| New International Version | NET Bible |
| 1So the men of Kiriath Jearim came and took up the ark of the LORD. They brought it to Abinadab's house on the hill and consecrated Eleazar his son to guard the ark of the LORD. | 1Then the people of Kiriath Jearim came and took the ark of the LORD; they brought it to the house of Abinadab located on the hill. They consecrated Eleazar his son to guard the ark of the LORD. |
| 2The ark remained at Kiriath Jearim a long time--twenty years in all. Then all the people of Israel turned back to the LORD. | 2It was quite a long time--some twenty years in all--that the ark stayed at Kiriath Jearim. All the people of Israel longed for the LORD. |
| 3So Samuel said to all the Israelites, "If you are returning to the LORD with all your hearts, then rid yourselves of the foreign gods and the Ashtoreths and commit yourselves to the LORD and serve him only, and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines." | 3Samuel said to all the people of Israel, "If you are really turning to the LORD with all your hearts, remove from among you the foreign gods and the images of Ashtoreth. Give your hearts to the LORD and serve only him. Then he will deliver you from the hand of the Philistines." |
| 4So the Israelites put away their Baals and Ashtoreths, and served the LORD only. | 4So the Israelites removed the Baals and images of Ashtoreth. They served only the LORD. |
| 5Then Samuel said, "Assemble all Israel at Mizpah, and I will intercede with the LORD for you." | 5Then Samuel said, "Gather all Israel to Mizpah, and I will pray to the LORD on your behalf." |
| 6When they had assembled 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." Now Samuel was serving as leader of Israel at Mizpah. | 6After they had assembled at Mizpah, they drew water and poured it out before the LORD. They fasted on that day, and they confessed there, "We have sinned against the LORD." So Samuel led the people of Israel at Mizpah. |
| 7When the Philistines heard that Israel had assembled at Mizpah, the rulers of the Philistines came up to attack them. When the Israelites heard of it, they were afraid because of the Philistines. | 7When the Philistines heard that the Israelites had gathered at Mizpah, the leaders of the Philistines went up against Israel. When the Israelites heard about this, they were afraid of the Philistines. |
| 8They said to Samuel, "Do not stop crying out to the LORD our God for us, that he may rescue us from the hand of the Philistines." | 8The Israelites said to Samuel, "Keep crying out to the LORD our God so that he may save us from the hand of the Philistines!" |
| 9Then Samuel took a suckling lamb and sacrificed it as a whole burnt offering to the LORD. He cried out to the LORD on Israel's behalf, and the LORD answered him. | 9So Samuel took a nursing lamb and offered it as a whole burnt offering to the LORD. Samuel cried out to the LORD on Israel's behalf, and the LORD answered him. |
| 10While Samuel was sacrificing the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to engage Israel in battle. But that day the LORD thundered with loud thunder against the Philistines and threw them into such a panic that they were routed before the Israelites. | 10As Samuel was offering burnt offerings, the Philistines approached to do battle with Israel. But on that day the LORD thundered loudly against the Philistines. He caused them to panic, and they were defeated by Israel. |
| 11The men of Israel rushed out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines, slaughtering them along the way to a point below Beth Kar. | 11Then the men of Israel left Mizpah and chased the Philistines, striking them down all the way to an area below Beth Car. |
| 12Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, "Thus far the LORD has helped us." | 12Samuel took a stone and placed it between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, "Up to here the LORD has helped us." |
| 13So the Philistines were subdued and they stopped invading Israel's territory. Throughout Samuel's lifetime, the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines. | 13So the Philistines were defeated; they did not invade Israel again. The hand of the LORD was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel. |
| 14The towns from Ekron to Gath that the Philistines had captured from Israel were restored to Israel, and Israel delivered the neighboring territory from the hands of the Philistines. And there was peace between Israel and the Amorites. | 14The cities that the Philistines had captured from Israel were returned to Israel, from Ekron to Gath. Israel also delivered their territory from the control of the Philistines. There was also peace between Israel and the Amorites. |
| 15Samuel continued as Israel's leader all the days of his life. | 15So Samuel led Israel all the days of his life. |
| 16From year to year he went on a circuit from Bethel to Gilgal to Mizpah, judging Israel in all those places. | 16Year after year he used to travel the circuit of Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpah; he used to judge Israel in all of these places. |
| 17But he always went back to Ramah, where his home was, and there he also held court for Israel. And he built an altar there to the LORD. | 17Then he would return to Ramah, because his home was there. He also judged Israel there and built an altar to the LORD there. |
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