Samuel Subdues the Philistines
Then the men of Kiriath-jearim came for the ark of the LORD and took it into Abinadab’s house on the hill. And they consecrated his son Eleazar to guard the ark of the LORD. 2Sa 6:2-41Ch 13:5-71Sa 6:21Isa 52:11Jos 18:14Psa 132:6
And from that day a long time passed, twenty years in all, as the ark remained at Kiriath-jearim. And all the house of Israel mourned and sought after the LORD. 2Co 7:10-11Jdg 2:4Jer 3:13Jer 3:22-25Jer 31:9Mat 5:4Zec 12:10-11
Then Samuel said to all the house of Israel, “If you are returning to the LORD with all your hearts, then rid yourselves of the foreign gods and Ashtoreths among you, prepare your hearts for the LORD, and serve Him only. And He will deliver you from the hand of the Philistines.” Luk 4:8Deu 13:4Mat 4:10Deu 6:13Isa 55:7Jos 24:14Jhn 4:24Deu 10:20
So the Israelites put away the Baals and Ashtoreths and served only the LORD. Hos 14:8Hos 14:31Ki 11:33Jdg 10:15-16Jdg 2:11Jdg 2:13
Then Samuel said, “Gather all Israel to Mizpah, and I will pray to the LORD on your behalf.” Jdg 20:11Sa 12:231Sa 10:171Sa 7:121Sa 7:162Ki 25:23Jol 2:16Jos 15:38
When they had gathered at Mizpah, they drew water and poured it out before the LORD. On that day they fasted, and there they confessed, “We have sinned against the LORD.” And Samuel judged 1the Israelites at Mizpah. 1Sa 1:152Sa 14:14Jdg 10:10Jer 9:1Jol 2:12Psa 106:6Psa 62:81Ki 8:47
When the Philistines heard that the Israelites had gathered at Mizpah, their rulers marched up toward Israel. And when the Israelites learned of this, they feared the Philistines 1Sa 17:111Sa 13:62Ch 20:3Exo 14:10 and said to Samuel, “Do not stop crying out to the LORD our God for us, that He may save us from the hand of the Philistines.” Isa 37:41Sa 12:19-24Jas 5:16Isa 62:1Isa 62:6-7
Then Samuel took a suckling lamb and offered it as a whole burnt offering to the LORD. He cried out to the LORD on behalf of Israel, and the LORD answered him. Jer 15:1Psa 99:61Sa 7:17Psa 50:151Sa 16:2Jas 5:161Ki 18:30-381Sa 10:8 As the Philistines drew near to fight against Israel, Samuel was sacrificing the burnt offering. But that day the LORD thundered loudly against the Philistines and threw them into such confusion that they fled before Israel. 1Sa 2:101Sa 12:172Sa 22:14-15Jdg 5:20Jos 10:10Deu 20:3-4Zec 4:6Exo 9:23-25
Then the men of Israel charged out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines, striking them down all the way to an area below Beth-car.
Afterward, Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. 2 He named it Ebenezer, 3 saying, “Thus far the LORD has helped us.” 2Co 1:10Jos 4:9Act 26:22Gen 22:14Gen 35:141Sa 5:1Isa 46:3-4Gen 31:45-52
So the Philistines were subdued, and they stopped invading the territory of Israel. And the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel. Jdg 13:11Sa 17:49-531Sa 13:1-51Sa 14:20-231Sa 14:6-161Sa 28:3-51Sa 31:1-7Jdg 13:5 The cities from Ekron to Gath, which the Philistines had taken, were restored to Israel, who also delivered the surrounding territory from the hand of the Philistines. And there was peace between the Israelites and the Amorites. Psa 106:34Deu 7:16Deu 7:2Jdg 4:17
So Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life. 1Sa 7:6Act 13:20-21Jdg 2:161Sa 12:11Sa 12:111Sa 25:1Jdg 3:10-11 Every year he would go on a circuit from Bethel to Gilgal to Mizpah, judging Israel in all these places. Jdg 10:4Jdg 12:14Jdg 5:10Psa 75:2Psa 82:3-4 Then he would return to Ramah because his home was there, and there he judged Israel and built an altar to the LORD. 1Sa 1:191Sa 1:11Sa 8:41Ki 18:30-361Sa 11:151Sa 19:18-23Gen 33:20Gen 35:7