Study Desk

Then Samuel spoke to all the house of Israel, saying, "^(C1)If you are returning to the LORD with all your heart, then ^(C2)remove the foreign gods and the ^(C3)Ashtaroth from among you, and ^(C4)direct your hearts to the LORD and ^(C5)serve Him alone; and He will save you from the hand of the Philistines."

So the sons of Israel removed the Baals and the Ashtaroth, and served the LORD alone.

Then Samuel said, "Gather all Israel to ^(C1)Mizpah and ^(C2)I will pray to the LORD for you."

So they gathered to Mizpah, and drew water and ^(C1)poured it out before the LORD, and ^(C2)fasted on that day and said there, "^(C3)We have sinned against the LORD." And Samuel judged the sons of Israel at Mizpah.

Now when the Philistines heard that the sons of Israel had gathered at Mizpah, the governors of the Philistines went up against Israel. And when the sons of Israel heard about it, ^(C1)they were afraid of the Philistines.

So the sons of Israel said to Samuel, "^(C1)Do not stop crying out to the LORD our God for us, that He will save us from the hand of the Philistines!"

Samuel took ^(C1)a nursing lamb and offered it as a whole burnt offering to the LORD; and Samuel cried out to the LORD for Israel, and ^(C2)the LORD answered him.

Now Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, and the Philistines advanced to battle Israel. But ^(C1)the LORD thundered with a great ^(F1)thunder on that day against the Philistines and ^(C2)confused them, so that they were struck down before Israel.

And the men of Israel came out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines, and killed them as far as below Beth-car.