American King James Version - AKJV - 1999
1 Samuel 7
1
And the men of Kirjathjearim came, and fetched up the ark of the LORD, and brought it into the house of Abinadab in the hill, and sanctified Eleazar his son to keep the ark of the LORD.
People
2
And it came to pass, while the ark stayed in Kirjathjearim, that the time was long; for it was twenty years: and all the house of Israel lamented after the LORD.
Reference
3
And Samuel spoke to all the house of Israel, saying, If you do return to the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts to the LORD, and serve him only: and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.
Reference
Parallel theme
1 Kings 8:48
References God
Luke 4:8
Deuteronomy 13:4
Matthew 4:10
Deuteronomy 6:13
Isaiah 55:7
Joshua 24:14
Joshua 24:23
John 4:24
Deuteronomy 10:20
4
Then the children of Israel did put away Baalim and Ashtaroth, and served the LORD only.
Reference
Parallel theme
Hosea 14:8
5
And Samuel said, Gather all Israel to Mizpeh, and I will pray for you to the LORD.
Reference
References Lord
Judges 20:1
6
And they gathered together to Mizpeh, and drew water, and poured it out before the LORD, and fasted on that day, and said there, We have sinned against the LORD. And Samuel judged the children of Israel in Mizpeh.
Reference
Parallel theme
2 Samuel 14:14
Psalm 62:8
Jeremiah 9:1
Psalm 119:136
References Lord
1 Samuel 1:15
Joel 2:12
Sin
Judges 10:10
Psalm 106:6
Luke 15:18
1 Kings 8:47
7
And when the Philistines heard that the children of Israel were gathered together to Mizpeh, the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. And when the children of Israel heard it, they were afraid of the Philistines.
Reference
8
And the children of Israel said to Samuel, Cease not to cry to the LORD our God for us, that he will save us out of the hand of the Philistines.
Reference
9
And Samuel took a sucking lamb, and offered it for a burnt offering wholly to the LORD: and Samuel cried to the LORD for Israel; and the LORD heard him.
Reference
Parallel theme
Psalm 50:15
James 5:16
References Lord
Jeremiah 15:1
Psalm 99:6
Sacrifice
1 Samuel 7:17
1 Samuel 16:2
10
And as Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel: but the LORD thundered with a great thunder on that day on the Philistines, and discomfited them; and they were smitten before Israel.
Reference
11
And the men of Israel went out of Mizpeh, and pursued the Philistines, and smote them, until they came under Bethcar.
📍 Beth-car
12
Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it Ebenezer, saying, Till now has the LORD helped us.
Reference
📍 Shen
Parallel theme
2 Corinthians 1:10
Joshua 4:9
Acts 26:22
Genesis 35:14
1 Samuel 5:1
Psalm 71:17
Psalm 71:6
Exodus 17:15
References Lord
Genesis 22:14
Isaiah 19:19
13
So the Philistines were subdued, and they came no more into the coast of Israel: and the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel.
Reference
References Lord
Judges 13:1
14
And the cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron even to Gath; and the coasts thereof did Israel deliver out of the hands of the Philistines. And there was peace between Israel and the Amorites.
16
And he went from year to year in circuit to Bethel, and Gilgal, and Mizpeh, and judged Israel in all those places.
Summary of 1 Samuel 7
1 Samuel chapter 7 records a pivotal turning point in Israel's relationship with the Lord. Having retrieved the Ark from the Philistines, Israel still needs to renounce false gods and return to the Lord from a sincere heart. Samuel leads as the people are called to repentance. When the Philistines attack, Israel asks the Lord for help and not their idol or armies. God grants Israel's request and Samuel becomes an established leader and judge over Israel.
Following the return of the Ark to Israel, the men of Kirjathjearim come to bring it back with them. They bring the Ark to the house of Abinadab upon the hill and consecrate his son Eleazar to care for it.
The Ark shall remain there for many years, and two decades would pass.
In the interim, Israel begins to mourn because the people are burdened with their ungodly ways. They have been under the Philistines' oppression and idolatry has persisted.
