The conquest and the judges · 1 Samuel 4–6
The Ark Among the Philistines
Israel is defeated by the Philistines, who kill about four thousand men. The elders have the ark of the covenant brought from Shiloh, hoping it will save them. When it arrives, Israel lets out a great shout, and the Philistines are afraid. Yet Israel is defeated again: thirty thousand foot soldiers fall, Hophni and Phinehas, the sons of Eli, are killed, and the ark is captured. Eli, ninety-eight years old, falls from his seat at the news and dies; his daughter-in-law, dying, names her son Ichabod: “The glory is departed from Israel!” At Ashdod, Dagon is found facedown before the ark two mornings in a row; the second time, his head and hands are cut off. Tumors strike Ashdod, then Gath and Ekron. After seven months, the Philistines send the ark back on a new cart pulled by two cows, with golden tumors and golden mice. It goes straight up toward Beth-shemesh.
What happens
- Israel is defeated; the elders send for the ark at Shiloh 1 Samuel 4:2–4
- The ark of God is captured; Hophni and Phinehas die 1 Samuel 4:10–11
- “The glory is departed from Israel”: Eli’s daughter-in-law names her son Ichabod 1 Samuel 4:21–22
- Dagon falls before the ark twice at Ashdod 1 Samuel 5:2–4
- The hand of the LORD strikes Ashdod, then Gath, where the ark is moved 1 Samuel 5:6–9
- Two cows take the ark straight to Beth-shemesh 1 Samuel 6:10–12
Who is in this story
The lesson
God is not an object to be manipulated: Israel brings the ark to be saved, and is defeated. But the LORD needs no one to defend his glory: among the Philistines, Dagon falls before the ark (5:3-4).
And when they of Ashdod arose early on the morrow, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the earth before the ark of the Lord. And they took Dagon, and set him in his place again.
Quick quiz on this story
From which town do the elders of Israel bring the ark of the covenant?
After the defeat, the elders say, “Let us fetch the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of Shiloh unto us”; the people send there to get it. 1 Samuel 4:3–4
Which Philistine god is found lying facedown before the ark?
Two mornings in a row, the people of Ashdod find Dagon “fallen upon his face to the earth before the ark of the LORD”; the second time, his head and hands are cut off. 1 Samuel 5:3–4
How do the Philistines send the ark back to Israel?
They take “two milch kine, on which there hath come no yoke,” hitch them to a brand-new cart, and lay the ark on it. 1 Samuel 6:7–8
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