1 Samuel 7

1 And the men of Kirjath-jearim came, and fetched up the ark of the LORD, and brought it into the house of Abinadab in the hill, and sanctified Eleazar his son to keep the ark of the LORD. 2 And 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 the LORD.

3 And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying, If ye do return unto the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts unto the LORD, and serve him only: and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines. 4 Then the children of Israel did put away Baalim and Ashtaroth, and served the LORD only. 5 And Samuel said, Gather all Israel to Mizpeh, and I will 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 on that day, and said there, We have sinned against the LORD. And Samuel judged the children of Israel in Mizpeh.

7 And 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 it, they were afraid of the Philistines. 8 And the children of Israel said to Samuel, Cease not to cry unto the LORD our God for us, that he will save us out of the hand of the Philistines.*7.8 Cease…: Heb. Be not silent from us from crying

9 And Samuel took a sucking lamb, and offered it for a burnt offering wholly unto the LORD: and Samuel cried unto the LORD for Israel; and the LORD heard him.*7.9 heard: or, answered 10 And as Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel: but the LORD thundered with a great thunder on that day upon the Philistines, and discomfited them; and they were smitten before Israel. 11 And the men of Israel went out of Mizpeh, and pursued the Philistines, and smote them, until they came under Beth-car. 12 Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it Eben-ezer, saying, Hitherto hath the LORD helped us.*7.12 Eben-ezer: that is, The stone of help

13 So the Philistines were subdued, and they came no more into the coast of Israel: and the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel. 14 And 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. 15 And Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life. 16 And he went from year to year in circuit to Beth-el, and Gilgal, and Mizpeh, and judged Israel in all those places.*7.16 in circuit: Heb. and he circuited 17 And his return was to Ramah; for there was his house; and there he judged Israel; and there he built an altar unto the LORD.

1 Então vieram os homens de Quiriate-Jearim, e levaram a arca do Senhor, e a trouxeram à casa de Abinadabe, no outeiro; e consagraram a Eleazar, seu filho, para que guardasse a arca do Senhor.

Samuel conclama ao arrependimento

2 E sucedeu que, desde aquele dia, a arca ficou em Quiriate-Jearim, e tantos dias se passaram que até chegaram vinte anos, e lamentava toda a casa de Israel pelo Senhor.

3 Então falou Samuel a toda a casa de Israel, dizendo: Se com todo o vosso coração vos converterdes ao Senhor, tirai dentre vós os deuses estranhos e os astarotes, e preparai o vosso coração ao Senhor, e servi a ele só, e vos livrará da mão dos filisteus.

4 Então os filhos de Israel tiraram dentre si aos baalins e aos astarotes, e serviram só ao Senhor.

Os filisteus são derrotados

5 Disse mais Samuel: Congregai a todo o Israel em Mizpá; e orarei por vós ao Senhor.

6 E congregaram-se em Mizpá, e tiraram água, e a derramaram perante o Senhor, e jejuaram aquele dia, e disseram ali: Pecamos contra o Senhor. E julgava Samuel os filhos de Israel em Mizpá.

7 Ouvindo, pois, os filisteus que os filhos de Israel estavam congregados em Mizpá, subiram os maiorais dos filisteus contra Israel; o que ouvindo os filhos de Israel, temeram por causa dos filisteus. 8 Por isso disseram os filhos de Israel a Samuel: Não cesses de clamar ao Senhor nosso Deus por nós, para que nos livre da mão dos filisteus.

9 Então tomou Samuel um cordeiro de mama, e sacrificou-o inteiro em holocausto ao Senhor; e clamou Samuel ao Senhor por Israel, e o Senhor lhe deu ouvidos. 10 E sucedeu que, estando Samuel sacrificando o holocausto, os filisteus chegaram à peleja contra Israel; e trovejou o Senhor aquele dia com grande estrondo sobre os filisteus, e os confundiu de tal modo que foram derrotados diante dos filhos de Israel. 11 E os homens de Israel saíram de Mizpá; e perseguiram os filisteus, e os feriram até abaixo de Bete-Car.

12 Então tomou Samuel uma pedra, e a pôs entre Mizpá e Sem, e chamou o nome dela Ebenézer; e disse: Até aqui nos ajudou o Senhor.

13 Assim os filisteus foram abatidos, e nunca mais vieram aos termos de Israel, porquanto foi a mão do Senhor contra os filisteus todos os dias de Samuel. 14 E as cidades que os filisteus tinham tomado a Israel foram restituídas a Israel, desde Ecrom até Gate, e até os seus termos Israel arrebatou da mão dos filisteus; e houve paz entre Israel e entre os amorreus.

15 E Samuel julgou a Israel todos os dias da sua vida. 16 E ia de ano em ano, e rodeava a Betel, e a Gilgal, e a Mizpá, e julgava a Israel em todos aqueles lugares. 17 Porém voltava a Ramá, porque estava ali a sua casa, e ali julgava a Israel; e edificou ali um altar ao Senhor.