1 Samuel 7:11 kjv
And the men of Israel went out of Mizpeh, and pursued the Philistines, and smote them, until they came under Bethcar.
1 Samuel 7:11 nkjv
And the men of Israel went out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines, and drove them back as far as below Beth Car.
1 Samuel 7:11 niv
The men of Israel rushed out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines, slaughtering them along the way to a point below Beth Kar.
1 Samuel 7:11 esv
And the men of Israel went out from Mizpah and pursued the Philistines and struck them, as far as below Beth-car.
1 Samuel 7:11 nlt
The men of Israel chased them from Mizpah to a place below Beth-car, slaughtering them all along the way.
1 Samuel 7 11 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Exo 14:14 | The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still. | God fights for His people. |
| Deut 20:4 | For the LORD your God is He who goes with you to fight for you... | God's presence in battle. |
| Josh 10:10 | And the LORD confounded them before Israel, and He killed them... | God creates confusion among enemies. |
| Judg 3:9 | When the people of Israel cried out to the LORD, the LORD raised up for them a deliverer... | God raises deliverers upon repentance. |
| Judg 5:20 | From the heavens the stars fought... | God uses natural elements in battle. |
| 2 Sam 5:20 | And David came to Baal-perazim, and David smote them there, and said, "The LORD hath broken forth upon mine enemies... | God breaking forth on enemies. |
| Psa 18:3 | I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies. | Calling on God for salvation from enemies. |
| Psa 44:3 | For they got not the land in possession by their own sword... but thy right hand... | God's hand, not human might, grants victory. |
| Psa 50:15 | And call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you... | Promise of deliverance through prayer. |
| Psa 68:1 | Let God arise, let His enemies be scattered... | Divine triumph over foes. |
| Pro 21:31 | The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests with the LORD. | God ultimately grants victory. |
| Isa 10:27 | ...the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing. | God breaking yokes of oppression. |
| Isa 14:26-27 | This is the purpose that is purposed upon the whole earth... For the LORD of hosts hath purposed, and who shall disannul it? | God's irresistible plan. |
| Jer 29:12-13 | Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. | Seeking God leads to being heard. |
| Nah 1:3 | The LORD hath His way in the whirlwind and in the storm... | God's power in nature against enemies. |
| 2 Chr 7:14 | If My people who are called by My name humble themselves, and pray... then I will hear from heaven... | Condition for divine intervention and healing. |
| Neh 4:20 | In whatsoever place ye hear the sound of the trumpet, resort thither unto us: our God shall fight for us. | Assurance of God fighting alongside. |
| Phil 2:12-13 | ...work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you... | Human effort coupled with divine empowerment. |
| Jam 5:16 | The fervent prayer of a righteous person has great power... | The power of prayer, as demonstrated by Samuel. |
| Acts 13:20 | After that he gave them judges about the space of four hundred and fifty years, until Samuel the prophet. | Samuel as the last great judge. |
| Rev 16:18 | Then there were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder... | Echo of God using thunder for judgment. |
| 1 Sam 7:10 | As Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near... But the LORD thundered... and routed them. | Immediate preceding divine intervention. |
1 Samuel 7 verses
1 Samuel 7 11 Meaning
1 Samuel 7:11 describes the immediate human response to God's divine intervention, where the Israelite army, emboldened and empowered by the Lord's terrifying thunder against the Philistines, pursued and decisively defeated their long-standing oppressors from Mizpah all the way to Beth-car. It signifies a pivotal victory marking a turn from years of Philistine domination to a period of renewed divine favor and national peace for Israel under Samuel’s leadership, a testament to God fighting for His repentant people.
