1 And the men of Kiriathjearim came and set up the ark of the LORD, and brought it unto the house of Abinadab in Gibeah and sanctified Eleazar his son to wait upon the ark of the LORD.
2 And while the ark abode in Kiriathjearim, the days multiplied, that it was twenty years, and all Israel lamented after the LORD.
3 And Samuel spake unto all Israel, saying, "If ye be come again unto the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods from among you, and Ashtaroth, and prepare your hearts unto the LORD and serve him alone; and so shall he rid you out of the hands of the Philistines."
4 And then the children of Israel did put away Baalim and Ashtaroth, and served the LORD only.
5 Then said Samuel, "Gather all Israel to Mizpeh, that I may pray for you unto the LORD."
6 And they gathered together to Mizpeh, and drew water and poured it out before the LORD and fasted the same day, and said there, "We have sinned against the LORD." And Samuel judged the causes of the children of Israel in Mizpeh.
7 When the Philistines heard that the children of Israel were gathered together to Mizpeh, the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. And when the children of Israel heard that, they were afraid of the Philistines,
8 and said to Samuel, "Cease not to cry unto the LORD our God for us, that he may save us out of the hands of the Philistines."
9 And Samuel took a sucking lamb and offered it altogether for a burnt offering unto the LORD, and cried unto the LORD for Israel. And the LORD heard him.
10 And as Samuel offered the burnt offering, the Philistines came to fight against Israel. But the LORD thundered a great thunder the same day upon the Philistines, and turmoiled them, that they were beaten before Israel.
11 And the men of Israel issued out of Mizpeh and pursued the Philistines and slew them, until they came under Bethcar.
12 And then Samuel took a stone and pitched it between Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name thereof the stone of help, saying, "Thus far hath the LORD helped us."
13 And so the Philistines were brought under, that they came no more into the coasts of Israel: for the hand of the LORD was upon the Philistines all the days of Samuel.
14 Thereto, the cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel came again to Israel, even from Ekron to Gath, with the coasts of the same, which Israel plucked out of the hands of the Philistines. For there was peace between Israel and the Amorites.