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 neighboring 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 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.
