1And the men of Kirjath-jearim 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. 2And it came to pass, while the ark abode in Kirjath-jearim, that the time was long; for it was twenty years: and all the house of Israel lamented after the LORD.
3¶ And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying, If ye do return unto the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts unto the LORD, and serve him only: and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines. 4Then the children of Israel did put away Baalim and Ashtaroth, and served the LORD only. 5And Samuel said, Gather all Israel to Mizpeh, and I will pray for you unto the LORD. 6And 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.
7And 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. 8And the children of Israel said to Samuel, Cease not to cry unto the LORD our God for us, that he will save us out of the hand of the Philistines.7.8 Cease…: Heb. Be not silent from us from crying
9¶ And Samuel took a sucking lamb, and offered it for a burnt offering wholly unto the LORD: and Samuel cried unto the LORD for Israel; and the LORD heard him.7.9 heard: or, answered 10And 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 upon the Philistines, and discomfited them; and they were smitten before Israel. 11And the men of Israel went out of Mizpeh, and pursued the Philistines, and smote them, until they came under Beth-car. 12Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it Eben-ezer, saying, Hitherto hath the LORD helped us.7.12 Eben-ezer: that is, The stone of help
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. 14And the cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron even unto Gath; and the coasts thereof did Israel deliver out of the hands of the Philistines. And there was peace between Israel and the Amorites. 15And Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life. 16And he went from year to year in circuit to Beth-el, and Gilgal, and Mizpeh, and judged Israel in all those places.7.16 in circuit: Heb. and he circuited 17And his return was to Ramah; for there was his house; and there he judged Israel; and there he built an altar unto the LORD.
17:1 Yos 6:7; 2Sam 6:3; 1Nya 13:7; 1Sam 6:21; Za 132:6Kisha watu wa Kiriath-Yearimu wakaja na kulichukua Sanduku la Bwana. Wakalipeleka katika nyumba ya Abinadabu juu kilimani na kumweka Eleazari mwanawe wakfu kulichunga Sanduku la Bwana.
Samweli Awatiisha Wafilisti Huko Mispa
27:2 1Nya 13:5; Za 132:6; 1Nya 13:3Sanduku la Bwana lilibakia huko Kiriath-Yearimu kwa muda mrefu, yaani jumla ya miaka ishirini, nao watu wa Israeli wakaomboleza na kumtafuta Bwana. 37:3 Kut 30:10; 2Fal 18:5; 23:25; Yer 24:7; Mwa 31:19; Amu 2:12-13; 1Sam 12:10; 31:10; Yoe 2:12; Yos 24:14; Kum 6; 13; Mt 4:10; Lk 4:8; Amu 2:18Naye Samweli akawaambia nyumba yote ya Israeli, “Ikiwa mtamrudia Bwana kwa mioyo yenu yote, basi iacheni miungu migeni na Maashtorethi na kujitoa wenyewe kwa Bwana na kumtumikia yeye peke yake, naye atawaokoa ninyi na mkono wa Wafilisti.” 4Hivyo Waisraeli wakaweka mbali Mabaali yao na Maashtorethi, nao wakamtumikia Bwana peke yake.
57:5 1Sam 1:20; Za 99:6; Yer 15:1; Yos 11:3; Amu 21:5; 1Sam 10:17; Mwa 20:7; Kum 9:19Kisha Samweli akasema, “Wakusanyeni Israeli wote huko Mispa, nami nitawaombea ninyi kwa Bwana.” 67:6 Yos 11:3; Mao 2:19; Amu 2:16; 16:31; Neh 9:1, 2; 2Sam 14:14; Dan 9:3; Yoe 2:12; Law 26:40; Amu 10:10; 1Fal 8:47; Ay 33:27, 28; Za 106:6Walipokwisha kukutanika huko Mispa, walichota maji na kuyamimina mbele za Bwana. Siku hiyo walifunga na wakaungama, wakisema, “Tumetenda dhambi dhidi ya Bwana.” Naye Samweli alikuwa kiongozi7:6 Kiongozi hapa maana yake mwamuzi. wa Israeli huko Mispa.
77:7 1Sam 17:11Wafilisti waliposikia kwamba Israeli wamekusanyika huko Mispa, watawala wa Wafilisti wakapanda ili kuwashambulia. Waisraeli waliposikia habari hiyo, waliogopa kwa sababu ya Wafilisti. 87:8 Kut 32:30; Hes 21:7; 1Sam 12:19, 23; 1Fal 18:24; Isa 37:4; Yer 15:1; 27:18Wakamwambia Samweli, “Usiache kumlilia Bwana, Mungu wetu, kwa ajili yetu, ili apate kutuokoa na mikono ya Wafilisti.” 97:9 Za 99:6; Kut 32:11; Kum 19:9; Yer 15:1Kisha Samweli akamchukua mwana-kondoo anyonyaye na kumtoa mzima kama sadaka ya kuteketezwa kwa Bwana. Akamlilia Bwana kwa niaba ya Israeli, naye Bwana akamjibu.
107:10 Kut 9:23; 14:24; 1Sam 2:10; Mwa 35:5; 2Sam 22:14-15; Yos 10:10Samweli alipokuwa anatoa hiyo dhabihu ya kuteketezwa, Wafilisti wakasogea karibu ili kupigana vita na Israeli. Lakini siku ile Bwana alinguruma kwa ngurumo kubwa dhidi ya Wafilisti na kuwafanya wafadhaike na kutetemeka hivi kwamba walikimbizwa mbele ya Waisraeli. 11Watu wa Israeli wakatoka mbio huko Mispa na kuwafuatia Wafilisti, wakiwachinja njiani hadi mahali chini ya Beth-Kari.
127:12 Mwa 28:22; Kum 27:2; Yos 4:9; 1Sam 4; 1Ndipo Samweli akachukua jiwe na kulisimamisha kati ya Mispa na Sheni. Akaliita Ebenezeri,7:12 Ebenezeri maana yake jiwe la usaidizi. akisema, “Hata sasa Bwana ametusaidia.” 137:13 Amu 13:5; 1Sam 13:5Basi Wafilisti wakashindwa na hawakuvamia nchi ya Israeli tena.
Katika maisha yote ya Samweli, mkono wa Bwana ulikuwa dhidi ya Wafilisti. 147:14 Yos 13:3; Amu 1:34Miji kuanzia Ekroni hadi Gathi, ile ambayo Wafilisti walikuwa wameiteka kutoka Israeli, ilirudishwa kwake, naye Israeli akazikomboa nchi jirani mikononi mwa Wafilisti. Kukawepo amani kati ya Israeli na Waamori.
157:15 1Sam 12:11; Amu 2:16-18Samweli akaendelea kama mwamuzi juu ya Israeli siku zote za maisha yake. 167:16 Mwa 12:8; Yos 10:43; 1Sam 10:8; Amo 5:5; Mdo 13; 20Mwaka hadi mwaka aliendelea kuzunguka kutoka Betheli mpaka Gilgali na Mispa, akiamua Israeli katika sehemu hizo zote. 177:17 Yos 18:25; 1Sam 8:4; 15:34; 19:18; 25:1; 28:3; 9:12; 14:35; 20:6; 2Sam 24:25Lakini kila mara alirudi Rama, kulikokuwa nyumbani kwake, huko pia aliwaamua Israeli. Naye huko alimjengea Bwana madhabahu.