1 Samuel 7: Ebenezer

The ark stayed at Kiriath Jearim for twenty years, and Israel mourned after the Lord. Samuel told the people to put away their foreign gods and serve the Lord only, and they did. At Mizpah they fasted and confessed their sin. When the Philistines attacked, Samuel prayed, the Lord thundered, and Israel won. Samuel set up a stone called Ebenezer, saying the Lord had helped them.

Go to worksheets ↓

Bible:

Read 1 Samuel 7

World English Bible · 17 verses

¹ The men of Kiriath Jearim came and took Yahweh’s ark, and brought it into Abinadab’s house on the hill, and consecrated Eleazar his son to keep Yahweh’s ark.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
² From the day that the ark stayed in Kiriath Jearim, the time was long—for it was twenty years; and all the house of Israel lamented after Yahweh.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³ Samuel spoke to all the house of Israel, saying, “If you are returning to Yahweh with all your heart, then put away the foreign gods and the Ashtaroth from among you, and direct your hearts to Yahweh, and serve him only; and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁴ Then the children of Israel removed the Baals and the Ashtaroth, and served Yahweh only.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁵ Samuel said, “Gather all Israel to Mizpah, and I will pray to Yahweh for you.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁶ They gathered together to Mizpah, and drew water, and poured it out before Yahweh, and fasted on that day, and said there, “We have sinned against Yahweh.” Samuel judged the children of Israel in Mizpah.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁷ When the Philistines heard that the children of Israel were gathered together at Mizpah, the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. When the children of Israel heard it, they were afraid of the Philistines.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁸ The children of Israel said to Samuel, “Don’t stop crying to Yahweh our God for us, that he will save us out of the hand of the Philistines.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁹ Samuel took a suckling lamb, and offered it for a whole burnt offering to Yahweh. Samuel cried to Yahweh for Israel, and Yahweh answered him.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁰ As Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines came near to battle against Israel; but Yahweh thundered with a great thunder on that day on the Philistines and confused them; and they were struck down before Israel.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹¹ The men of Israel went out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines, and struck them until they came under Beth Kar.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹² Then Samuel took a stone and set it between Mizpah and Shen, and called its name Ebenezer, saying, “Yahweh helped us until now.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹³ So the Philistines were subdued, and they stopped coming within the border of Israel. Yahweh’s hand was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁴ The cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron even to Gath; and Israel recovered its border out of the hand of the Philistines. There was peace between Israel and the Amorites.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁵ Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁶ He went from year to year in a circuit to Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpah; and he judged Israel in all those places.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁷ His return was to Ramah, for his house was there, and he judged Israel there; and he built an altar to Yahweh there.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.

Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org

Worksheets

1Pick a grade below
2Look over the worksheet
3Tap Print worksheet. Print the answer key separately.

Pick a grade:

Answer key (print separately)More print options ↓

Open Preschool on its own page

1 Samuel 7 · Preschool

The Helping Stone

Name Date

Color Samuel's big stone! He called it Ebenezer to remember that God helped them.

Can you find these in the picture? Circle each one!

Bible Verse

Then Samuel took a stone and set it between Mizpah and Shen, and called its name Ebenezer, saying, “Yahweh helped us until now.”

1 Samuel 7:12 (WEB)

Prayer

Thank You, God, for making me!

Take It Home

Read the verse aloud. Say: Samuel set up a stone to remember God's help. What can we do to remember the ways God helps us?

Open Grade 4 on its own page

1 Samuel 7 · Grade 4

Returning With All Your Heart

Name Date

Read and Think

Twenty years passed after the ark came to Kiriath Jearim, and Israel began to mourn after the Lord. Samuel told them what true return looks like: if they returned with all their heart, they must remove foreign gods, direct their hearts to the Lord, and serve Him only.

The people removed the Baals and the Ashtaroth. At Mizpah they poured out water before the Lord, fasted, and confessed their sin. Unlike chapter 4, they did not grab the ark. They asked Samuel to pray, trusting God Himself rather than an object.

When the Philistines attacked, Samuel offered a lamb and cried to the Lord, and the Lord answered with great thunder. Israel won near the very place called Ebenezer where they had lost before. Samuel raised a stone and said, Yahweh helped us until now. The Philistines were subdued all the days of Samuel.