1 Samuel 7 11 Context
Chapter 7 marks a significant turning point in Israel's history. For twenty years, Israel had suffered under the Philistine oppression (1 Sam 7:2) due to their abandonment of the Lord. Samuel, having risen as a prophet and judge, called all Israel to Mizpah (מִצְפָּה), a strategic central gathering place, for national repentance and prayer. They acknowledged their sin, fasted, and poured out water before the Lord. While Samuel was offering a burnt offering as an intercession for the people, the Philistines, hearing of the assembly, attacked. In response to Samuel's prayer and Israel's repentance, the Lord Himself intervened with a mighty thunder that "routed" (scattered in confusion) the Philistines. Verse 11 details Israel’s swift and decisive follow-up to this divine confusion, signifying their restored strength and God’s hand fighting alongside them. This victory led to a period of peace for Israel, where the Philistines did not return to attack for a significant time.
1 Samuel 7 11 Word analysis
- And the men of Israel: Refers to the collective, unified fighting force of the Israelites, indicating a coordinated effort under Samuel’s leadership, a marked contrast to previous disunity.
- went out of Mizpah: Mizpah (מִצְפָּה, Mitzpeh), meaning "watchtower" or "outlook," served as the assembly point for national repentance and was the strategic base from which they launched their pursuit. It highlights the direct movement from a place of spiritual revival to military action.
- and pursued the Philistines: The Hebrew word for "pursued" is רָדַף (radaph), which means to chase, follow after, or to persecute. Here, it denotes an active and aggressive follow-up to the divine confusion caused among the Philistines, demonstrating that Israel's role was not merely passive observation but active participation in the victory granted by God.
- and smote them, The Hebrew verb used is נָכָה (nakah), meaning "to strike, to smite, to beat, to attack, to wound, to kill." It signifies a comprehensive and forceful defeat, suggesting significant casualties inflicted upon the Philistines, beyond merely driving them away.
- until they came under Beth-car. This defines the extent and thoroughness of the pursuit. Beth-car (בֵּית־כָּר, Beit-kar), meaning "house of the lamb" or "house of pasture," was likely a significant geographical landmark, possibly defining the border or limit of the Philistine territory, or marking the effective boundary to which the routed army was driven. It signals a complete routing from the battlefield up to their own border.
- "went out... pursued... smote them": This sequence of verbs describes a vigorous, sustained, and effective military action taken by Israel. It shows their readiness and zeal to act upon the opportunity created by divine intervention, indicating restored morale and divine empowerment. This was not a hesitant engagement but a full, confident follow-up to God’s direct action, proving their renewed obedience and faith. The rout was total and effective, showing the Philistines driven far back into their own territory.
1 Samuel 7 11 Bonus section
The victory detailed in 1 Samuel 7:11 forms the backdrop for the subsequent erection of the memorial stone, "Ebenezer," by Samuel in verse 12, meaning "stone of help." This name profoundly commemorates the Lord's tangible help provided to Israel in this pivotal moment. The rout of the Philistines here was so decisive that it not only broke their twenty-year dominion over Israel but also prevented their re-entry into Israelite territory "all the days of Samuel" (1 Sam 7:13). This marks Samuel's effective leadership as a Judge, restoring not just military but also judicial authority throughout Israel. The event also signifies the power of collective repentance and prayer, demonstrating God’s readiness to deliver His people when they turn from idolatry and return to Him wholeheartedly. The concept of God using natural elements, like thunder, to fight His battles is a recurring biblical theme, showing His absolute sovereignty over creation and nations.
1 Samuel 7 11 Commentary
This verse portrays the decisive culmination of the events at Mizpah. After decades of oppression and Israel's initial paralysis, the divine intervention in verse 10, where the Lord thundered against and "routed" the Philistines, propelled Israel into active engagement. The "men of Israel" did not merely observe; they "went out," "pursued," and "smote" their enemies. This sequence demonstrates that while victory originated with God, it required the Israelites' physical participation to complete the rout. The extent of the pursuit, "until they came under Beth-car," indicates a thorough and impactful defeat, restoring territory and establishing a significant period of peace (1 Sam 7:13). It underscores the principle that human responsibility, marked by repentance and active faith, is essential to appropriate and manifest God’s deliverance. The battle was won by God's supernatural intervention, but the "chase and slay" was the human effort complementing divine power.