I Samuel 7, Ebenezer

The ark of Israel has been returned to Israel, to the town of Beth Shemesh. The presence of the ark in Beth Shemesh has killed numerous members of the town. The people of Beth Shemesh have appealed to Kiriath Jearim for help. (Beth Shemesh and Kiriath Jearim would have been a few miles west of Jerusalemn near the border of Judah and Benjamin.

I Samuel 7: 1-2, Return to Kiriath Jearim

So the men of Kiriath Jearim came and took up the ark of the LORD. They took it to Abinadab's house on the hill and consecrated Eleazar his son to guard the ark of the LORD. It was a long time, twenty years in all, that the ark remained at Kiriath Jearim, and all the people of Israel mourned and sought after the LORD.

The ark is collected by the people of Kiriath Jearim. The people of Kiriath Jearim consecrate a priest to guard the ark but are otherwise afraid to move the ark. The ark then rests at Kiriath Jearim for twenty years.

The people "mourn" and "seek after YHWH". It is not clear if this is because the Philistines continue to oppress the Israelites or, possibly, because the ark is not in the tabernacle where it was to belong.

I Samuel 7: 3-6, Samuel as leader

And Samuel said to the whole house of Israel, "If you are returning to the LORD with all your hearts, then rid yourselves of the foreign gods and the Ashtoreths and commit yourselves to the LORD and serve him only, and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines."

So the Israelites put away their Baals and Ashtoreths, and served the LORD only.

Then Samuel said, "Assemble all Israel at Mizpah and I will intercede with the LORD for you."

When they had assembled at Mizpah, they drew water and poured it out before the LORD. On that day they fasted and there they confessed, "We have sinned against the LORD." And Samuel was leader of Israel at Mizpah.

Samuel calls the people to renew their commitment to YHWH, giving up the fertility gods favored by the surrounding Canaanite cultures. The people agree to Samuel's request. They later assemble at Mizpah for a renewal meeting and "pour out" water before YHWH. (The act of pouring out water is clearly an act of contrition but apparently does not appear elsewhere in the Old Testament.)

I Samuel 7: 7-11, The Philistines invade

When the Philistines heard that Israel had assembled at Mizpah, the rulers of the Philistines came up to attack them. And when the Israelites heard of it, they were afraid because of the Philistines. They said to Samuel, "Do not stop crying out to the LORD our God for us, that he may rescue us from the hand of the Philistines."

 

Then Samuel took a suckling lamb and offered it up as a whole burnt offering to the LORD. He cried out to the LORD on Israel's behalf, and the LORD answered him. While Samuel was sacrificing the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to engage Israel in battle. But that day the LORD thundered with loud thunder against the Philistines and threw them into such a panic that they were routed before the Israelites. The men of Israel rushed out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines, slaughtering them along the way to a point below Beth Car.

The Philistines, upon hearing that Israel has gathered enmasse at Mizpah, fear an attack and bring their own army to attack the Israelites.  The people of Israel plead to Samuel to intervene with God and protect them. The plea to YHWH is answered. In a dramatic thunderstorm, the Philistines flee and the Israelites pursue them, destroying them in the chaos.

I Samuel 7: 12, Ebenezer

Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, "Thus far has the LORD helped us."

As has happened in other times, a stone (or a pile of stones, see Joshua 4: 1-9) is set up as a visible memorial.  

"Ebenezer" means "stone of help." The old hymn Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing has a stanza which begins "Here I raise my Ebenezer, here by Thy great help I've come...." That hymn remembers this memorable event in early Israel, a time where YHWH answered the pleas of the people and gave them victory. (I suspect that hymn has been sung by many who do not know what an Ebenezer is!  😉 )

I Samuel 7: 13-14, Peace

So the Philistines were subdued and did not invade Israelite territory again. Throughout Samuel's lifetime, the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines. The towns from Ekron to Gath that the Philistines had captured from Israel were restored to her, and Israel delivered the neighboring territory from the power of the Philistines. And there was peace between Israel and the Amorites.

The Israelites then begin to regain towns lost to the Philistines. A peace agreement with the Amorites and success over the Philistines gives some semblance of peace to the nation.

I Samuel 7: 15-17, Circuit rider

Samuel continued as judge over Israel all the days of his life. From year to year he went on a circuit from Bethel to Gilgal to Mizpah, judging Israel in all those places. But he always went back to Ramah, where his home was, and there he also judged Israel. And he built an altar there to the LORD.

Samuel judges Israel as a circuit rider, moving throughout the region and then returning home to Ramah.  Samuel's parents were from Ramathaim, probably the same region.