And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying, If ye do return unto the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts unto the LORD, and serve him only: and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.
Samuel spoke to all the people of Israel, saying, 'If you truly want to return to the LORD with your whole hearts, then get rid of the foreign gods and idols of Ashtaroth from among you. Prepare your hearts for the LORD and serve only him, and he will rescue you from the power of the Philistines.'
Samuel is telling the Israelites that if they want God's help against their enemies, they must wholeheartedly turn back to God and abandon all the false gods they've been worshiping.
📚 Historical Context
The Israelites had been oppressed by the Philistines for twenty years and had fallen into worshiping Canaanite gods like Ashtaroth (fertility goddesses). Samuel, as judge and prophet, was calling them back to exclusive worship of the one true God. This was a pivotal moment when Israel needed to choose between their mixed religious practices and pure devotion to God.
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