7:1 Then the people of Kiriath Jearim came and took the ark of the Lord; they brought it to the house of Abinadab located on the hill. They consecrated Eleazar his son to guard the ark of the Lord.
Shiloh was destroyed by the Philistines, so Israel needed to find a new home for the ark of the covenant. The Levites moved the ark to Kiriath Jearim, which was about ten miles northwest of Jerusalem. Jerusalem was still a Jebusite city at this time. The ark of the covenant stayed in the hands of the family of Abinadab for about 100 years.
Further Conflict with the Philistines
7:2 It was quite a long time – some twenty years in all – that the ark stayed at Kiriath Jearim. All the people of Israel longed for the Lord.
After the ark was in Kiriath Jearim for 20 years, then Samuel began his first recorded public ministry.
7:3 Samuel said to all the people of Israel, “If you are really turning to the Lord with all your hearts, remove from among you the foreign gods and the images of Ashtoreth. Give your hearts to the Lord and serve only him. Then he will deliver you from the hand of the Philistines.”
If Israel really longed for Jehovah, then Samuel asked them to demonstrate their love for God by getting rid of their idols. Ashtoreth was the goddess of sex and war. She was also known as Astarte, Ishtar, and Aphrodite. Her followers were involved in prostitution temple worship.
7:4 So the Israelites removed the Baals and images of Ashtoreth. They served only the Lord.
Baal was the son of Dagon. He was recognized as the god of thunder and rain. His job was to make the ground fertile for abundant agricultural crops. Baal and Ashtoreth would participate in sexual union in order to make the earth more fruitful. Israel obeyed Samuel and removed these idols.
7:5 Then Samuel said, “Gather all Israel to Mizpah, and I will pray to the Lord on your behalf.”
Mizpah was seven miles north of Jerusalem. Since Shiloh had been destroyed by the Philistines, all of Israel was commanded to gather at Mizpah.
7:6 After they had assembled at Mizpah, they drew water and poured it out before the Lord. They fasted on that day, and they confessed there, “We have sinned against the Lord.” So Samuel led the people of Israel at Mizpah.
Israel fasted and confessed their sin at Mizpah.
7:7 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.
The Philistines gathered their armies to fight against Israel at Mizpah, which was Israel’s new temporary place of worship.
7:8 The Israelites said to Samuel, “Keep crying out to the Lord our God so that he may save us from the hand of the Philistines!”
The people asked Samuel for intercessory prayer.
7:9 So Samuel took a nursing lamb and offered it as a whole burnt offering to the Lord. Samuel cried out to the Lord on Israel’s behalf, and the Lord answered him.
Samuel made an offering to Jehovah and interceded for Israel.
7:10 As Samuel was offering burnt offerings, the Philistines approached to do battle with Israel. But on that day the Lord thundered loudly against the Philistines. He caused them to panic, and they were defeated by Israel.
The Philistines decided to attack Israel on a day of national worship. Jehovah thundered loudly against the Philistines, causing them to panic and suffer defeat.
7:11 Then the men of Israel left Mizpah and chased the Philistines, striking them down all the way to an area below Beth Car.
This was the first battle that Israel had won in a long time.
7:12 Samuel took a stone and placed it between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, “Up to here the Lord has helped us.”
Ebenezer means “stone of help.”
7:13 So the Philistines were defeated; they did not invade Israel again. The hand of the Lord was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel.
During the remaining days of Samuel, the Philistines would never take land from Israel again.
7:14 The cities that the Philistines had captured from Israel were returned to Israel, from Ekron to Gath. Israel also delivered their territory from the control of the Philistines. There was also peace between Israel and the Amorites.
The Philistines returned Ekron and Gath back to Israel, meaning that the Philistines now only controlled three major cities in Israel. Israel had never driven out the Amorites, so they were still a thorn in Israel’s side.
7:15 So Samuel led Israel all the days of his life.
Samuel was Israel’s last judge before the monarchy.
7:16 Year after year he used to travel the circuit of Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpah; he used to judge Israel in all of these places.
Samuel judged a fifty-mile circuit. He had civil, religious, and military responsibilities.
7:17 Then he would return to Ramah, because his home was there. He also judged Israel there and built an altar to the Lord there.
Samuel’s hometown was Ramah. He built an altar in the city, most likely to replace the altar in Shiloh. He judged Israel for possibly sixty years.