“From the day that the ark stayed in Kiriath Jearim, the time was long — for it was twenty years; and all the house of Israel lamented after Yahweh.”
1 Samuel 7:2 (WEB)
Context Reading
1The men of Kiriath Jearim came and took Yahweh’s ark, and brought it into Abinadab’s house on the hill, and consecrated Eleazar his son to keep Yahweh’s ark. 2From the day that the ark stayed in Kiriath Jearim, the time was long — for it was twenty years; and all the house of Israel lamented after Yahweh. 3Samuel spoke to all the house of Israel, saying, “If you are returning to Yahweh with all your heart, then put away the foreign gods and the Ashtaroth from among you, and direct your hearts to Yahweh, and serve him only; and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.” 4Then the children of Israel removed the Baals and the Ashtaroth, and served Yahweh only.