1 The men of Kiriath Jearim came, and fetched up the ark of Yahweh, and brought it into the house of Abinadab in the hill, and sanctified Eleazar his son to keep the ark of Yahweh. 2 It happened, from the day that the ark stayed in Kiriath Jearim, that the time was long; for it was twenty years: and all the house of Israel lamented after Yahweh. 3 Samuel spoke to all the house of Israel, saying, "If you do return to Yahweh with all your heart, then put away the foreign gods and the Ashtaroth from among you, and direct your hearts to Yahweh, and serve him only; and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines." 4 Then the children of Israel did put away the Baals and the Ashtaroth, and served Yahweh only. 5 Samuel said, "Gather all Israel to Mizpah, and I will pray for you to Yahweh." 6 They gathered together to Mizpah, and drew water, and poured it out before Yahweh, and fasted on that day, and said there, "We have sinned against Yahweh." Samuel judged the children of Israel in Mizpah. 7 When the Philistines heard that the children of Israel were gathered together at Mizpah, the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. When the children of Israel heard it, they were afraid of the Philistines. 8 The children of Israel said to Samuel, "Don't cease to cry to Yahweh our God for us, that he will save us out of the hand of the Philistines." 9 Samuel took a suckling lamb, and offered it for a whole burnt offering to Yahweh: and Samuel cried to Yahweh for Israel; and Yahweh answered him. 10 As Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel; but Yahweh thundered with a great thunder on that day on the Philistines, and confused them; and they were struck down before Israel. 11 The men of Israel went out of Mizpah, and pursued the Philistines, and struck them, until they came under Beth Kar. 12 Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpah and Shen, and called its name Ebenezer, saying, "Yahweh helped us until now." 13 So the Philistines were subdued, and they came no more within the border of Israel. The hand of Yahweh was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel. 14 The cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron even to Gath; and its border did Israel deliver out of the hand of the Philistines. There was peace between Israel and the Amorites. 15 Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life. 16 He went from year to year in circuit to Bethel and Gilgal, and Mizpah; and he judged Israel in all those places. 17 His return was to Ramah, for there was his house; and there he judged Israel: and he built there an altar to Yahweh.
The men of Kirjah-jearim bring the ark from Beth-shemesh, and consecrate Eleazar, the son of Abinadab, to keep it; and there it continued twenty years, 1-Samuel 7:1, 1-Samuel 7:2. Samuel reproves and exhorts the people, and gathers them together at Mizpeh, where they fast and pray, and confess their sins, 1-Samuel 7:3-6. The Philistines go up against them; the Israelites cry unto the Lord for help; Samuel offers sacrifices; and the Lord confounds the Philistines with thunder; Israel discomfits and pursues them to Beth-car, 1-Samuel 7:7-11. Samuel erects a stone for a memorial, and calls it Eben-ezer, 1-Samuel 7:12. The Philistines are totally subdued, and Israel recovers all its lost cities, 1-Samuel 7:13, 1-Samuel 7:14. Samuel acts as an itinerant judge in Israel, 1-Samuel 7:15-17.
INTRODUCTION TO FIRST SAMUEL 7
This chapter gives an account of the ark being brought to Kirjathjearim, where it continued twenty years, 1-Samuel 7:1 of the exhortation of Samuel to the people of Israel to reform from idolatry, and which had its desired effect, 1-Samuel 7:3 of Samuel's praying for the people, and offering sacrifices for them, and of the success thereof, victory over their enemies, 1-Samuel 7:5, and of his administration of justice to them, and constancy in it, 1-Samuel 7:15.
(1-Samuel 7:1-4) The ark removed to Kirjath-jearim.
(1-Samuel 7:5, 1-Samuel 7:6) The Israelites solemnly repent.
(1-Samuel 7:7-12) The Lord discomfits the Philistines.
(1-Samuel 7:13-17) They are subdued, Samuel judges Israel.
*More commentary available by clicking individual verses.