¹⁰ I myself will stay at Mizpah^(A) to represent you before the Babylonians who come to us, but you are to harvest the wine,^(B) summer fruit and olive oil, and put them in your storage jars,^(C) and live in the towns you have taken over.”^(D)

The Israelites Punish the Benjamites

20 Then all Israel^(A) from Dan to Beersheba^(B) and from the land of Gilead came together as one^(C) and assembled^(D) before the Lord in Mizpah.^(E)

⁵ Then Samuel^(A) said, “Assemble all Israel at Mizpah,^(B) and I will intercede^(C) with the Lord for you.” ⁶ When they had assembled at Mizpah,^(D) they drew water and poured^(E) 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 leader^[a](F) of Israel at Mizpah.

⁷ When 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^(G) because of the Philistines. ⁸ They said to Samuel, “Do not stop crying^(H) out to the Lord our God for us, that he may rescue us from the hand of the Philistines.” ⁹ Then Samuel^(I) 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.^(J)

¹⁰ While Samuel was sacrificing the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to engage Israel in battle. But that day the Lord thundered^(K) with loud thunder against the Philistines and threw them into such a panic^(L) that they were routed before the Israelites. ¹¹ The men of Israel rushed out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines, slaughtering them along the way to a point below Beth Kar.

¹² Then Samuel took a stone^(M) and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer,^[b](N) saying, “Thus far the Lord has helped us.”

¹³ So the Philistines were subdued^(O) and they stopped invading Israel’s territory. Throughout Samuel’s lifetime, the hand of the Lord was against the Philistines. ¹⁴ The towns from Ekron^(P) 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.^(Q)

¹⁵ Samuel^(R) continued as Israel’s leader^(S) all^(T) the days of his life. ¹⁶ From year to year he went on a circuit from Bethel^(U) to Gilgal^(V) to Mizpah, judging^(W) Israel in all those places. ¹⁷ But he always went back to Ramah,^(X) where his home was, and there he also held court^(Y) for Israel. And he built an altar^(Z) there to the Lord.