The House, that Eli the deceased priest built for the LORD, part ten NIV

Samuel subdues the Philistines at MIzpah 1 Samuel 7:2-16 It was a long time,twenty years that the ark remained at Kiriath Jearim, and all of the people of Israel mourned and sought after the LORD. And Samuel said to the whole house of Israel,"If you are returning to the LORD with all of your hearts, then ride your selves of the foreign gods and the Astoreths and commit yourselves to the LORD and serve him only, and he will deliver you from the Philistines. So the Israelites put away their Baals and Astoreths, and served the LORD only. Then Samuel said,"Assemble all of Israel at MIzpah, and I will intercede to the LORD for you. When they had assembled at at Mizpath, they poured water and drew it out before the LORD. On that day they fasted and there they confessed,"We have sinned against the LORD" And Samuel was the leader at Mizpah. When the Philistines had heard Israel had assembled at MIzpah, the rulers of the Philistines came to attack them. And when the Israelites heard of it, they were afraid because of the Philistines. "They said to Samuel,"Do not stop crying out to the LORD our God for us, that he may rescue us from the hands of the Philistines." Then Samuel took a suckling lamb and offered it up as a whole burnt offering to the LORD. He cried out to the LORD on Israel's behalf, and the LORD answered him. While Samuel was sacrificing the burnt offering, the Philistines drew up to engage Israel in battle. But that day the LORD thundered with loud thunder against the Philistines and threw them into such a panic that they were routed before the Israelists. The men of Israel rushed out to Mizpath and pursued the Philistines, slaughtering them along the way to a point below Beth Car. Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He called it Ebenezer saying,"Thus far has the LORD helped us." So the Philistines were sub dued and did not invade Israelite territory again. Throughout Samuel's lifetime, the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines. The towns through Ekron to Gath that the Philistines had captured from Israel were restored to her, and the LORD delivered the neighboring territory from the power of the Philistines. And there was peace between Israel and the Amorites. Samuel continued as judge over Israel all the days of his life. From year to year he went on a circuit from Bethel to Gilgal to Mizpah, judging Israel in all these places. In Peace, Roxanne Lea Dubarry October Country July 13, 2024