Samuel prayed for Israel as they turned from the Baals and Ashtaroth and sought deliverance. As he sacrificed a nursing lamb, the Philistines came to attack, and the men chased them and struck them down as far as below Beth-car. Samuel erected the stone Ebenezer between Mizpah and Shen for "Till now the LORD has helped us." (1 Samuel 7:3-14)
Samuel judged in a circuit between Bethel, Gilgal, Mizpah, and Ramah. (1 Samuel 7:15-17)
Since Israel rejected God, Samuel assembled the people at Mizpah to set a king over them. He took them by lot until they had to ask the LORD for Saul's hiding place among the baggage. Saul was hailed as king while Samuel defined the duties and rights of the kingship.
Gedaliah the son of Ahikam was assassinated here. (Jeremiah 40-41)