| New King James Version | NET Bible |
| 1Then the men of Kirjath Jearim came and took the ark of the LORD, and brought it into the house of Abinadab on the hill, and consecrated Eleazar his son to keep 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. |
| 2So it was that the ark remained in Kirjath Jearim a long time; it was there twenty years. And all the house of Israel lamented after 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. |
| 3Then Samuel spoke to all the house of Israel, saying, “If you return to the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the foreign gods and the Ashtoreths from among you, and prepare your hearts for the LORD, and serve Him only; and He will deliver you from 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 children of Israel put away the Baals and the Ashtoreths, and served the LORD only. | 4So the Israelites removed the Baals and images of Ashtoreth. They served only the LORD. |
| 5And Samuel said, “Gather all Israel to Mizpah, and I will pray to the LORD for you.” | 5Then Samuel said, "Gather all Israel to Mizpah, and I will pray to the LORD on your behalf." |
| 6So they gathered together at Mizpah, drew water, and poured it out before the LORD. And they fasted that day, and said there, “We have sinned against the LORD.” And Samuel judged the children 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. |
| 7Now when the Philistines heard that the children of Israel had gathered together at Mizpah, the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. And when the children of Israel heard of it, they were afraid 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. |
| 8So the children of Israel said to Samuel, “Do not cease to cry out to the LORD our God for us, that He may save 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!" |
| 9And Samuel took a suckling lamb and offered it as a whole burnt offering to the LORD. Then Samuel cried out to the LORD for Israel, 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. |
| 10Now as Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel. But the LORD thundered with a loud thunder upon the Philistines that day, and so confused them that they were overcome before Israel. | 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. |
| 11And the men of Israel went out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines, and drove them back as far as below Beth Car. | 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, and called its name 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 did not come anymore into the territory of Israel. And the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel. | 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. |
| 14Then the cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron to Gath; and Israel recovered its territory from the hands of the Philistines. Also 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. |
| 15And Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life. | 15So Samuel led Israel all the days of his life. |
| 16He went from year to year on a circuit to Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpah, and judged 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 returned to Ramah, for his home was there. There he judged Israel, and there he built an altar 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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