The Ark of the Covenant Captured
Eli is old and nearly blind, his sons are corrupt priests, and the word of the Lord is described as rare in those days. The boy Samuel, serving at the sanctuary at Shiloh, is woken three times by a voice he takes for Eli's before the old priest realises what is happening and tells him how to answer.
Beaten in battle by the Philistines, Israel fetches the ark from Shiloh as a talisman. The second engagement is worse: thirty thousand fall, Eli's sons are killed, and the ark is taken. Eli, hearing the news at ninety-eight, falls backward off his seat and breaks his neck. His daughter-in-law names her newborn Ichabod — the glory has departed.
The ark proves no trophy. In Philistine hands it topples Dagon in his own temple and brings plague, and after seven months it is sent back on a cart.
Where in scripture
[1] The child Samuel ministered to Yahweh before Eli. Yahweh’s word was precious in those days. There were not many visions, then. [2] At that time, when Eli was laid down in his place (now his eyes had begun to grow dim, so that he could not see), [3] and God’s lamp hadn’t yet gone out, and Samuel had laid down in Yahweh’s temple, where God’s ark was; [4] Yahweh called Samuel; and he said, “Here I am.” [5] He ran to Eli, and said, “Here I am; for you called me.” He said, “I didn’t call. Lie down again.” He went and lay down. [6] Yahweh called yet again, “Samuel!” Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am; for you called me.” He answered, “I didn’t call, my son. Lie down again.” [7] Now Samuel didn’t yet know Yahweh, neither was Yahweh’s word yet revealed to him. …
1 Samuel 3:1–21 — opening verses
[1] The word of Samuel came to all Israel. Now Israel went out against the Philistines to battle, and encamped beside Ebenezer; and the Philistines encamped in Aphek. [2] The Philistines put themselves in array against Israel. When they joined battle, Israel was defeated by the Philistines, who killed about four thousand men of the army in the field. [3] When the people had come into the camp, the elders of Israel said, “Why has Yahweh defeated us today before the Philistines? Let us get the ark of Yahweh’s covenant out of Shiloh and bring it to us, that it may come among us, and save us out of the hand of our enemies.” …
1 Samuel 4:1–22 — opening verses
[1] Now the Philistines had taken God’s ark, and they brought it from Ebenezer to Ashdod. [2] The Philistines took God’s ark, and brought it into the house of Dagon, and set it by Dagon. [3] When the people of Ashdod arose early on the next day, behold, Dagon had fallen on his face to the ground before Yahweh’s ark. They took Dagon, and set him in his place again. [4] When they arose early on the following morning, behold, Dagon had fallen on his face to the ground before Yahweh’s ark; and the head of Dagon and both the palms of his hands were cut off on the threshold. Only Dagon’s torso was intact. [5] Therefore neither the priests of Dagon, nor any who come into Dagon’s house, step on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod, to this day. …
1 Samuel 5:1–12 — opening verses
Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, a public-domain translation.
