as a reminder, saying, "Up until now, the LORD has been our guide and support."

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.

The Philistines were finally tamed, never again daring to invade Israel's borders. God's firm hand was always against them during Samuel's time.

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.

The cities that the Philistines had seized from Israel were given back, from Ekron to Gath. Israel freed these lands from the Philistines' grip. Finally, there was peace between Israel and the Amorites.

And Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life.

Throughout his entire life, Samuel devotedly served as a fair and compassionate judge for Israel.

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

Year after year, he journeyed to Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpeh, carrying out justice for Israel in each place with unwavering dedication.

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.

He returned to his home in Ramah, where he served as a judge for Israel. It was there that he built a sacred altar to honor the LORD.