Samuel reminds the people that if they return to the Lord, they must renounce the foreign gods and the carved images of Baalim and Ashtaroth; they must give their hearts to the Lord.
Samuel tells the people if they do this, the Lord will deliver them from the hand of the Philistines.
The people heed Samuel's call.
They remove the foreign gods among them and serve the Lord.
Samuel gathers the people together at Mizpeh.
The people water and pour out before the Lord, and they fast that day confessing their sins that they have sinned against the Lord.
Samuel judges the children of Israel at Mizpeh.
While the Israelites are gathered there, the Philistine rulers hear of it, seeing it as an opportunity to strike Israel.
The children of Israel become fearful at the report that the Philistines have come.
They ask Samuel not to cease in praying for them, realizing they do not look to their swords or armies for deliverance. They ask Samuel to cry unto the Lord on their behalf.
Samuel takes a young lamb and offers it up in burnt offering to the Lord. He cries unto the Lord on behalf of Israel and the Lord hears His prayer.
As Samuel is offering the burnt offering, the Philistines come to fight Israel.
At this moment, the Lord thunders against the Philistines, filling them with fear, so the Israelites are able to deliver a crushing blow to the Philistines.
Israel's victories are not due to their armies; they had repented and Samuel had prayed, and God had answered.
The Israelites pursue the Philistines from Mizpeh until they reach Bethcar.
After the victory, Samuel takes a stone and sets it up between Mizpeh and Shen and calls the stone Ebenezer.
Samuel declares, "Hitherto hath the LORD helped us."
The stone becomes a memorial of what God has done and a reminder that Israel's victories were not due to their own armies, but the Lord had delivered them when they repented and turned to Him.
The Philistines are subdued and do not enter the lands of Israel for a time. The cities that the Philistines had taken from Israel from Ekron even unto Gath are returned to Israel. There is peace between Israel and the Amorites.
Samuel continues to serve as the judge over Israel. He goes yearly to various places, such as Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpeh, to judge the people and to call them to live under the Lord's guidance. He goes back to Ramah, his home, and there he judges Israel.
In addition to this, Samuel builds an altar to the Lord at Ramah.
This chapter is significant, as it demonstrates a distinct difference between the narrative in previous chapters and the events that follow. Israel had taken the Ark as if it would bring them victory, and it had failed them, in chapter 17. In chapter 7 we see the people dealing with their spiritual state. The false gods are removed, the people confess their sins, they fast, and ask Samuel to pray for them.
The Ark itself is not the cause of the victory. Repentance, prayer, sacrifice, and reliance on the Lord are the focal points of the narrative.
Samuel is also seen to be the leader of the people. He serves as prophet, priestly intercessor, judge, etc. The people look to him to pray for them when the Philistines come to war, and his leadership enables the people to see their need to return to the Lord in true repentance.
The stone called Ebenezer becomes one of the most memorable parts of the chapter in which Samuel does not want Israel to forget what God had done for them. The words "Hitherto hath the LORD helped us" declare the truth that Israel had been delivered into the hands of the Lord.
The chapter demonstrates that repentance is not simply remorse. Samuel tells the Israelites to remove the foreign gods and to serve only the Lord. The Israelites show their repentance through their actions. They turn from their ways to the Lord and it is the turning point in their history when they are delivered from the hand of the Philistines.
The victory does not mean that Israel will never be in trouble again. Rather, it shows what happens when the people continue to turn away from their idols and return to the Lord in sincerity.
By the end of the chapter, Samuel is firmly established as Israel's judge. The Philistines have been subdued, the lands that they had taken are returned to Israel, and the people experience peace. Most importantly, Israel has returned her heart to the Lord.
1 Samuel chapter 7 is a chapter of repentance, prayer, and recalling of God's help. Israel's victory is achieved when the people stop looking to the things of this world and turn their hearts to the Lord. The stone at Ebenezer is a reminder that God had helped them up to that point.
Following the return of the Ark to Israel, the men of Kirjathjearim come to bring it back with them. They bring the Ark to the house of Abinadab upon the hill and consecrate his son Eleazar to care for it.
