What does 1 Samuel 7:17 mean?
Serving as judge over Israel, Samuel would travel an annual circuit to three important locations to carry out his duties: Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpah (1 Samuel 7:16). Once he had completed the circuit, Samuel would return to his hometown of Ramah, also north of Jerusalem.The prophet would conduct the Lord's business in Ramah, as well, and eventually built an altar there. It's unknown whether this was a memorial altar to honor the Lord or the replacement for the official altar of sacrifice at Shiloh that had likely been destroyed by the Philistines. Samuel's work at Ramah caused that city to become one of the important religious cities in Israel during this time, as well.