<p class="bodytext">When the Philistines heard that the Israelites had gathered at Mizpah, the leaders of the Philistines went up against Israel. When the Israelites heard about this, they were afraid of the Philistines.

Israel and the Philistines drew up their battle lines opposite one another.

Samuel revealed the word of the <sc>Lordsc><n id="1" /> to all Israel.p><t /><p class="bodytext">Then the Israelites went out to fight the Philistines.<n id="2" /> They camped at Ebenezer,<n id="3" /> and the Philistines camped at Aphek.

The Philistines arranged their forces to fight<n id="1" /> Israel. As the battle spread out,<n id="2" /> Israel was defeated by<n id="3" /> the Philistines, who<n id="4" /> killed about four thousand men in the battle line in the field.p>

All Israel heard this message,<n id="1" /> &#8220;Saul has attacked the Philistine outpost, and now Israel is repulsive<n id="2" /> to the Philistines!&#8221; So the people were summoned to join<n id="3" /> Saul at Gilgal.p>

Samuel said, &#8220;Is it not true that when you were insignificant in your own eyes, you became head of the tribes of Israel? The <sc>Lordsc> chose<n id="1" /> you as king over Israel.

So Samuel led<n id="1" /> Israel all the days of his life.

<p class="bodytext">So all the elders of Israel gathered together and approached Samuel at Ramah.

<p class="bodytext">So they assembled<n id="1" /> all the leaders of the Philistines and asked, &#8220;What should we do with the ark of the God of Israel?&#8221; They replied, &#8220;The ark of the God of Israel should be moved to Gath.&#8221; So they moved the ark of the God of Israel.p>

<p class="bodytext">The cities that the Philistines had captured from Israel were returned to Israel, from Ekron to Gath. Israel also delivered their territory from the control<n id="1" /> of the Philistines. There was also peace between Israel and the Amorites.

He said to the Israelites, &#8220;This is what the <sc>Lordsc> God of Israel says, &#8216;I brought Israel up from Egypt and I delivered you from the power<n id="1" /> of the Egyptians and from the power of all the kingdoms that oppressed you.

All Israel from Dan to Beer Sheba realized that Samuel was confirmed as a prophet of the <sc>Lordsc>.

So the Israelites<n id="1" /> removed the Baals and images of Ashtoreth. They served only the <sc>Lordsc>.p>

<p class="bodytext">Then Samuel said, &#8220;Gather all Israel to Mizpah, and I will pray to the <sc>Lordsc> on your behalf.&#8221;

<p class="bodytext">Then Samuel brought all the tribes of Israel near, and the tribe of Benjamin was chosen by lot.

When Saul counted them at Bezek, the Israelites were 300,000<n id="1" /> strong and the men of Judah numbered 30,000.<n id="2" />p>

<t /><p class="bodytext">Saul was [thirty]<n id="1" /> years old when he began to reign; he ruled over Israel for [forty]<n id="2" /> years.

So the <sc>Lordsc> delivered Israel that day, and the battle shifted over to Beth Aven.<n id="1" />p>

He fought bravely, striking down the Amalekites and delivering Israel from the hand of its enemies.<n id="1" />p>

The Preeminent One<n id="1" /> of Israel does not go back on his word<n id="2" /> or change his mind, for he is not a human being who changes his mind.&#8221;<n id="3" />