1Samuel:7

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* Then the men of Kirjath Jearim came and took the ark of the LORD , and brought it into the house of Abinadab on the hill , and consecrated Eleazar his son to keep the ark of the LORD . * So it was that the ark remained in Kirjath Jearim a long time ; it was there twenty years . And all the house of Israel lamented after the LORD . * Then Samuel spoke to all the house of Israel , saying , "If you return to the LORD with all your hearts , then put away the foreign gods and the Ashtoreths from among you , and prepare your hearts for the LORD , and serve Him only ; and He will deliver you from the hand of the Philistines ." * So the children of Israel put away the Baals and the Ashtoreths , and served the LORD only . * And Samuel said , "Gather all Israel to Mizpah , and I will pray to the LORD for you ." * So they gathered together at Mizpah , drew water , and poured it out before the LORD . And they fasted that day , and said there , "We have sinned against the LORD ." And Samuel judged the children of Israel at Mizpah . * Now when the Philistines heard that the children of Israel had gathered together at Mizpah , the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel . And when the children of Israel heard of it , they were afraid of the Philistines . * So the children of Israel said to Samuel , "Do not cease to cry out to the LORD our God for us , that He may save us from the hand of the Philistines ." * And Samuel took a suckling lamb and offered it as a whole burnt offering to the LORD . Then Samuel cried out to the LORD for Israel , and the LORD answered him . * Now as Samuel was offering up the burnt offering , the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel . But the LORD thundered with a loud thunder upon the Philistines that day , and so confused them that they were overcome before Israel . * And the men of Israel went out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines , and drove them back as far as below Beth Car . * Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen , and called its name Ebenezer , saying , "Thus far the LORD has helped us ." * So the Philistines were subdued , and they did not come anymore into the territory of Israel . And the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel . * Then the cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel , from Ekron to Gath ; and Israel recovered its territory from the hands of the Philistines . Also there was peace between Israel and the Amorites . * And Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life . * He went from year to year on a circuit to Bethel , Gilgal , and Mizpah , and judged Israel in all those places . * But he always returned to Ramah , for his home was there . There he judged Israel , and there he built an altar to the LORD .

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