Victory at Massephath

1 Samuel 7

After the ark rests twenty years at Cariathiarim, Samuel calls Israel to put away foreign gods and serve the Lord alone, and while the people gather at Massephath the Lord thunders against the attacking Philistines and gives Israel victory; Samuel sets up a memorial stone called Abenezer and judges Israel throughout his life.

About these editions

The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.

Thomson 1808Septuagint

Brenton 1851Septuagint

Greek · BrentonSeptuagint

KJV 1769Masoretic

JPS 1917Masoretic

ThomsonTHEREUPON the men of Kariathiarim went, and carried up the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and brought it to the house of Aminadab, who dwelt on the hill, and consecrated Eleazar his son to keep the ark of the covenant of the Lord.

BrentonAnd the men of Cariathiarim come, and bring up the ark of the covenant of the Lord: and they bring it into the house of Aminadab in the hill; and they sanctified Eleazar his son to keep the ark of the covenant of the Lord.

GreekΚαὶ ἔρχονται οἱ ἄνδρες Καριαθιαρὶμ, καὶ ἀνάγουσι τὴν κιβωτὸν διαθήκης Κυρίου· καὶ εἰσάγουσιν αὐτὴν εἰς οἶκον ʼΑμιναδὰβ τὸν ἐν τῷ βουνῷ· καὶ τὸν Ἐλεάζαρ τὸν υἱὸν αὐτοῦ ἡγίασαν φυλάσσειν τὴν κιβωτὸν διαθήκης Κυρίου.

KJVAnd the men of Kirjathjearim came, and fetched up the ark of the LORD, and brought it into the house of Abinadab in the hill, and sanctified Eleazar his son to keep the ark of the LORD.

JPSAnd the men of Kiriath-jearim came, and fetched up the ark of the LORD, and brought it into the house of Abinadab in the hill, and sanctified Eleazar his son to keep the ark of the LORD.

ThomsonAnd from the day the ark was at Kariathiarim, days were multiplied, and twenty years elapsed. And when all the house of Israel looked back after the Lord,

BrentonAnd it came to pass from the time that the ark was in Cariathiarim, the days were multiplied, and the time was twenty years; and all the house of Israel looked after the Lord.

GreekΚαὶ ἐγενήθη ἀφʼ ἧς ἡμέρας ἦν ἡ κιβωτὸς ἐν Καριαθιαρὶμ, ἐπλήθυναν αἱ ἡμέραι, καὶ ἐγένετο εἴκοσι ἔτη· καὶ ἐπέβλεψε πᾶς οἶκος Ἰσραὴλ ὀπίσω Κυρίου.

KJVAnd it came to pass, while the ark abode in Kirjathjearim, that the time was long; for it was twenty years: and all the house of Israel lamented after the LORD.

JPSAnd it came to pass, from the day that the ark abode in Kiriath-jearim, that the time was long; for it was twenty years; and all the house of Israel yearned after the LORD.

ThomsonSamuel spoke to all the house of Israel, saying, If with your whole heart you turn to the Lord, put away the strange gods from among you, and the bowers, and prepare your hearts for the Lord, and serve Him alone, and He will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.

BrentonAnd Samuel spoke to all the house of Israel, saying, If ye do with all your heart return to the Lord, take away the strange gods from the midst of you, and the groves, and prepare your hearts to serve the Lord, and serve him only; and he shall deliver you from the hand of the Philistines.

GreekΚαὶ εἶπε Σαμουὴλ πρὸς πάντα οἶκον Ἰσραὴλ, λέγων, εἰ ἐν ὅλῃ καρδίᾳ ὑμῶν ὑμεῖς ἐπιστρέφετε πρὸς Κύριον, περιέλετε θεοὺς ἀλλοτρίους ἐκ μέσου ὑμῶν, καὶ τὰ ἄλση, καὶ ἑτοιμάσατε τὰς καρδίας ὑμῶν πρὸς Κύριον, καὶ δουλεύσατε αὐτῷ μόνῳ, καὶ ἐξελεῖται ὑμᾶς ἐκ χειρὸς ἀλλοφύλων.

KJVAnd Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying, If ye do return unto the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts unto the LORD, and serve him only: and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.

JPSAnd Samuel spoke unto all the house of Israel, saying: ‘If ye do return unto the LORD with all your heart, then put away the foreign gods and the Ashtaroth from among you, and direct your hearts unto the LORD, and serve Him only; and He will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.’

