2. and it stayed there for twenty years.During this time everyone in Israel was very sad and begged the Lord for help.
3. One day, Samuel told all the people of Israel, “If you really want to turn back to the Lord, then prove it. Get rid of your foreign idols, including the ones of the goddess Astarte. Turn to the Lord with all your heart and worship only him. Then he will rescue you from the Philistines.”
4. The people got rid of their idols of Baal and Astarte and began worshipping only the Lord.
5. Then Samuel said, “Tell everyone in Israel to meet together at Mizpah, and I will pray to the Lord for you.”