Samuel leur dit alors : Assemblez tout Israël à Mitspa, je prierai l’Eternel pour vous[a]. Ils s’assemblèrent à Mitspa, puisèrent de l’eau et la répandirent sur le sol devant l’Eternel ; ils jeûnèrent ce jour-là et confessèrent : Nous avons péché contre l’Eternel.

C’est là, à Mitspa, que Samuel fut le juge du peuple d’Israël.

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Footnotes

  1. 7.5 Mitspa: localité du territoire de Benjamin, à 12 kilomètres au nord de Jérusalem, où s’était déjà rassemblé le peuple (Jg 20.1 ; 21.1).

Samuel then gave orders, “Gather all Israel to Mizpah, that I may pray to the Lord for you.”(A) When they had gathered at Mizpah, they drew water and poured it out[a] on the ground before the Lord, and they fasted that day, saying, “We have sinned against the Lord.” It was at Mizpah that Samuel began to judge the Israelites.(B)

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Footnotes

  1. 7:6 Drew water and poured it out: this ritual act does not appear elsewhere in the Old Testament. Linked with fasting and admission of sin, it seems to function as a purification ritual that washes away the guilt incurred by worshiping the Canaanite Baal and his consort Astarte. Its effectiveness is immediately evident when the Lord thunders a response to Samuel’s offering.

And Samuel said, Gather all Israel to Mizpeh, and I will pray for you unto the Lord.

And they gathered together to Mizpeh, and drew water, and poured it out before the Lord, and fasted on that day, and said there, We have sinned against the Lord. And Samuel judged the children of Israel in Mizpeh.

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And Samuel said, (A)“Gather all Israel to Mizpah, and (B)I will pray to the Lord for you.” So they gathered together at Mizpah, (C)drew water, and poured it out before the Lord. And they (D)fasted that day, and said there, (E)“We have sinned against the Lord.” And Samuel judged the children of Israel at Mizpah.

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Then Samuel said, “Gather all Israel to Mizpah, and I will pray to the Lord for you.” They gathered together to Mizpah. And they drew water and poured it out before the Lord. And they fasted on that day, and said there, “We have sinned against the Lord.” So Samuel judged the children of Israel in Mizpah.

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