1 Samuel 7:4-6
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
4 So the Israelites removed their Baals and Astartes,[a] and served the Lord alone. 5 Samuel then gave orders, “Gather all Israel to Mizpah, that I may pray to the Lord for you.”(A) 6 When they had gathered at Mizpah, they drew water and poured it out[b] on the ground before the Lord, and they fasted that day, saying, “We have sinned against the Lord.” It was at Mizpah that Samuel began to judge the Israelites.(B)
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- 7:4 Baals and Astartes: a Deuteronomistic phrase; cf. Jgs 2:13; 10:6; 1 Sm 12:10. Baal and Astarte were Canaanite divinities.
- 7:6 Drew water and poured it out: this ritual act does not appear elsewhere in the Old Testament. Linked with fasting and admission of sin, it seems to function as a purification ritual that washes away the guilt incurred by worshiping the Canaanite Baal and his consort Astarte. Its effectiveness is immediately evident when the Lord thunders a response to Samuel’s offering.
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