1 Samuel 7

And the men of Kirjath-Jearim came, took up the ark of the LORD and brought it into the house of Abinadab on the hill, and set apart Eleazar his son to keep the ark of the LORD.

Dedication of the people at Mizpah, and the defeat of the Philistines

2 And it happened that the ark stayed in Kirjath-Jearim for a long time, for it was twenty years. And all the house of Israel mourned and sought the LORD.

7:2 The ark was not removed from Kiriath Jearim until after David became king, more than 20 years after this. The 20 years here probably takes the story forward to the time of repentance indicated by v 4.⚜

3 And Samuel spoke to the whole house of Israel, saying, “If you return to the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts for the LORD and serve him only. Then he will deliver you out of the hands of the Philistines”.

7:3 They who seek the Lord must be willing to put away those things which displease Him. Otherwise they will get nowhere. Observe that though Israel sought the Lord they still had their idols of other gods. Compare Josh 24:14-15; Jud 2:11-13.⚜

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

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

7:5 Because they were willing to put away false gods Samuel was able to intercede for them and lead them further into fuller repentance and spiritual life. Samuel was the great intercessor for God’s people in those days (1 Sam 7:8-9; 8:6; 12:17-19, 23; 15:11; Ps 99:6; Jer 15:1).⚜

6 And 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 in Mizpeh.

7 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. 8 And the children of Israel said to Samuel, “Do not stop crying out to the LORD our God for us, that he will save us out of the hands of the Philistines”. 9 And Samuel took a sucking lamb and offered it as a whole burnt offering to the LORD. And Samuel cried out 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 battle against Israel. But on that day the LORD thundered with a great thunder on the Philistines and routed them; and they were struck down before Israel. 11 And the men of Israel went out of Mizpeh and pursued the Philistines and struck them down until they came below Beth-Car.

12 Then Samuel took a stone and set it between Mizpeh and Shen, and called its name Ebenezer, saying, “Thus far the LORD has helped us”. 13 So the Philistines were subdued, and they did not come any more into the territory of Israel. And the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel. 14 And the cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron to Gath, and Israel freed their territories from the hands of the Philistines. And there was peace between Israel and the Amorites.

7:14 Victory and peace were a result of repentance and faith (vs 4,6).⚜

15 And Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life. 16 And he went from year to year in circuit to Bethel and Gilgal and Mizpeh, and judged Israel in all those places. 17 Then he would return to Ramah, for his house was there, and he judged Israel there, and there he built an altar to the LORD.