The Ark shall remain there for many years, and two decades would pass.
In the interim, Israel begins to mourn because the people are burdened with their ungodly ways. They have been under the Philistines' oppression and idolatry has persisted.
Samuel reminds the people that if they return to the Lord, they must renounce the foreign gods and the carved images of Baalim and Ashtaroth; they must give their hearts to the Lord.
Samuel tells the people if they do this, the Lord will deliver them from the hand of the Philistines.
The people heed Samuel's call.
They remove the foreign gods among them and serve the Lord.
Samuel gathers the people together at Mizpeh.
The people water and pour out before the Lord, and they fast that day confessing their sins that they have sinned against the Lord.
Samuel judges the children of Israel at Mizpeh.
While the Israelites are gathered there, the Philistine rulers hear of it, seeing it as an opportunity to strike Israel.
The children of Israel become fearful at the report that the Philistines have come.
They ask Samuel not to cease in praying for them, realizing they do not look to their swords or armies for deliverance. They ask Samuel to cry unto the Lord on their behalf.
Samuel takes a young lamb and offers it up in burnt offering to the Lord. He cries unto the Lord on behalf of Israel and the Lord hears His prayer.
As Samuel is offering the burnt offering, the Philistines come to fight Israel.
At this moment, the Lord thunders against the Philistines, filling them with fear, so the Israelites are able to deliver a crushing blow to the Philistines.
Israel's victories are not due to their armies; they had repented and Samuel had prayed, and God had answered.
The Israelites pursue the Philistines from Mizpeh until they reach Bethcar.
After the victory, Samuel takes a stone and sets it up between Mizpeh and Shen and calls the stone Ebenezer.
Samuel declares, "Hitherto hath the LORD helped us."
The stone becomes a memorial of what God has done and a reminder that Israel's victories were not due to their own armies, but the Lord had delivered them when they repented and turned to Him.
The Philistines are subdued and do not enter the lands of Israel for a time. The cities that the Philistines had taken from Israel from Ekron even unto Gath are returned to Israel. There is peace between Israel and the Amorites.
Samuel continues to serve as the judge over Israel. He goes yearly to various places, such as Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpeh, to judge the people and to call them to live under the Lord's guidance. He goes back to Ramah, his home, and there he judges Israel.
In addition to this, Samuel builds an altar to the Lord at Ramah.
This chapter is significant, as it demonstrates a distinct difference between the narrative in previous chapters and the events that follow. Israel had taken the Ark as if it would bring them victory, and it had failed them, in chapter 17. In chapter 7 we see the people dealing with their spiritual state. The false gods are removed, the people confess their sins, they fast, and ask Samuel to pray for them.
The Ark itself is not the cause of the victory. Repentance, prayer, sacrifice, and reliance on the Lord are the focal points of the narrative.
Samuel is also seen to be the leader of the people. He serves as prophet, priestly intercessor, judge, etc. The people look to him to pray for them when the Philistines come to war, and his leadership enables the people to see their need to return to the Lord in true repentance.
The stone called Ebenezer becomes one of the most memorable parts of the chapter in which Samuel does not want Israel to forget what God had done for them. The words "Hitherto hath the LORD helped us" declare the truth that Israel had been delivered into the hands of the Lord.
The chapter demonstrates that repentance is not simply remorse. Samuel tells the Israelites to remove the foreign gods and to serve only the Lord. The Israelites show their repentance through their actions. They turn from their ways to the Lord and it is the turning point in their history when they are delivered from the hand of the Philistines.
The victory does not mean that Israel will never be in trouble again. Rather, it shows what happens when the people continue to turn away from their idols and return to the Lord in sincerity.
By the end of the chapter, Samuel is firmly established as Israel's judge. The Philistines have been subdued, the lands that they had taken are returned to Israel, and the people experience peace. Most importantly, Israel has returned her heart to the Lord.
1 Samuel chapter 7 is a chapter of repentance, prayer, and recalling of God's help. Israel's victory is achieved when the people stop looking to the things of this world and turn their hearts to the Lord. The stone at Ebenezer is a reminder that God had helped them up to that point.