When the people of Kiriath Jearim received the message, they came and carried the ark of the Lord away from Beth Shemesh. They took it to the house of Abinadab, which stood on a hill, a quiet and reverent place.
There they set apart his son, Eleazar, giving him the responsibility of guarding the ark of the Lord. It remained there for many years—twenty long years in all. During that time, the people of Israel felt a deep aching in their hearts. They mourned, longing for God again, knowing how far they had drifted.
It was in those days that Samuel spoke with a clear, firm voice to the entire nation. He told them, "If you truly want to return to the Lord with all your hearts, then remove every foreign god among you. Put away the Ashtoreths. Commit yourselves to the Lord and serve Him only. If you do this, He will deliver you from the Philistines who oppress you."
The people listened. They took Samuel's words seriously. One by one, they turned away from their idols—Baal, Ashtoreth, and all the rest—and they dedicated themselves to the Lord alone.
Samuel then called out to the nation, "Gather all of Israel at Mizpah, and I will pray to the Lord on your behalf."
And so they came. At Mizpah, the people drew water and poured it out before the Lord, a sign of their repentance and humility. They fasted that day and openly confessed, "We have sinned against the Lord." During that time, Samuel served as the leader and judge of Israel at Mizpah.
But the moment the Philistines heard that Israel had gathered together, they saw an opportunity. Their rulers marched out toward Mizpah to attack, and when the Israelites heard the news, fear washed over them.
They turned to Samuel and pleaded, "Do not stop crying out to the Lord our God for us. Ask Him to save us from the hand of the Philistines."
Samuel responded by taking a young lamb and offering it as a burnt offering to the Lord. As the smoke of the sacrifice rose into the air, Samuel cried out with all his heart on behalf of Israel. And the Lord heard him.
While Samuel was still presenting the offering, the Philistines advanced closer, ready for battle. But suddenly, the sky roared with the voice of God.
The Lord thundered so violently that the Philistine army was thrown into confusion and terror. Panic spread through their ranks, and they could not stand their ground. Israel seized the moment, rushing out of Mizpah and pursuing them, striking them down all the way to a place below Beth Car.
With the victory secured, Samuel took a large stone and set it upright between Mizpah and Shen. He named the stone Ebenezer, meaning, "Thus far the Lord has helped us," a reminder of God's faithful protection.
From that time on, the Philistines were subdued. They did not invade Israel's territory again during Samuel's lifetime. In those years, the Lord's hand remained against the Philistines, holding them back.
The towns that the Philistines had taken—from Ekron to Gath—were restored to Israel, and peace returned to the land, even between Israel and the Amorites.
Samuel continued to serve as judge over Israel for the rest of his life. Each year, he traveled on a regular circuit, visiting Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpah, judging and guiding the people in those places. But he always returned home to Ramah. That was where he lived, where he judged Israel, and where he built an altar to the Lord, a constant reminder of his dedication and God's presence.