1 Samuel 6:20-7:6

English Standard Version Anglicised

²⁰ Then the men of Beth-shemesh said, ^(A)“Who is able to stand before the Lord, this holy God? And to whom shall he go up away from us?” ²¹ So they sent messengers to the inhabitants of ^(B)Kiriath-jearim, saying, “The Philistines have returned the ark of the Lord. Come down and take it up to you.”

7 And the men of Kiriath-jearim came and took up the ark of the Lord and brought it to the house of ^(C)Abinadab on the hill. And they consecrated his son Eleazar to have charge of the ark of the Lord. ² From the day that the ark was lodged at Kiriath-jearim, a long time passed, some twenty years, and all the house of Israel lamented after the Lord.

Samuel Judges Israel

³ And Samuel said to all the house of Israel, ^(D)“If you are returning to the Lord with all your heart, then ^(E)put away the foreign gods and the ^(F)Ashtaroth from among you and ^(G)direct your heart to the Lord ^(H)and serve him only, and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.” ⁴ So the people of Israel put away the Baals and the Ashtaroth, and they served the Lord only.

⁵ Then Samuel said, “Gather all Israel at ^(I)Mizpah, and I will pray to the Lord for you.” ⁶ So they gathered at ^(J)Mizpah ^(K)and drew water and poured it out before the Lord ^(L)and fasted on that day and said there, ^(M)“We have sinned against the Lord.” And Samuel judged the people of Israel at Mizpah.