1 Samuel 4:1 Now the Israelites went out to fight against the Philistines.
They brought the ark of the covenant into battle hoping it would help, but it didn’t help at all. Israel lost thirty thousand foot soldiers. The ark of God was captured, and Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, died (1 Samuel 4:10-11). It was a bad day for Israel.
The ark of the covenant was the visible sign of God’s power and presence, so for it to be lost was nothing short of disastrous. It was like God himself had been captured. Eli was ninety-eight years old, and was so overwhelmed that he fell backward off his chair, broke his neck, and died (1 Samuel 4:18). His daughter-in-law went into labor and also died. Just before she passed, She named the boy Ichabod, saying, The Glory has departed from Israel (1 Samuel 2:21).
The judgment of God had been coming for many years, but it came in a single day. Eli, Hophni and Phinehas had decades to repent, but chose not to. They mistook God’s patience for his permission, and brought disaster on themselves, and on the people of God. Samuel learned up close that God should be taken seriously. Soon he’d provide the leadership God’s people desperately needed.
1 Samuel 5:1 After the Philistines had captured the ark of God, they took it from Ebenezer to Ashdod.
The ark of the covenant was a trophy of war, so the Philistines brought it into the temple of Dagon, their national deity. The following morning, however, the image of Dagon was lying facedown before the ark of God. They put it back in its place, but the following morning the image was lying before the ark again. This time its hands and head were broken off and were lying on the threshold of the temple door. God was showing the Philistines that, even though they’d captured the ark, their god was no match for the God of Israel.
1 Samuel 5:6 The Lord’s hand was heavy on the people of Ashdod and its vicinity.
The Philistines may’ve hoped the ark of God would bring them blessing, but just the opposite occurred—God afflicted them with tumors and rats. They weren’t ready to give up the ark, however, so they sent it to Gath, another Philistine town. But God afflicted them as well, so they sent the ark to Ekron. For obvious reasons, Ekron didn’t want it either.
Since the power and presence of God were identified with the ark of the covenant (Exodus 25:22), it could be a source of blessing (2 Samuel 6:12). But the power and presence of God are only a blessing to those who are living in obedience. If we’re living in disobedience, God’s power and presence can make us sick, or even kill us (1 Corinthians 11:30). It’s only good to be close to God if our lives are pleasing to him.
1 Samuel 6:1-2 When the ark of the Lord had been in Philistine territory seven months, the Philistines called for the priests and the diviners and said, What shall we do with the ark of the Lord? Tell us how we should send it back to its place.
The Philistines had enough of the ark and wanted to send it back to Israel. In hope of receiving God’s favor, they included an offering of five gold tumors and five gold rats, which were plaguing the country (1 Samuel 6:5).
They put the ark on a cart, pulled by two cows that had never been yoked, and also had calves. Cows that had never been yoked wouldn’t know how to pull a cart together and, even if they did, they’d want to return to their calves. Nevertheless, the cows proceeded to the Israelite town of Beth Shemesh. Then the Philistines knew their plagues were from the Lord, and weren’t merely a coincidence.
1 Samuel 6:13 Now the people of Beth Shemesh were harvesting their wheat in the valley, and when they looked up and saw the ark, they rejoiced at the sight.
And what a sight it was! Israel didn’t have to rescue the ark, ransom the ark, or negotiate its return. God himself brought it to them. The people chopped up the wood of the cart and sacrificed the cows as a burnt offering to the Lord (1 Samuel 6:14). Then they put the ark on top of a large rock as a memorial. God was back in town!
1 Samuel 6:19 But God struck down some of the inhabitants of Beth Shemesh, putting seventy of them to death because they looked into the ark of the Lord.
The ark of God was normally kept in the tabernacle, so most people never caught a glimpse of it. Some of the people of Beth Shemesh used this opportunity to look where they had no business looking. Instead of honoring God, by averting their gaze, they peered into the ark and died. The fault was theirs alone since God had clearly warned that unauthorized people who look at the holy things . . . will die (Numbers 4:20). Once again we see that God doesn’t make idle threats.
We want God on our terms, but God insists on his own terms. God wants us to be close to him, but not to become familiar. He’s not our buddy, pal or chum. He’s God Almighty (Genesis 17:1), worthy of our respect. We must worship God acceptably with reverence and awe (Hebrews 12:28), says Hebrews.
Reflection and Review
Why did God allow the ark to be captured?
How did God show his power over Dagon?
