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CHAP. VII.
AND the men of Kirjath-jearim came a and se•…•…cht up b the ark of the LORD, and brought it into the house of Abinadab in the hill c, and sanctified d Eleazar his son e, to keep the ark of the LORD f.
2 ¶ And it came to pass while the ark abode in Kirjath jearim g, that the time was long: for it was twenty years h: and all the house of Israel lamen∣ted after the LORD i.
3 ¶ And Samuel spake unto all the house of Is∣rael k, saying, If ye do return unto the LORD l with all your heart m, then put away the strange gods n, and Ashtaroth o from among you, and prepare your hearts p unto the LORD, and serve him onely; and q he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.
4 Then the children of Israel did put away Baalim and Ashtaroth, and served the LORD onely.
5 And Samuel said, Gather all Israel to Miz∣peh, and I will pray for you unto the LORD.
6 And they gathered together to Mizpeh r, and drew water, and poured it out s before the LORD t, and fasted on that day, and said there, We have sinned against the LORD. And Samu∣el judged the children of Israel u in Mizpeh.
7 And when the Philistines heard that the chil∣dren of Israel were gathered together to Mizpeh, the lords of the Philistines went up x against Is∣rael: and when the children of Israel heard it, they were afraid y of the Philistines.
8 And the children of Israel said to Samuel, ‡ Cease not to cry unto the LORD our God for us z▪ that he will save us out of the hand of the Philistines.
9 ¶ And Samuel took a sucking lamb a, and offered it b for a burnt-offering wholly c unto the Lord: and Samuel cried unto the LORD for Is∣rael, and the LORD ‖ heard him d.
10 And as Samuel was offering up the burnt∣offering, the Philistines drew near to battel against Israel: but the LORD thundred with a great ‡ thunder on that day upon the Philistines, and dis∣comfited them, and they were smitten e before •…•…rael.