Thus the wordof Samuelcameto allIsrael.Now Israelwentout to meetthe Philistinesin battleand campedbesideEbenezerwhile the Philistinescampedin Aphek.
At the turnof the year,Ben-hadadmusteredthe Arameansand wentup to Aphekto fightagainstIsrael.
But the restfledto Aphekinto the city,and the wallfellon 27,000menwho were left.And Ben-hadadfledand cameinto the cityinto an innerchamber.
Gebaland Ammonand Amalek,Philistiawith the inhabitantsof Tyre;
"You standtoday,allof you, beforethe LORDyour God:your chiefs,your tribes,your eldersand your officers,[even] allthe menof Israel,
the kingof Aphek,one;the kingof Lasharon,one;
to the south,allthe landof the Canaanite,and Mearahthat belongs to the Sidonians,as faras Aphek,to the borderof the Amorite;
and Janumand Beth-tappuahand Aphekah,
[Included] also [were] Ummah,and Aphekand Rehob;twenty-twocitieswith their villages.
"But you have todayrejectedyour God,whodeliversyou from allyour calamitiesand your distresses;yet you have said,'No,but seta kingoverus!' Nowtherefore, presentyourselves beforethe LORDby your tribesand by your clans."
Now the Philistinesgatheredtogether alltheir armiesto Aphek,while the Israeliteswere campingby the springwhichis in Jezreel.
The LORDsaidto Samuel,"Behold,I am about to doa thingin Israelat whichbothearsof everyonewho hearsit will tingle.
The Philistinesdrewup in battlearray to meetIsrael.When the battlespread,Israelwas defeatedbeforethe Philistineswho killedabout fourthousandmenon the battlefield.
Now the Philistinestookthe arkof Godand broughtit from Ebenezerto Ashdod.
Then Samueltooka stoneand setit betweenMizpahand Shen,and namedit Ebenezer,saying,"Thusfarthe LORDhas helpedus."
