Samuel Judges Israel

3Then Samuel spoke to all the house of Israel, saying, “If you are to return to Yahweh with all your heart, then remove the foreign gods and the Ashtaroth from among you and set your hearts toward Yahweh and serve Him alone; and He will deliver you from the hand of the Philistines.” 4So the sons of Israel removed the Baals and the Ashtaroth and served Yahweh alone.

5Then Samuel said, “Gather all Israel to Mizpah, and I will pray to Yahweh for you.” 6And they gathered to Mizpah and drew water and poured it out before Yahweh and fasted on that day and said there, “We have sinned against Yahweh.” And Samuel judged the sons of Israel at Mizpah.

7Then the Philistines heard that the sons of Israel had gathered to Mizpah. And the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. Then the sons of Israel heard it and were afraid of the Philistines. 8So the sons of Israel said to Samuel, “Do not cease to cry out to Yahweh our God for us, that He may save us from the hand of the Philistines.” 9And Samuel took a suckling lamb and offered it for a whole burnt offering to Yahweh; and Samuel cried out to Yahweh for Israel, and Yahweh answered him. 10Now Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, and the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel. But Yahweh thundered with a great [†]thunder on that day against the Philistines and confused them, so that they were [†]defeated before Israel. 11So the men of Israel went out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines and struck them down as far as below Beth-car.

12Then Samuel took a stone and set it between Mizpah and Shen, and he named it [†]Ebenezer. And he said, “Thus far Yahweh has helped us.” 13So the Philistines were subdued, and they did not come anymore within the border of Israel. And the hand of Yahweh was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel. 14And the cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron even to Gath; and Israel delivered their territory from the hand of the Philistines. So there was peace between Israel and the Amorites.

15Thus Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life. 16And he used to go annually on circuit to Bethel and Gilgal and Mizpah, and he judged Israel in all these places. 17But his return would be to Ramah, for his house was there, and there he judged Israel; and he built there an altar to Yahweh.