ThomsonAnd when the children of Israel had put away the Baals, and the bowers of Astaroth, and served the Lord alone,

BrentonAnd the children of Israel took away Baalim and the groves of Astaroth, and served the Lord only.

GreekΚαὶ περιεῖλον οἱ υἱοὶ Ἰσραὴλ τὰς Βααλὶμ καὶ τὰ ἄλση ʼΑσταρὼθ, καὶ ἐδούλευσαν Κυρίῳ μόνῳ.

KJVThen the children of Israel did put away Baalim and Ashtaroth, and served the LORD only.

JPSThen the children of Israel did put away the Baalim and the Ashtaroth, and served the LORD only.

ThomsonSamuel said, Assemble all Israel to Massepha, and I will pray to the Lord for you.

BrentonAnd Samuel said, Gather all Israel to Massephath, and I will pray for you to the Lord.

GreekΚαὶ εἶπε Σαμουήλ, ἀθροίσατε πάντα Ἰσραὴλ εἰς Μασσηφὰθ, καὶ προσεύξομαι περὶ ὑμῶν πρὸς Κύριον.

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

JPSAnd Samuel said: ‘Gather all Israel to Mizpah, and I will pray for you unto the LORD.’

ThomsonSo they assembled at Massepha, and drew water, and poured it out before the Lord, on the ground, and fasted that day, and said, We have sinned before the Lord. And Samuel judged the children of Israel at Massepha.

BrentonAnd they were gathered together to Massephath, and they drew water, and poured it out upon the earth before the Lord. And they fasted on that day, and said, We have sinned before the Lord. And Samuel judged the children of Israel in Massephath.

GreekΚαὶ συνήχθησαν εἰς Μασσηφὰθ, καὶ ὑδρεύονται ὕδωρ, καὶ ἐξέχεαν ἐνώπιον Κυρίου ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν· καὶ ἐνήστευσαν ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ, καὶ εἶπαν, ἡμαρτήκαμεν ἐνώπιον Κυρίου· καὶ ἐδίκαζε Σαμουὴλ τοὺς υἱοὺς Ἰσραὴλ εἰς Μασσηφάθ.

KJVAnd 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.

JPSAnd they gathered together to Mizpah, 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 Mizpah.

ThomsonNow when the Philistines heard that all the children of Israel were assembled at Massepha, the Lords of the Philistines came up against Israel.

BrentonAnd the Philistines heard that all the children of Israel were gathered together to Massephath: and the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel: and the children of Israel heard, and they feared before the Philistines.

GreekΚαὶ ἤκουσαν οἱ ἀλλόφυλοι ὅτι συνηθροίσθησαν πάντες οἱ υἱοὶ Ἰσραὴλ εἰς Μασσηφάθ· καὶ ἀνέβησαν σατράπαι ἀλλοφύλων ἐπὶ Ἰσραήλ· καὶ ἀκούουσιν οἱ υἱοὶ Ἰσραήλ, καὶ ἐφοβήθησαν ἀπὸ προσώπου ἀλλοφύλων.

KJVAnd when the Philistines heard that the children of Israel were gathered together to Mizpeh, the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. And when the children of Israel heard it, they were afraid of the Philistines.

JPSAnd when the Philistines heard that the children of Israel were gathered together to Mizpah, the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. And when the children of Israel heard it, they were afraid of the Philistines.

ThomsonUpon hearing this the children of Israel were terrified because of the Philistines, and said to Samuel, Cease not to cry to the Lord thy God for us, that He may save us out of the hand of the Philistines.

BrentonAnd the children of Israel said to Samuel, Cease not to cry to the Lord thy God for us, and he shall save us out of the hand of the Philistines.

GreekΚαὶ εἶπαν οἱ υἱοὶ Ἰσραὴλ πρὸς Σαμουήλ, μὴ παρασιωπήσῃς ἀφʼ ἡμῶν τοῦ μὴ βοᾷν πρὸς Κύριον Θεόν σου, καὶ σώσει ἡμᾶς ἐκ χειρὸς ἀλλοφύλων.

KJVAnd the children of Israel said to Samuel, Cease not to cry unto the LORD our God for us, that he will save us out of the hand of the Philistines.

