“Theft of the Ark”

“And the word of Samuel came to all Israel. Now Israel went out against the Philistines to battle, and pitched beside Ebenezer: and the Philistines pitched in Aphek.” (1 Samuel 4:1)

The Ark of the Covenant was a symbol of God’s promise to Israel. As long as Israel held up their side of the Covenant, God’s power would reside in the Ark. Sadly, Israel had turned their back on God. A fallen nation leaning on the flashy trinkets and short term comfort.

” And ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was, and Samuel was laid down to sleep;” (1 Samuel 3:3)

As Israel and the Philistines prepared for battle, Eli and his sons pulled the Ark out. Like a dusty book no one had paid any attention to, the Ark was an empty shell. Israel had turned its back on God. Now God was sending a message to Israel.

Israel Brings the Ark to Battle.

“2And the Philistines put themselves in array against Israel: and when they joined battle, Israel was smitten before the Philistines: and they slew of the army in the field about four thousand men.

3And when the people were come into the camp, the elders of Israel said, Wherefore hath the LORD smitten us to day before the Philistines? Let us fetch the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of Shiloh unto us, that, when it cometh among us, it may save us out of the hand of our enemies.

4So the people sent to Shiloh, that they might bring from thence the ark of the covenant of the LORD of hosts, which dwelleth between the cherubims: and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.

5And when the ark of the covenant of the LORD came into the camp, all Israel shouted with a great shout, so that the earth rang again.” (1 Samuel 4:2-5)

Eli’s sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were the priests who had turned their eyes from God and only prayed to themselves. God was not with them in the Ark. God watched.

The Philistines Attack

“6And when the Philistines heard the noise of the shout, they said, What meaneth the noise of this great shout in the camp of the Hebrews? And they understood that the ark of the LORD was come into the camp.

7And the Philistines were afraid, for they said, God is come into the camp. And they said, Woe unto us! for there hath not been such a thing heretofore.

8Woe unto us! who shall deliver us out of the hand of these mighty Gods? these are the Gods that smote the Egyptians with all the plagues in the wilderness.

9Be strong, and quit yourselves like men, O ye Philistines, that ye be not servants unto the Hebrews, as they have been to you: quit yourselves like men, and fight.

10And the Philistines fought, and Israel was smitten, and they fled every man into his tent: and there was a very great slaughter; for there fell of Israel thirty thousand footmen.” (1 Samuel 4:6-10)

The Philistines remembered the great power God held inside the Ark, and this made them frightened. The leaders of the Philistines girdled the strength of their men against the God of Israel. They knew they had already won the first battle, and had kept Israel under their rule.

The Philistines won the battle and took the Ark.

The Messenger

A messenger from the battle came to Eli in Shiloh with bad news. Israel had lost the battle, the Ark, and Eli’s sons had been killed.

For forty years Eli had been in charge of the Ark, his sons had been entrusted to minister to the people of Israel. His sons had forsaken Eli, the People, and most importantly God.

“And it came to pass, when he made mention of the ark of God, that he fell from off the seat backward by the side of the gate, and his neck brake, and he died: for he was an old man, and heavy. And he had judged Israel forty years.” (1 Samuel 4:18)

The Aftermath

“19And his daughter in law, Phinehas’ wife, was with child, near to be delivered: and when she heard the tidings that the ark of God was taken, and that her father in law and her husband were dead, she bowed herself and travailed; for her pains came upon her.

20And about the time of her death the women that stood by her said unto her, Fear not; for thou hast born a son. But she answered not, neither did she regard it.

21And she named the child Ichabod, saying, The glory is departed from Israel: because the ark of God was taken, and because of her father in law and her husband.

22And she said, The glory is departed from Israel: for the ark of God is taken.” (1 Samuel 4:19-22)

The loss of the Ark of the Covenant, in Israel’s eyes, was the loss of everything. God was no longer with them and they were naked before the Philistines. Or so they thought.

Stay Tuned…