Show What You Know

What three things did true return include?
How was this different from chapter 4?
How did the Lord answer Samuel's cry?
What did Samuel say when he raised the stone?

Word Bank Fill-In

Use the word bank to fill in each blank.

MizpahSamuelEbenezerthunderstone

At they poured out water before the Lord, fasted, and confessed their sin.
They asked to pray, trusting God Himself rather than an object.
When the Philistines attacked, Samuel offered a lamb and cried to the Lord, and the Lord answered with great .
Israel won near the very place called where they had lost before.
Samuel raised a and said, Yahweh helped us until now.

Think About It

What does it look like for you to return to God with all your heart?
What stone of help, or reminder of God's help, could you set up in your life?

Memory Verse

Samuel spoke to all the house of Israel, saying, “If you are returning to Yahweh with all your heart, then put away the foreign gods and the Ashtaroth from among you, and direct your hearts to Yahweh, and serve him only; and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.”

1 Samuel 7:3 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for helping me until now. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

What does Ebenezer teach us about remembering?
How can you return to God with your whole heart?

Open Grade 5 on its own page

1 Samuel 7 · Grade 5

Until Now

Name Date

Read and Think

Chapter 7 is a turning point. After twenty years with the ark at Kiriath Jearim, Israel mourned after the Lord. Samuel, now leading the nation, called for repentance that was more than emotion: put away the Baals and the Ashtaroth, direct your heart to the Lord, and serve Him only. Israel obeyed, and the Lord promised deliverance from the Philistines.

At Mizpah, Israel poured out water before the Lord, fasted, and confessed, We have sinned against Yahweh. Samuel judged them there. This time, under threat, they did not try to manipulate God with the ark. They pleaded for Samuel to keep crying out to the Lord. Prayer, not a religious object, became their hope.

Samuel offered a nursing lamb as a whole burnt offering, and the Lord thundered against the Philistines, throwing them into confusion. The stone Samuel named Ebenezer, Yahweh helped us until now, looks back with gratitude and forward with trust. The defeat at Ebenezer in chapter 4 was answered by help at a new Ebenezer. Samuel then judged Israel faithfully on a yearly circuit to Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpah.

Show What You Know

What did Israel confess at Mizpah?
What became Israel's hope this time?
How does the name Ebenezer look both back and forward?
Where did Samuel travel on his yearly circuit?

Crossword

Across

The name Samuel gave the stone (7:12)
Where Israel gathered and fasted (7:6)
Yahweh sent ____ against the Philistines (7:10).

Down

Samuel offered a suckling ____ (7:9).
Samuel said, Yahweh ____ us until now (7:12).

Think About It

Why is confession an important part of returning to God?
Looking back on your life, how can you say God has helped you until now?

Memory Verse

Then Samuel took a stone and set it between Mizpah and Shen, and called its name Ebenezer, saying, “Yahweh helped us until now.”

1 Samuel 7:12 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for helping me until now. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

Why do people sometimes trust things instead of God?
What does Yahweh helped us until now mean for your future?
What is one way you could live out this chapter this week?

More print options

Student sheets have no answers on them. The answer key is a separate document for teachers and parents.

This gradeOnly the Preschool sheet

Whole chapterEvery verse of the chapter, in the translation you pickOpen & print

All student sheetsEvery grade, preschool to grade 5Open & print

Answer keyAll grades in one, each grade labeledOpen & print

‹ All 1 Samuel chapters · All books

1 Samuel 7: Ebenezer

Read 1 Samuel 7

Worksheets

The Helping Stone

Prayer

Take It Home

God Helped Us

Trace the Words

Match the Pictures

Mini Maze

Draw It

Prayer

Take It Home

God Helped Us

Trace the Words

Match the Pictures

God Helps Israel

Prayer

Take It Home

The Stone of Help

Read the Story

Show What You Know

Word Search

Prayer

Take It Home

Yahweh Helped Us

Read the Story

Answer the Questions

God Helps Israel

Prayer

Take It Home

Returning With All Your Heart

Read and Think

Show What You Know

Word Bank Fill-In

Think About It

Copy It

Prayer

Take It Home

Until Now

Read and Think

Show What You Know

Crossword

Think About It

Copy It

Prayer

Take It Home

More print options