1 ¶ So the men of Kirjathjearim came, and took the ark of the LORD, and brought it into the house of Abinadab on the hill, and set apart Eleazar his son to care for the ark of the LORD.

2 And the ark remained in Kirjathjearim for a long time; and after it was there for twenty years: all the house of Israel began to seek the LORD.

3 ¶ Then Samuel said to all the house of Israel, If you are returning to the LORD with all your hearts, then get rid of the strange gods and Ashtaroth among you, and direct your hearts to the LORD, and serve him alone: and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.

4 Then the children of Israel put away the Baals and Ashtaroth, and served the LORD alone.

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

6 So they gathered together at 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 at Mizpeh.

7 ¶ Now when the Philistines heard that the children of Israel had gathered together at Mizpeh, the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. And when the children of Israel heard, they were afraid of the Philistines.

8 And the children of Israel said to Samuel, Do not cease to cry to the LORD our God for us, that he will save us out of the hand of the Philistines.

9 So Samuel took a suckling lamb, and offered it as a burnt offering to the LORD: and Samuel cried to the LORD for Israel; and the LORD heard him.

10 And as Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to attack Israel: but the LORD thundered with a great voice on that day against the Philistines, and threw them into confusion; and they were defeated by Israel.

11 And the men of Israel went out of Mizpeh, and pursued the Philistines, striking them down, until they came to a place below Bethcar.

12 Then Samuel took a stone, and placed it between Mizpeh and Shen, and named it Ebenezer, saying, Hitherto the LORD has helped us.

13 ¶ So the Philistines were defeated, and they did not invade the territory of Israel again: and the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel.

14 And the cities that the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron to Gath; and Israel recovered their territory from the hands of the Philistines. And there was peace between Israel and the Amorites.

15 And Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life.

16 And each year he traveled in a circuit to Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpeh, and judged Israel in all those places.

17 Then he would return to Ramah; for his home was there; and there he judged Israel; and there he built an altar to the LORD.