Is it safe to be near God?
They brought the ark of the covenant into battle hoping it would help, but it didn’t help at all. Israel lost thirty thousand foot soldiers. The ark of God was captured, and Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, died (1 Samuel 4:10-11). It was a bad day for Israel.
The ark of the covenant was the visible sign of God’s power and presence, so for it to be lost was nothing short of disastrous. It was like God himself had been captured. Eli was ninety-eight years old, and was so overwhelmed that he fell backward off his chair, broke his neck, and died (1 Samuel 4:18). His daughter-in-law went into labor and also died. Just before she passed, She named the boy Ichabod, saying, The Glory has departed from Israel (1 Samuel 2:21).
The judgment of God had been coming for many years, but it came in a single day. Eli, Hophni and Phinehas had decades to repent, but chose not to. They mistook God’s patience for his permission, and brought disaster on themselves, and on the people of God. Samuel learned up close that God should be taken seriously. Soon he’d provide the leadership God’s people desperately needed.
1 Samuel 5:1 After the Philistines had captured the ark of God, they took it from Ebenezer to Ashdod.
The ark of the covenant was a trophy of war, so the Philistines brought it into the temple of Dagon, their national deity. The following morning, however, the image of Dagon was lying facedown before the ark of God. They put it back in its place, but the following morning the image was lying before the ark again. This time its hands and head were broken off and were lying on the threshold of the temple door. God was showing the Philistines that, even though they’d captured the ark, their god was no match for the God of Israel.
1 Samuel 5:6 The Lord’s hand was heavy on the people of Ashdod and its vicinity.
The Philistines may’ve hoped the ark of God would bring them blessing, but just the opposite occurred—God afflicted them with tumors and rats. They weren’t ready to give up the ark, however, so they sent it to Gath, another Philistine town. But God afflicted them as well, so they sent the ark to Ekron. For obvious reasons, Ekron didn’t want it either.
Since the power and presence of God were identified with the ark of the covenant (Exodus 25:22), it could be a source of blessing (2 Samuel 6:12). But the power and presence of God are only a blessing to those who are living in obedience. If we’re living in disobedience, God’s power and presence can make us sick, or even kill us (1 Corinthians 11:30). It’s only good to be close to God if our lives are pleasing to him.
1 Samuel 6:1-2 When the ark of the Lord had been in Philistine territory seven months, the Philistines called for the priests and the diviners and said, What shall we do with the ark of the Lord? Tell us how we should send it back to its place.
The Philistines had enough of the ark and wanted to send it back to Israel. In hope of receiving God’s favor, they included an offering of five gold tumors and five gold rats, which were plaguing the country (1 Samuel 6:5).
They put the ark on a cart, pulled by two cows that had never been yoked, and also had calves. Cows that had never been yoked wouldn’t know how to pull a cart together and, even if they did, they’d want to return to their calves. Nevertheless, the cows proceeded to the Israelite town of Beth Shemesh. Then the Philistines knew their plagues were from the Lord, and weren’t merely a coincidence.
1 Samuel 6:13 Now the people of Beth Shemesh were harvesting their wheat in the valley, and when they looked up and saw the ark, they rejoiced at the sight.
And what a sight it was! Israel didn’t have to rescue the ark, ransom the ark, or negotiate its return. God himself brought it to them. The people chopped up the wood of the cart and sacrificed the cows as a burnt offering to the Lord (1 Samuel 6:14). Then they put the ark on top of a large rock as a memorial. God was back in town!
1 Samuel 6:19 But God struck down some of the inhabitants of Beth Shemesh, putting seventy of them to death because they looked into the ark of the Lord.
The ark of God was normally kept in the tabernacle, so most people never caught a glimpse of it. Some of the people of Beth Shemesh used this opportunity to look where they had no business looking. Instead of honoring God, by averting their gaze, they peered into the ark and died. The fault was theirs alone since God had clearly warned that unauthorized people who look at the holy things . . . will die (Numbers 4:20). Once again we see that God doesn’t make idle threats.
We want God on our terms, but God insists on his own terms. God wants us to be close to him, but not to become familiar. He’s not our buddy, pal or chum. He’s God Almighty (Genesis 17:1), worthy of our respect. We must worship God acceptably with reverence and awe (Hebrews 12:28), says Hebrews.
Reflection and Review
Why did God allow the ark to be captured?
How did God show his power over Dagon?
Is it safe to be near God?