JPSAnd the children of Israel said to Samuel: ‘Cease not to cry unto the LORD our God for us, that He save us out of the hand of the Philistines.’

ThomsonThereupon Samuel took a sucking lamb, and, with all the people, offered it as a whole burnt offering to the Lord. And Samuel cried to the Lord for Israel; and the Lord heard him.

BrentonAnd Samuel took a sucking lamb, and offered it up as a whole-burnt-offering with all the people to the Lord: and Samuel cried to the Lord for Israel, and the Lord heard him.

GreekΚαὶ ἔλαβε Σαμουὴλ ἄρνα γαλαθηνὸν ἕνα, καὶ ἀνήνεγκεν αὐτὸν ὁλοκαύτωσιν σὺν παντὶ τῷ λαῷ τῷ Κυρίῳ· καὶ ἐβόησε Σαμουὴλ πρὸς Κύριον περὶ Ἰσραὴλ, καὶ ἐπήκουσεν αὐτοῦ Κύριος.

KJVAnd Samuel took a sucking lamb, and offered it for a burnt offering wholly unto the LORD: and Samuel cried unto the LORD for Israel; and the LORD heard him.

JPSAnd Samuel took a sucking lamb, and offered it for a whole burnt-offering unto the LORD; and Samuel cried unto the LORD for Israel; and the LORD answered him.

ThomsonNow while Samuel was offering the whole burnt offering, the Philistines advanced to battle against Israel; and the Lord thundered that day with a great voice against the Philistines, and they were discomfited, and fled before Israel.

BrentonAnd Samuel was offering the whole-burnt-offering; and the Philistines drew near to war against Israel; and the Lord thundered with a mighty sound in that day upon the Philistines, and they were confounded and overthrown before Israel.

GreekΚαὶ ἦν Σαμουὴλ ἀναφέρων τὴν ὁλοκαύτωσιν· καὶ ἀλλόφυλοι προσῆγον εἰς πόλεμον ἐπὶ Ἰσραήλ· καὶ ἐβρόντησε Κύριος ἐν φωνῇ μεγάλῃ ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ ἐπὶ τοὺς ἀλλοφύλους, καὶ συνεχύθησαν καὶ ἔπταισαν ἐνώπιον Ἰσραήλ.

KJVAnd as Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel: but the LORD thundered with a great thunder on that day upon the Philistines, and discomfited them; and they were smitten before Israel.

JPSAnd as Samuel was offering up the burnt-offering, the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel; but the LORD thundered with a great thunder on that day upon the Philistines, and discomfited them; and they were smitten down before Israel.

ThomsonAnd the men of Israel went out from Massepha, and pursued the Philistines, and smote them to below Baithcor.

BrentonAnd the men of Israel went forth out of Massephath, and pursued the Philistines, and smote them to the parts under Bæthchor.

GreekΚαὶ ἐξῆλθον ἄνδρες Ἰσραὴλ ἐκ Μασσηφὰθ, καὶ κατεδίωξαν τοὺς ἀλλοφύλους, καὶ ἐπάταξαν αὐτοὺς ἕως ὑποκάτω τοῦ Βαιθχόρ.

KJVAnd the men of Israel went out of Mizpeh, and pursued the Philistines, and smote them, until they came under Bethcar.

JPSAnd the men of Israel went out of Mizpah, and pursued the Philistines, and smote them, until they came under Beth-car.

ThomsonThen Samuel took a stone, and set it up between Massepha and the old town, and called its name Abenezer (the stone of the helper); for he said, Even at this place the Lord helped us.

BrentonAnd Samuel took a stone, and set it up between Massephath and the old city; and he called the name of it Abenezer, stone of the helper; and he said, Hitherto has the Lord helped us.

GreekΚαὶ ἔλαβεν Σαμουὴλ λίθον ἕνα, καὶ ἔστησεν αὐτὸν ἀναμέσον Μασσηφὰθ καὶ ἀναμέσον τῆς παλαιᾶς· καὶ ἐκάλεσε τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ ʼΑβενέζερ, λίθος τοῦ βοηθοῦ· καὶ εἶπεν, ἕως ἐνταῦθα ἐβοήθησεν ἡμῖν Κύριος.

KJVThen Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it Ebenezer, saying, Hitherto hath the LORD helped us.

JPSThen Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpah and Shen, and called the name of it Eben-ezer, saying: ‘Hitherto hath the LORD helped us.’

