# 1 Samuel 07 š: Samuel Judges Israel
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> [!info] Table of Contents
> [[#š Scripture Text (NET)]]
> [[#š Verse-by-Verse Commentary]]
> [[#š¤ Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights]]
> [[#š§ Chapter Summary]]
> [[#āļø Christ in This Chapter]]
> [[#š Key Principles / š Life Application]]
> [[#š¬ Discussion Questions]]
> [[#āļø Key Verses to Remember]]
> [[#š Related Passages/Cross Reference]]
> [[#š Devotional Reflection]]
> [[#š Internal Notes]]
## š Scripture Text (NET)
(The NET Bible: New English Translation. Biblical Studies Press, 2005)
[[#Verse 01.]] Then the peopleĀ of Kiriath Jearim came and took the ark of theĀ Lord; they brought it to the house of Abinadab located on the hill. They consecrated Eleazar his son to guard the ark of theĀ Lord.
### Further Conflict with the Philistines
[[#Verse 02.]]Ā It was quite a long timeāsome twenty years in allāthat the ark stayed at Kiriath Jearim. All the people of Israel longed forĀ theĀ Lord.
[[#Verse 03.]]Ā Samuel said to all the people of Israel, āIf you are really turning to theĀ LordĀ with all your hearts, remove from among you the foreign gods and the images of Ashtoreth.Ā Give your hearts to theĀ LordĀ and serve only him. Then he will deliver youĀ from the hand of the Philistines.āĀ
[[#Verse 04.]]Ā So the IsraelitesĀ removed the Baals and images of Ashtoreth. They served only theĀ Lord.
[[#Verse 05.]]Ā Then Samuel said, āGather all Israel to Mizpah, and I will pray to theĀ LordĀ on your behalf.āĀ
[[#Verse 06.]]Ā After they had assembled at Mizpah, they drew water and poured it out before theĀ Lord. They fasted on that day, and they confessedĀ there, āWe have sinned against theĀ Lord.ā So Samuel ledĀ the people of Israel at Mizpah.
[[#Verse 07.]]Ā When the Philistines heard that the Israelites had gathered at Mizpah, the leaders of the Philistines went up against Israel. When the Israelites heard about this, they were afraid of the Philistines.Ā
[[#Verse 08.]]Ā The Israelites said to Samuel, āKeepĀ crying out to theĀ LordĀ ourĀ God so that he may save usĀ from the hand of the Philistines!āĀ
[[#Verse 09.]]Ā So Samuel took a nursing lambĀ and offered it as a whole burnt offering to theĀ Lord. Samuel cried out to theĀ LordĀ on Israelās behalf, and theĀ LordĀ answered him.
[[#Verse 10.]]Ā As Samuel was offering burnt offerings, the Philistines approached to do battle with Israel.Ā But on that day theĀ LordĀ thundered loudly against the Philistines. He caused them to panic, and they were defeated byĀ Israel.Ā
[[#Verse 11.]]Ā Then the men of Israel left Mizpah and chased the Philistines, striking them down all the way to an area below Beth Car.
[[#Verse 12.]]Ā Samuel took a stone and placed it between Mizpah and Shen.Ā He named it Ebenezer,Ā saying, āUp to here theĀ LordĀ has helped us.ā
[[#Verse 13.]]Ā So the Philistines were defeated; they did not invade Israel again. The hand of theĀ LordĀ was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel.
[[#Verse 14.]]Ā The cities that the Philistines had captured from Israel were returned to Israel, from Ekron to Gath. Israel also delivered their territory from the controlĀ of the Philistines. There was also peace between Israel and the Amorites.Ā
[[#Verse 15.]]Ā So Samuel ledĀ Israel all the days of his life.Ā
[[#Verse 16.]]Ā Year after year he used to travel the circuit of Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpah; he used to judge Israel in all these places.Ā
[[#Verse 17.]]Ā Then he would return to Ramah, because his home was there. He also judgedĀ Israel there and built an altar to theĀ LordĀ there.
## š Verse-by-Verse Commentary
###### Overall.
###### Verse 01.
###### Verse 02.
###### Verse 03.
###### Verse 04.
###### Verse 05.
###### Verse 06.
###### Verse 07.
###### Verse 08.
###### Verse 09.
###### Verse 10.
###### Verse 11.
###### Verse 12.
###### Verse 13.
###### Verse 14.
###### Verse 15.
###### Verse 16.
###### Verse 17.
## š¤ Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights
1. The ark stayed at Kiriath-jearim in the house of Abinadab for twenty years (7:1-2).
2. The Baals and the Ashtoreths (7:4) were the male and female gods of Canaan. Baal was a storm god, and Ashtoreth (Astarte) was a fertility goddess.
3. At Mizpah, Israel drew water and poured it out before the Lord (7:6), a ritual not described anywhere else in the Old Testament.
4. Samuel offered a young lamb as a whole burnt offering (7:9).
5. The Philistines worshiped gods connected with weather and harvest, but it was the Lord who thundered and routed them (7:10).
6. Ebenezer means "stone of help" (7:12). The name earlier marked Israel's defeat (4:1), and now it marks God's help.
7. The line "Here I raise my Ebenezer" in the hymn "Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing" (Robert Robinson, 1758) comes from this verse.
8. Israel recovered the towns the Philistines had taken, from Ekron to Gath (7:14).
9. Samuel traveled a yearly circuit to Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpah, then returned home to Ramah (7:16-17).
10. Samuel built an altar to the Lord at Ramah (7:17), since the tabernacle at Shiloh was no longer the center of worship.
## š§ Chapter Summary
> [!note] š± Still growing. This section is on its way.
## āļø Christ in This Chapter
Christ is our Mediator who always intercedes for us. Samuel cried out to the Lord for Israel and God answered (7:8-9), and Jesus always lives to intercede for those who come to God through Him (Hebrews 7:25).
## š Key Principles / š Life Application
> [!note] š± Still growing. This section is on its way.
## š¬ Discussion Questions
1. Samuel told Israel to put away their foreign gods and serve the Lord only (7:3-4). What does it look like to serve God only?
2. The people asked Samuel not to stop crying out to the Lord for them (7:8). Who prays for you, and who do you pray for?
3. Samuel set up a stone and called it Ebenezer, "stone of help" (7:12). What markers help you remember how God has helped you?
## āļø Key Verses to Remember
- š verse 3: Return to the Lord with all your heart and serve Him only.
- š verse 10: The Lord thunders against the Philistines and throws them into confusion.
- š verse 12: Samuel names the stone Ebenezer, saying the Lord has helped us to this point.
## š Related Passages/Cross Reference
- š [[1 Samuel 04#Verse 01.|1 Samuel 4:1-11]] - The earlier defeat near Ebenezer.
- š [[Joshua 04#Verse 04.|Joshua 4:4-7]] - Stones of remembrance from the Jordan.
- š [[Joel 02#Verse 12.|Joel 2:12-13]] - Return to the Lord with all your heart.
- š [[Hebrews 07#Verse 25.|Hebrews 7:25]] - Jesus always lives to intercede.
- š [[James 04#Verse 07.|James 4:7-8]] - Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.
## š Devotional Reflection
š SOAP: [[1 Samuel 07 - SOAP|Make Markers Remembering Godās Help]]
## š Internal Notes