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MAY 2
2 So it was that the ark remained in Kirjath But the LORD thundered with a loud thunder
Jearim a long time; it was there twenty years. upon the Philistines that day, and so confused
And all the house of Israel lamented after the them that they were overcome before Israel.
LORD. 11 And the men of Israel went out of Mizpah
3 Then Samuel spoke to all the house of and pursued the Philistines, and drove them
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Israel, saying, “If you return to the LORD with back as far as below Beth Car. Then Samuel
all your hearts, then put away the foreign gods took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and
and the Ashtoreths from among you, and pre- Shen, and called its name Ebenezer, saying,
pare your hearts for the LORD, and serve Him “Thus far the LORD has helped us.”
only; and He will deliver you from the hand of 13 So the Philistines were subdued, and they
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the Philistines.” So the children of Israel put did not come anymore into the territory of
away the Baals and the Ashtoreths, and Israel. And the hand of the LORD was against
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served the LORD only. the Philistines all the days of Samuel. Then
5 And Samuel said, “Gather all Israel to the cities which the Philistines had taken from
Mizpah, and I will pray to the LORD for you.” Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron to
6 So they gathered together at Mizpah, drew Gath; and Israel recovered its territory from
water, and poured it out before the LORD. And the hands of the Philistines. Also there was
they fasted that day, and said there, “We have peace between Israel and the Amorites.
sinned against the LORD.” And Samuel judged 15 And Samuel judged Israel all the days of
the children of Israel at Mizpah. his life. He went from year to year on a circuit
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to Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpah, and judged
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Israel in all those places. But he always
returned to Ramah, for his home was there.
There he judged Israel, and there he built an
7:6 drew water, and poured it out before altar to the LORD.
the LORD. The pouring out of water before the
Lord was a sign of repentance. This act is
repeated in 2 Samuel 23:16. We have sinned
against the LORD. The symbol of Samuel pour-
ing out the water and the acknowledgment of 7:16 a circuit. The circuit was an annual trip
the people reveal a situation where true made by Samuel; he would travel to Bethel,
repentance had taken place. The condition of Gilgal, Mizpah, and return once again to
the heart superseded the importance or righ- Ramah, which allowed him to manage the
teousness of the ritual. Samuel judged. At affairs of the people.
this point Samuel is introduced as the judge of
Israel. His judgeship encompassed both
domestic leadership and the conduct of war.
The word links the text back to the last com- Psalm 55:1–8
ment about Eli who judged 40 years (4:18). To the Chief Musician. With stringed instruments.
Samuel is shown to be the one taking over Eli’s A Contemplation of David.
judgeship. He served as the last judge before ive ear to my prayer, O God,
the first king (see 1 Sam. 8:50).
G And do not hide Yourself
from my supplication.
2 Attend to me, and hear me;
7 Now when the Philistines heard that the I am restless in my complaint, and
children of Israel had gathered together at moan noisily,
Mizpah, the lords of the Philistines went up 3 Because of the voice of the enemy,
against Israel. And when the children of Israel Because of the oppression of the
heard of it, they were afraid of the Philistines. wicked;
8 So the children of Israel said to Samuel, “Do For they bring down trouble upon me,
not cease to cry out to the LORD our God for And in wrath they hate me.
us, that He may save us from the hand of the 4 My heart is severely pained within me,
Philistines.” And the terrors of death have fallen
9 And Samuel took a suckling lamb and upon me.
offered it as a whole burnt offering to the 5 Fearfulness and trembling have come
LORD. Then Samuel cried out to the LORD for upon me,
Israel, and the LORD answered him. Now as And horror has overwhelmed me.
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Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the 6 So I said, “Oh, that I had wings like a
Philistines drew near to battle against Israel. dove!

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