ThomsonAnd the Lord humbled the Philistines so that they came no more into the borders of Israel. And the hand of the Lord was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel;

BrentonSo the Lord humbled the Philistines, and they did not any more come into the border of Israel; and the hand of the Lord was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel.

GreekΚαὶ ἐταπείνωσε Κύριος τοὺς ἀλλοφύλους, καὶ οὐ προσέθεντο ἔτι προσελθεῖν εἰς ὅριον Ἰσραήλ· καὶ ἐγενήθη χεὶρ Κυρίου ἐπὶ τοὺς ἀλλοφύλους πάσας τὰς ἡμέρας τοῦ Σαμουήλ.

KJVSo the Philistines were subdued, and they came no more into the coast of Israel: and the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel.

JPSSo the Philistines were subdued, and they came no more within the border of Israel; and the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel.

Thomsonso that the cities which the Philistines had taken from the Israelites were restored. They delivered them up to Israel, from Ascalon to Azob. So Israel recovered their border out of the hands of the Philistines. And there was peace between Israel and the Amorites.

BrentonAnd the cities which the Philistines took from the children of Israel were restored; and they restored them to Israel from Ascalon to Azob: and they took the coast of Israel out of the hand of the Philistines; and there was peace between Israel and the Amorite.

GreekΚαὶ ἀπεδόθησαν αἱ πόλεις ἃς ἔλαβον οἱ ἀλλόφυλοι παρὰ τῶν υἱῶν Ἰσραὴλ, καὶ ἀπέδωκαν αὐτὰς τῷ Ἰσραὴλ ἀπὸ ʼΑσκάλωνος ἕως ʼΑζόβ· καὶ τὸ ὅριον Ἰσραὴλ ἀφείλοντο ἐκ χειρὸς ἀλλοφύλων· καὶ ἦν εἰρήνη ἀναμέσον Ἰσραὴλ καὶ ἀναμέσον τοῦ ʼΑμοῤῥαίου.

KJVAnd the cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron even unto Gath; and the coasts thereof did Israel deliver out of the hands of the Philistines. And there was peace between Israel and the Amorites.

JPSAnd the cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron even unto Gath; and the border thereof did Israel deliver out of the hand of the Philistines. And there was peace between Israel and the Amorites.

ThomsonAnd Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life,

BrentonAnd Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life.

GreekΚαὶ ἐδίκαζεν Σαμουὴλ τὸν Ἰσραὴλ πάσας τὰς ἡμέρας τῆς ζεῆς αὐτοῦ.

KJVAnd Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life.

JPSAnd Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life.

Thomsonand went yearly, in rotation, to Baithel, and Galgala, and Massepha, and judged Israel in all those holy places.

BrentonAnd he went year by year, and went round Bæthel, and Galgala, and Massephath; and he judged Israel in all these consecrated places.

GreekΚαὶ ἐπορεύετο κατʼ ἐνιαυτὸν ἐνιαυτὸν, καὶ ἐκύκλου Βαιθὴλ καὶ τὴν Γαλγαλὰ καὶ τὴν Μασσηφάθ· καὶ ἐδίκαζε τὸν Ἰσραὴλ ἐν πᾶσι τοῖς ἡγιασμένοις τούτοις.

KJVAnd he went from year to year in circuit to Bethel, and Gilgal, and Mizpeh, and judged Israel in all those places.

JPSAnd he went from year to year in circuit to Beth-el, and Gilgal, and Mizpah; and he judged Israel in all those places.

ThomsonAnd his return was to Armathaim; for his house was there. And there he judged Israel, and there he built an altar to the Lord.

BrentonAnd his return was to Armathaim, because there was his house; and there he judged Israel, and built there an altar to the Lord.

GreekἩ δὲ ἀποστροφὴ αὐτοῦ εἰς ʼΑρμαθάιμ, ὅτι ἐκεῖ ἦν ὁ οἶκος αὐτοῦ· καὶ ἐδίκαζεν ἐκεῖ τὸν Ἰσραήλ, καὶ ᾠκοδόμησεν ἐκεῖ θυσιαστήριον τῷ Κυρίῳ.

KJVAnd his return was to Ramah; for there was his house; and there he judged Israel; and there he built an altar unto the LORD.

JPSAnd his return was to Ramah, for there was his house; and there he judged Israel; and he built there an altar unto the LORD.