1So the men of Kiriath Jearim came and took up the ark of the Lord. They brought it to Abinadab’s house on the hill and consecrated Eleazar his son to guard the ark of the Lord. 2The ark remained at Kiriath Jearim a long time – twenty years in all.
Samuel subdues the Philistines at Mizpah
Then all the people of Israel turned back to the Lord. 3So Samuel said to all the Israelites, ‘If you are returning to the Lord with all your hearts, then rid yourselves of the foreign gods and the Ashtoreths and commit yourselves to the Lord and serve him only, and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.’ 4So the Israelites put away their Baals and Ashtoreths, and served the Lord only.
5Then Samuel said, ‘Assemble all Israel at Mizpah, and I will intercede with the Lord for you.’ 6When they had assembled at Mizpah, they drew water and poured it out before the Lord. On that day they fasted and there they confessed, ‘We have sinned against the Lord.’ Now Samuel was serving as leader7:6 Traditionally judge; also in verse 15 of Israel at Mizpah.
7When the Philistines heard that Israel had assembled at Mizpah, the rulers of the Philistines came up to attack them. When the Israelites heard of it, they were afraid because of the Philistines. 8They said to Samuel, ‘Do not stop crying out to the Lord our God for us, that he may rescue us from the hand of the Philistines.’ 9Then Samuel took a suckling lamb and sacrificed it as a whole burnt offering to the Lord. He cried out to the Lord on Israel’s behalf, and the Lord answered him.
10While Samuel was sacrificing the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to engage Israel in battle. But that day the Lord thundered with loud thunder against the Philistines and threw them into such a panic that they were routed before the Israelites. 11The men of Israel rushed out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines, slaughtering them along the way to a point below Beth Kar.
12Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer,7:12 Ebenezer means stone of help. saying, ‘Thus far the Lord has helped us.’
13So the Philistines were subdued and they stopped invading Israel’s territory. Throughout Samuel’s lifetime, the hand of the Lord was against the Philistines. 14The towns from Ekron to Gath that the Philistines had captured from Israel were restored to Israel, and Israel delivered the neighbouring territory from the hands of the Philistines. And there was peace between Israel and the Amorites.
15Samuel continued as Israel’s leader all the days of his life. 16From year to year he went on a circuit from Bethel to Gilgal to Mizpah, judging Israel in all those places. 17But he always went back to Ramah, where his home was, and there he also held court for Israel. And he built an altar there to the Lord.
17:1 2Sa 6:3Awo abantu b’e Kiriyasuyalimu ne bajja ne baddukira essanduuko ya Mukama, ne bagitwala mu nnyumba ya Abinadaabu ku lusozi. Ne bayawula Eriyazaali mutabani we okuvunaanyizibwa essanduuko ya Mukama7:1 Essanduuko ya Mukama yasigalayo okutuusa Dawudi lwe yagizzaayo e Yerusaalemi (2Sa 6:2-3).
Abafirisuuti Bawangulwa e Mizupa
2Essanduuko n’emala mu Kiriyasuyalimu ebbanga ddene, eryawerera ddala emyaka amakumi abiri, era abantu b’ennyumba ya Isirayiri bonna baali banakuwavu era nga banoonya Mukama. 37:3 a Ma 30:10; Is 55:7; Kos 6:1 b Lub 35:2; Yos 24:14 c Bal 2:12-13; 1Sa 31:10 d Yo 2:12 e Ma 6:13; Mat 4:10; Luk 4:8Awo Samwiri n’agamba ennyumba ya Isirayiri yonna nti, “Obanga mudda eri Mukama n’omutima gumu, muggyeewo bakatonda abagwira ne Baasutoleesi, mmweweeyo eri Mukama gwe muba muweerezanga yekka, era anaabalokola okuva mu mukono gw’Abafirisuuti.” 4Awo Abayisirayiri ne bava ku Babaali ne Baasutoleesi, ne baweerezanga Mukama yekka.
