Samuel Subdues the Philistines 1 ULT And the men of Kiriath Jearim came and lifted up the Box of Yahweh and brought it to the house of Abinadab on the hill. And they consecrated Eleazar his son to keep the Box of Yahweh. BSB BSB: Then the men of Kiriath-jearim came for the ark of the LORD and took it into Abinadab’s house on the hill. And they consecrated his son Eleazar to guard the ark of the LORD.
2 ULT And it happened from the day of the dwelling of the Box in Kiriath Jearim that the days were many, and they were 20 years. And all of the house of Israel lamented after Yahweh. BSB BSB: And from that day a long time passed, twenty years in all, as the ark remained at Kiriath-jearim. And all the house of Israel mournfully sought the LORD.
3 ULT And Samuel spoke to all of the house of Israel, saying“If with all of your heart you are returning to Yahweh, remove the gods of the foreigner and the Ashtoreths from your midst and direct your heart toward Yahweh and serve him alone, and he will deliver you from the hand of the Philistines.” BSB BSB: Then Samuel said to all the house of Israel, “If you are returning to the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the foreign gods and Ashtoreths among you, prepare your hearts for the LORD, and serve Him only. And He will deliver you from the hand of the Philistines.”
4 ULT And the sons of Israel removed the Baals and the Ashtoreths, and they served Yahweh alone. BSB BSB: So the Israelites put away the Baals and Ashtoreths and served only the LORD.
5 ULT And Samuel said,“Gather all of Israel to Mizpah, and I will pray for you to Yahweh.” BSB BSB: Then Samuel said, “Gather all Israel to Mizpah, and I will pray to the LORD on your behalf.”
6 ULT And they gathered at Mizpah, and they drew water and poured{ it} to the face of Yahweh. And they fasted on that day, and they said there,“We have sinned against Yahweh.” And Samuel judged the sons of Israel at Mizpah. BSB BSB: When they had gathered at Mizpah, they drew water and poured it out before the LORD. On that day they fasted, and there they confessed, “We have sinned against the LORD.” And Samuel judged the Israelites at Mizpah.
7 ULT And the Philistines heard that the sons of Israel had gathered themselves at Mizpah, and the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. And the sons of Israel heard, and they feared from the face of the Philistines. BSB BSB: When the Philistines heard that the Israelites had gathered at Mizpah, their rulers marched up toward Israel. And when the Israelites learned of this, they feared the Philistines
8 ULT And the sons of Israel said to Samuel,“Do not cease from crying out for us to Yahweh our God, and may he save us from the hand of the Philistines!” BSB BSB: and said to Samuel, “Do not stop crying out to the LORD our God for us, that He may save us from the hand of the Philistines.”
9 ULT And Samuel took a lamb of milk, and he offered it, a whole burnt offering to Yahweh. And Samuel cried out to Yahweh for Israel, and Yahweh answered him. BSB BSB: Then Samuel took a suckling lamb and offered it as a whole burnt offering to the LORD. He cried out to the LORD on behalf of Israel, and the LORD answered him.
10 ULT And Samuel was offering the burnt offering, and the Philistines approached for battle with Israel. And Yahweh thundered with a great sound on that day against the Philistines, and he panicked them, and they were struck to the face of Israel. BSB BSB: As the Philistines drew near to fight against Israel, Samuel was offering up the burnt offering. But that day the LORD thundered loudly against the Philistines and threw them into such confusion that they fled before Israel.
11 ULT For the men of Israel went out from Mizpah, and they pursued the Philistines, and they struck them unto below Beth Kar. BSB BSB: Then the men of Israel charged out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines, striking them down all the way to an area below Beth-car.
12 ULT And Samuel took a stone and set{ it} up between Mizpah and between Shen. And he called its name Ebenezer, for he said,“Unto here has Yahweh helped us.” BSB BSB: Afterward, Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, “Thus far the LORD has helped us.”
13 ULT So the Philistines were subdued, and they did not resume again to enter into the border of Israel. And the hand of Yahweh was against the Philistines all of the days of Samuel. BSB BSB: So the Philistines were subdued, and they stopped invading the territory of Israel. And the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel.
14 ULT And the cities that the Philistines had taken from Israel returned to Israel, from Ekron and unto Gath, and Israel delivered their border from the hand of the Philistines. And peace was between Israel and between the Amorite. BSB BSB: The cities from Ekron to Gath, which the Philistines had taken, were restored to Israel, who also delivered the surrounding territory from the hand of the Philistines. And there was peace between the Israelites and the Amorites.
15 ULT And Samuel judged Israel all of the days of his life. BSB BSB: So Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life.
16 ULT And he went according to year by year and went around Bethel and Gilgal and Mizpah, and he judged Israel{ in} all of those places. BSB BSB: Every year he would go on a circuit from Bethel to Gilgal to Mizpah, judging Israel in all these places.
17 ULT And his return was to Ramah, for his house was there, and there he judged Israel. And he built an altar there to Yahweh. BSB BSB: Then he would return to Ramah because his home was there, and there he judged Israel and built an altar to the LORD.
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