1
And the men of Qiryat-Yearim came and brought up the ark of Yahuah, and brought it into the house of Avinadav upon the hill. And Elazar his son they set apart to guard the ark of Yahuah.
2
And it came to pass, from the day the ark remained in Qiryat-Yearim, that the days multiplied and became twenty years. And all the house of Yisra’el lamented after Yahuah.
3
And Shemu’el spoke to all the house of Yisra’el, saying, “If with all your heart you are returning to Yahuah, remove the foreign elohim from your midst, and the Ashtarot, and establish your heart toward Yahuah, and serve Him alone. And He will deliver you from the hand of the Pelishtim.”
4
And the sons of Yisra’el removed the Baalim and the Ashtarot, and served Yahuah alone.
5
And Shemu’el said, “Gather all Yisra’el to Mitzpah, and I will pray to Yahuah for you.”
6
And they gathered at Mitzpah, and drew water and poured it out before Yahuah, and fasted on that day. And they said there, “We have sinned against Yahuah.” And Shemu’el judged the sons of Yisra’el at Mitzpah.
7
And the Pelishtim heard that the sons of Yisra’el had gathered at Mitzpah, and the rulers of the Pelishtim went up against Yisra’el. And the sons of Yisra’el heard and feared before the face of the Pelishtim.
8
And the sons of Yisra’el said to Shemu’el, “Do not be silent from crying out for us to Yahuah our Elohim, that He may save us from the hand of the Pelishtim.”
9
And Shemu’el took one suckling lamb and caused it to go up as a whole ascending offering to Yahuah. And Shemu’el cried out to Yahuah for Yisra’el, and Yahuah answered him.
10
And it came to pass, while Shemu’el was causing the ascending offering to go up, that the Pelishtim drew near to battle against Yisra’el. And Yahuah thundered with a great voice on that day against the Pelishtim and threw them into confusion, and they were struck before Yisra’el.
11
And the men of Yisra’el went out from Mitzpah and pursued after the Pelishtim and struck them as far as below Beit-Kar.
12
And Shemu’el took one stone and set it between Mitzpah and Shen, and called its name Even-HaEzer, and said, “Until here Yahuah has helped us.”
13
And the Pelishtim were subdued, and they did not continue to come into the border of Yisra’el. And the hand of Yahuah was against the Pelishtim all the days of Shemu’el.
14
And the cities that the Pelishtim had taken from Yisra’el were returned to Yisra’el, from Eqron even to Gat. And Yisra’el delivered their border from the hand of the Pelishtim. And there was shalom between Yisra’el and the Emori.
15
And Shemu’el judged Yisra’el all the days of his life.
16
And he went from year to year and went around to Beit-El, and Gilgal, and Mitzpah, and judged Yisra’el at all these places.
17
And his return was to HaRamah, for there was his house, and there he judged Yisra’el. And there he built an altar to Yahuah.