1 Samuel 7 13

1 Samuel 7:13 kjv

So the Philistines were subdued, and they came no more into the coast of Israel: and the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel.

1 Samuel 7:13 nkjv

So the Philistines were subdued, and they did not come anymore into the territory of Israel. And the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel.

1 Samuel 7:13 niv

So the Philistines were subdued and they stopped invading Israel's territory. Throughout Samuel's lifetime, the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines.

1 Samuel 7:13 esv

So the Philistines were subdued and did not again enter the territory of Israel. And the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel.

1 Samuel 7:13 nlt

So the Philistines were subdued and didn't invade Israel again for some time. And throughout Samuel's lifetime, the LORD's powerful hand was raised against the Philistines.

1 Samuel 7 verses

1 Samuel 7 13 Meaning

This verse marks a pivotal shift in the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Philistines, signifying a profound and lasting cessation of Philistine aggression into Israelite territory. It underscores that this period of security was directly attributable to the continuous, powerful intervention of God—His "hand"—operating against the Philistines throughout Samuel's active leadership as judge and prophet. The Philistine threat, which had long plagued Israel, was decisively broken and kept at bay by divine power, bringing an unprecedented period of peace and territorial integrity.

1 Samuel 7 13 Context

1 Samuel 7 follows a 20-year period of Philistine oppression and the ark's absence. In response to Samuel's call for repentance, the Israelites turned back to the LORD, put away their foreign gods, and gathered at Mizpah. This verse comes directly after the dramatic divine intervention where God thundered against the attacking Philistines at Mizpah, causing their panic and enabling Israel to defeat them. Samuel erected a stone called Ebenezer ("stone of help") to commemorate this victory, declaring, "Thus far the LORD has helped us." This context is crucial, as the lasting peace described in verse 13 is a direct consequence of this event and Israel's spiritual renewal under Samuel's faithful leadership, contrasting sharply with the recurring cycles of oppression seen throughout the Book of Judges.

1 Samuel 7 13 Word analysis

• So (וַיִּכָּבְּשׁוּ, vayik·kav·shū): This conjunction and verb start directly translates to "and they were subdued," signifying a direct outcome of the divine intervention previously described. It establishes cause and effect: God acted, and this was the result.
• the Philistines (פְלִשְׁתִּים, Philištîm): A major antagonistic people group of Israel, originating from the Aegean Sea, who settled in the coastal plain of Canaan. They were technologically advanced (especially in ironworking) and militarily superior to Israel during much of the Judges period, often serving as a divine instrument of discipline against Israel's apostasy.
• were subdued (כָּבַשׁ, kabash): The root verb kabash means "to tread down," "to subdue," "to bring into subjection," or "to conquer." It implies not just a defeat but a decisive suppression and control, preventing them from regaining power over the subjugated party. It is a strong term for definitive victory and establishment of dominance.
• and did not again (וְלֹא יָסְפוּ, wə·lō’ yā·sə·p̄ū): This phrase emphasizes the complete and lasting cessation of the Philistine incursions. It implies that their attempts to enter Israelite territory ceased entirely for the duration of Samuel's rule, signifying a true end to a specific pattern of conflict. The previous Philistine victories had been complete enough to place an ongoing oppressive presence upon Israel; here the effect is a cessation of their aggressive movements.
• enter (לָבוֹא, lā·ḇōw’): To "come in" or "enter." This highlights the practical aspect of the cessation of hostilities – they no longer militarily penetrated or occupied Israel's land.
• the territory of Israel (בִּגְבוּל יִשְׂרָאֵל, big·ḇūl yiś·rā·’êl): Refers to the geographical borders and regions under Israelite control. The emphasis here is on territorial integrity and security, a highly valued state given years of Philistine raids and temporary occupation.
• and the hand of the LORD (וַתְּהִי יַד־יְהוָה, wat·tə·hî yad-YHWH): This is a key anthropomorphism signifying God's active, direct, and powerful intervention. "The hand of the LORD" expresses divine power in action, whether for judgment (as here) or blessing, showing God's sovereign control over circumstances.
• was against (בָהֶם, bā·hem): "Upon them" or "against them." Indicates the direct focus and application of God's power—specifically directed toward suppressing the Philistines.
• the Philistines (בַּפְּלִשְׁתִּים, bap·pə·liš·tîm): The repeated mention emphasizes that the conflict was specifically with this enemy, and the continued "hand of the LORD" maintained the peace specifically from their threat.
• all the days of Samuel (כֹּל יְמֵי שְׁמוּאֵל, kōl yə·mê šə·mū·’êl): This temporal phrase is crucial. It signifies that the peace was not momentary but sustained for a significant period – throughout Samuel's lifetime as the active judge. This points to the lasting impact of the repentance, God's intervention, and Samuel's unique, faithful leadership in bringing an unusual degree of stability to Israel after centuries of internal strife and external oppression.

1 Samuel 7 13 Bonus section

• The enduring nature of the peace "all the days of Samuel" is exceptional, especially when compared to the sporadic, judge-specific deliverances recorded in the Book of Judges. This indicates a higher level of sustained divine commitment to Israel's security during this period.
• The "hand of the LORD" being against the Philistines does not mean their physical armies vanished. Rather, it implies a divinely maintained check on their power, frustrating their ability to mount further effective offensives against Israelite territory for decades.
• This verse illustrates a key principle: God's protection and provision are often linked to a nation's spiritual condition and its leadership's faithfulness. Samuel's role as a true prophetic and intercessory leader was instrumental in invoking and sustaining God's protective hand over Israel.
• Despite this peace, Israel later asked for a king (1 Sam 8), suggesting a short-sightedness or lack of enduring faith in God's continuing protection through His chosen prophet, preferring visible, human security over the invisible, divine power that had just proven itself.

1 Samuel 7 13 Commentary

1 Samuel 7:13 serves as a capstone to the divine deliverance at Ebenezer, confirming that the victory was not an isolated event but initiated a lasting period of security. It highlights that the cessation of Philistine incursions was a direct result of God's active, sustained intervention ("the hand of the LORD") and not merely due to Israelite military prowess. This phase of relative peace was intimately linked to Samuel's tenure as judge and prophet, underscoring the spiritual revival and renewed national obedience under his guidance. This continuous divine opposition to Israel's foe signifies God's faithfulness to His covenant people when they return to Him, ensuring their territorial integrity for the first time in a substantial period without recurrent Philistine aggression. This stability set the stage for Israel's later desire for a monarchy, ironically seeking human leadership despite experiencing God's divine provision through Samuel.