Victory at Mizpah

Time went by until twenty years had passed since the ark had been taken to Kiriath-jearim. Then the whole house of Israel longed for the Lord. Samuel told them, “If you(A) are returning to the Lord(B) with all your heart,(C) get rid of the foreign gods(D) and the Ashtoreths that are among you, set your hearts on the Lord, and worship only him.(E) Then he will rescue you from the Philistines.” So the Israelites removed the Baals and the Ashtoreths(F) and only worshiped the Lord.

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The ark remained at Kiriath Jearim(A) a long time—twenty years in all.

Samuel Subdues the Philistines at Mizpah

Then all the people of Israel turned back to the Lord.(B) So Samuel said to all the Israelites, “If you are returning(C) to the Lord with all your hearts, then rid(D) yourselves of the foreign gods and the Ashtoreths(E) and commit(F) yourselves to the Lord and serve him only,(G) and he will deliver(H) you out of the hand of the Philistines.” So the Israelites put away their Baals and Ashtoreths, and served the Lord only.

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