1And the men of Kirjath-jearim came, and fetched up the ark of יהוה, and brought it into the house of Abinadab in the hill, and sanctified Eleazar his son to keep the ark of יהוה. 2And it came to pass, while the ark abode in Kirjath-jearim, that the time was long; for it was twenty years: and all the house of Israel lamented after יהוה. 3And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying, If ye do return unto יהוה with all your hearts, then put away the strangeelohim and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts unto יהוה, and serve him only: and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines. 4Then the children of Israel did put away Baalim and Ashtaroth, and served יהוה only. 5And Samuel said, Gather all Israel to Mizpeh, and I will pray for you unto יהוה. 6And they gathered together to Mizpeh, and drew water, and poured it out before יהוה, and fasted on that day, and said there, We have sinned against יהוה. And Samuel judged the children of Israel in Mizpeh. 7And when the Philistines heard that the children of Israel were gathered together to Mizpeh, rulers of the Philistines went up against Israel. And when the children of Israel heard it, they were afraid of the Philistines. 8And the children of Israel said to Samuel, Cease not to cry unto יהוה our Elohim for us, that he will save us out of the hand of the Philistines. 9And Samuel took a sucking lamb, and offered it for a burnt offering wholly unto יהוה: and Samuel cried unto יהוה for Israel; and יהוה heard him. 10And as Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel: but יהוה thundered with a great thunder on that day upon the Philistines, and discomfited them; and they were smitten before Israel. 11And the men of Israel went out of Mizpeh, and pursued the Philistines, and smote them, until they came under Beth-car. 12Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it Eben-ezer, saying, Hitherto hath יהוה helped us. 13So the Philistines were subdued, and they came no more into the coast of Israel: and the hand of יהוה 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 unto Gath; and the coasts thereof did Israel deliver out of the hands of the Philistines. And there was peace between Israel and the Amorites. 15And Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life. 16And he went from year to year in circuit to Bethel, and Gilgal, and Mizpeh, and judged Israel in all those places. 17And his return was to Ramah; for there was his house; and there he judged Israel; and there he built an altar unto יהוה.