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1 Samuel 7:10
ESV As Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to attack Israel. But the Lord thundered with a mighty sound that day against the Philistines and threw them into confusion, and they were defeated before Israel.
NIV While Samuel was sacrificing the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to engage Israel in battle. But that day the Lord thundered with loud thunder against the Philistines and threw them into such a panic that they were routed before the Israelites.
NASB Now Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, and the Philistines advanced to battle Israel. But the Lord thundered with a great thunder on that day against the Philistines and confused them, so that they were struck down before Israel.
CSB Samuel was offering the burnt offering as the Philistines approached to fight against Israel. The Lord thundered loudly against the Philistines that day and threw them into such confusion that they were defeated by Israel.
NLT Just as Samuel was sacrificing the burnt offering, the Philistines arrived to attack Israel. But the Lord spoke with a mighty voice of thunder from heaven that day, and the Philistines were thrown into such confusion that the Israelites defeated them.
KJV And as Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel: but the Lord thundered with a great thunder on that day upon the Philistines, and discomfited them; and they were smitten before Israel.
NKJV Now as Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel. But the Lord thundered with a loud thunder upon the Philistines that day, and so confused them that they were overcome before Israel.

What does 1 Samuel 7:10 mean?

This verse reveals just how close the Philistine army was to the gathered Israelite people at Mizpah. Context here suggests they were in the process of making their assault. The army was not merely close—they had begun the physical attack, itself, at the moment Samuel was offering a sacrifice (1 Samuel 7:9). At this same moment, however, God answers Samuel.

That answer appears to have been in the form of a loud, ear-splitting thunder from heaven. This might have been "only" a sound, or a blast of pressure, or both. Whatever it was, exactly, this strikes the Philistines in the midst of their attack. The army is thrown into panic and chaos. This may have been a direct result of the thunder or because God sent confusion on them supernaturally. Unable to fight normally, the Philistine army was quickly defeated.

This wasn't the first time the Lord used thunder to announce His presence. Israel experienced the terror of it firsthand at Mount Sinai (Exodus 19:16). The Lord had promised to throw their enemies into confusion (Exodus 23:27), something He did during the days of Joshua (Joshua 10:10). Now the Lord has done so again. The Lord is more than capable of fighting for His people when they are faithful to Him.
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