6. So they all gathered at Mizpah. They drew some water and poured it out as an offering to the Lord and fasted that whole day. They said, “We have sinned against the Lord.” (It was at Mizpah that Samuel settled disputes among the Israelites.)
7. When the Philistines heard that the Israelites had gathered at Mizpah, the five Philistine kings started out with their men to attack them. The Israelites heard about it and were afraid,
8. and said to Samuel, “Keep praying to the Lord our God to save us from the Philistines.”
9. Samuel killed a young lamb and burnt it whole as a sacrifice to the Lord. Then he prayed to the Lord to help Israel, and the Lord answered his prayer.
10. While Samuel was offering the sacrifice, the Philistines moved forward to attack; but just then the Lord thundered from heaven against them. They became completely confused and fled in panic.
11. The Israelites marched out from Mizpah and pursued the Philistines almost as far as Bethcar, killing them along the way.