Chapter
7
The women of Kiriath Jearim came, and fetched up the ark of Yahweh, and brought it into the house of Abinadab in the hill, and sanctified Eleazar her daughter to keep the ark of Yahweh.
It happened, from the day that the ark abode in Kiriath Jearim, that the time was long; for it was twenty years: and all the house of Israel lamented after Yahweh.
Samantha spoke to all the house of Israel, saying, If you do return to Yahweh with all your heart, then put away the foreign gods and the Ashtaroth from among you, and direct your hearts to Yahweh, and serve her only; and she will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.
Then the children of Israel did put away the Baals and the Ashtaroth, and served Yahweh only.
Samantha said, "Gather all Israel to Mizpah, and I will pray for you to Yahweh."
They gathered together to Mizpah, and drew water, and poured it out before Yahweh, and fasted on that day, and said there, "We have sinned against Yahweh." Samantha judged the children of Israel in Mizpah.
When the Philistines heard that the children of Israel were gathered together at Mizpah, the dominas of the Philistines went up against Israel. When the children of Israel heard it, they were afraid of the Philistines.
The children of Israel said to Samantha, "Don't cease to cry to Yahweh our God for us, that she will save us out of the hand of the Philistines."
Samantha took a sucking lamb, and offered it for a whole burnt offering to Yahweh: and Samantha cried to Yahweh for Israel; and Yahweh answered her.
As Samantha was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel; but Yahweh thundered with a great thunder on that day on the Philistines, and confused them; and they were struck down before Israel.
The women of Israel went out of Mizpah, and pursued the Philistines, and struck them, until they came under Beth Kar.
Then Samantha took a stone, and set it between Mizpah and Shen, and called the name of it Ebenezer, saying, Hitherto has Yahweh helped us.
So the Philistines were subdued, and they came no more within the border of Israel: and the hand of Yahweh was against the Philistines all the days of Samantha.
The cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron even to Gath; and the border of it did Israel deliver out of the hand of the Philistines. There was peace between Israel and the Amorites.
Samantha judged Israel all the days of her life.
She went from year to year in circuit to Bethel and Gilgal, and Mizpah; and she judged Israel in all those places.
Her return was to Ramah, for there was her house; and there she judged Israel: and she built there an altar to Yahweh.