Keraia
1 Samuel 7

1 Samuel 7:3

Samuel Subdues the Philistines · 1 Samuel 7:1–17
Read 1 Samuel 7

Translations

Modern
Then Samuel said to all the house of Israel, “If you are returning to the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the foreign gods and Ashtoreths among you, prepare your hearts for the LORD, and serve Him only. And He will deliver you from the hand of the Philistines.”
Traditional
And 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.
Literal
And Samuel spoke to all the house of Israel, saying, “If with all your heart you are returning to YHWH, put away the foreign gods from your midst, and the Ashtoreths, and prepare your hearts for YHWH, and serve Him only. And He will snatch you up from the hand of the Philistines.”
Latin
Ait autem Samuel ad universam domum Israël, dicens: Si in toto corde vestro revertimini ad Dominum, auferte deos alienos de medio vestri, Baalim et Astaroth: et præparate corda vestra Domino, et servite ei soli, et eruet vos de manu Philisthiim.

Original

Hebrew
English
Then Samuel said to all the house of Israel, “If you are returning to the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the foreign gods and Ashtoreths among you, prepare your hearts for the LORD, and serve Him only. And He will deliver you from the hand of the Philistines.”

Notes

1 Samuel 7:3

  • People cannot expect God's blessing unless they remove what goes against his will (see Genesis 35:2; Joshua 24:14).

  • Ashtoreth was the Canaanite goddess of fertility linked to Baal (1 Samuel 7:4). Worshiping Canaanite gods was a constant issue in Israel's history. The people began idol worship during the twenty years in 1 Samuel 7:2. It may have started in the time of the judges (1 Samuel 8:8; Judges 6:25; compare Amos 5:25–26). Israel's crushing defeat by the Philistines was not only due to the sins of Eli's two sons but also several generations of unfaithfulness to God.

1 Samuel 7:3–10

Israel's victory over the Philistines was due to their improved relationship with God, not because of the ark's presence (see 1 Samuel 4:3–11).

People

Ashtaroth: A Canaanite goddess of fertility and war Israel: Patriarch, son of Isaac, father of twelve tribes Samuel: Prophet and last judge of Israel before the kings

Places

Philistia: An ancient people and region in Canaan

Glossary

Gods and Goddesses Samuel (Person) Samuel, Books of First and Second

Topics

Ashtoreth: Worshiped by Israelites Baal: An Idol of the Phoenicians, God of the Sun: The Israelites Wickedly Worshiped in the Time of the Judges God: Personality of Idolatry: Incompatible with the Service of God Obedience to God: Prepare the Heart For Repentance of Their Idolatry, when Afflicted by the Philistines Revivals: Samuel The Heart: should be Prepared to God