57:5 Bal 20:1Samwiri n’ayogera nti, “Mukuŋŋaanye Isirayiri yenna e Mizupa, mbegayiririre eri Mukama.” 67:6 a Zab 62:8; Kgb 2:19 b Bal 10:10; Nek 9:1; Zab 106:6Bwe baali bakuŋŋaanidde e Mizupa, ne basena amazzi, ne bagayirira mu maaso ga Mukama, ne basiiba era ne baatula ebibi byabwe nga boogera nti, “Twonoonye eri Mukama.” Olwo Samwiri nga ye mukulembeze era omulamuzi wa Isirayiri e Mizupa.
77:7 1Sa 17:11Awo Abafirisuuti bwe baawulira nga Abayisirayiri bakuŋŋaanidde e Mizupa, abafuzi b’Abafirisuuti ne babalumba. Abayisirayiri bwe baakiwulira ne batya Abafirisuuti. 87:8 1Sa 12:19, 23; Is 37:4; Yer 15:1Ne bagamba Samwiri nti, “Tolekeraawo kutukaabiririra eri Mukama Katonda waffe, atulokole okuva mu mukono gw’Abafirisuuti.” 97:9 a Zab 99:6 b Yer 15:1Awo Samwiri n’addira omwana gw’endiga oguyonka n’aguwaayo ng’ekiweebwayo ekyokebwa eri Mukama, n’akaabirira Mukama ku lwa Isirayiri, Mukama n’amuddamu.
107:10 a 1Sa 2:10; 2Sa 22:14-15 b Yos 10:10Ku lunaku olwo Samwiri bwe yali ng’awaayo ekiweebwayo ekyokebwa eri Mukama, Abafirisuuti ne basembera okulwanyisa Isirayiri, naye Mukama n’abwatuka okubwatuka okw’amaanyi, Abafirisuuti ne batya nnyo, era ne badduka Abayisirayiri. 11Abasajja Abayisirayiri ne bava e Mizupa ne bagoba Abafirisuuti, ne bagenda nga babatta okutuukira ddala ku Besukali.
127:12 Lub 35:14; Yos 4:9Awo Samwiri n’addira ejjinja n’aliteeka wakati wa Mizupa ne Seni, ekifo ekyo n’akituuma Ebenezeri7:12 Ebenezeri kitegeeza ejjinja ery’obuyambi, ng’agamba nti, “Mukama atuyambye okutuusa kaakano.” 137:13 Bal 13:1, 5; 1Sa 13:5Abafirisuuti ne bawangulwa, ne bataddayo nate kulumba Isirayiri. Era ennaku zonna eza Samwiri, omukono gwa Mukama ne gunyigiriza Abafirisuuti. 14Abayisirayiri ne beddiza ebibuga byonna Abafirisuuti bye baali babawambyeko okuva mu Ekulooni okutuuka e Gaasi, ate era Isirayiri n’anunula ebitundu ebyali biriraanyeewo okuva mu buyinza bw’Abafirisuuti. Ne waba okutabagana wakati wa Isirayiri n’Abamoli7:14 Erinnya Abamoli likozesebwa okutegeeza Abakanani bonna.
157:15 nny 6; 1Sa 12:11Samwiri n’alamula era n’afuga Isirayiri ennaku zonna ez’obulamu bwe. 16Buli mwaka n’agendanga e Beseri, n’e Girugaali n’e Mizupa7:16 Beseri, ne Girugaali ne Mizupa bye bibuga ebisatu mu ssaza lya Benyamini ebifo awaasinzizibwanga (laba Yos 4:19) mu mpalo ng’alamula Isirayiri mu bifo ebyo byonna. 177:17 a 1Sa 1:19; 8:4 b Bal 21:4N’oluvannyuma yakomangawo e Laama, amaka ge gye gaabeeranga, nayo n’alamulirayo Isirayiri. N’azimbirayo Mukama ekyoto.
