2It came about from the day the ark dwelt in Kiriath-jearim that the days multiplied until they became twenty years, and all the house of Israel wailed after the LORD.3Samuel said to all the house of Israel, "If you are returning to the LORD with all your heart, remove the foreign gods from your midst together with the Ashtaroth, prepare your heart for the LORD, and serve him alone; then he will rescue you from the hand of the Philistine."4So the sons of Israel removed the Baal and the Ashtaroth and served the LORD alone.5Samuel said, "Gather all Israel at Mizpah, and I will pray to the LORD on your behalf."6They gathered at Mizpah, drew water, and poured it out before the LORD; they fasted on that day and said there, "We have sinned against the LORD." Samuel judged the sons of Israel at Mizpah.7When the Philistine heard that the sons of Israel had gathered at Mizpah, the lords of the Philistine went up against Israel. The sons of Israel heard and were afraid of the Philistine.8The sons of Israel said to Samuel, "Do not cease to cry out to the LORD our God on our behalf, but save us from the hand of the Philistine."9Samuel took one milk lamb and offered it as a whole burnt offering to the LORD; he cried out to the LORD on behalf of Israel, and the LORD answered him.10While Samuel was offering the burnt offering, the Philistine approached for battle against Israel. The LORD thundered with a great voice against the Philistine on that day, confused them, and they were routed before Israel.11The men of Israel came out from Mizpah, pursued the Philistine, and struck them down as far as a point below Beth-car.12Samuel took one stone, set it between Mizpah and Shen, and called its name Ebenezer, saying, "Thus far the LORD has helped us."13The Philistines were subdued and did not again enter the territory of Israel, and the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines throughout all the days of Samuel.14The cities the Philistine had taken from Israel were restored to Israel—from Ekron as far as Gath—and Israel recovered its border from the hand of the Philistine. Peace existed between Israel and the Amorite.15Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life.16Year after year he went and traveled around to Bethel, the Gilgal, and Mizpah; he judged Israel at all these places.17His return was to Ramah, because his house was there, and there he judged Israel; he built an altar to the LORD there.