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was shadowed by the wings of the golden cherubim； and the unspeakable glory
of the Shekinah； the visible symbol of the most high God； had rested over it
in the holy of holies。 But now it had brought no victory。 It had not proved
a defense on this occasion； and there was mourning throughout Israel。
They had not realized that their faith was only a nominal faith； and had
lost its power to prevail with God。 The law of God； contained in the ark；
was also a symbol of His presence； but they had cast contempt upon the
commandments； had despised their requirements； and had grieved the Spirit of
the Lord from among them。 When the people obeyed the holy precepts； the Lord
was with them to work for them by His infinite power； but when they looked
upon the ark； and did not associate it with God； nor honor His revealed will
by obedience to His law； it could avail them little more than a common box。
They looked to the ark as the idolatrous nations looked to their gods； as if
it possessed in itself the elements of power and salvation。 They
transgressed the law it contained； for their very worship of the ark led to
formalism； hypocrisy； and idolatry。 Their sin had separated them from God；
and He could not give them the victory until they had repented of and
forsaken their iniquity。
It was not enough that the ark and the sanctuary were in the midst of
Israel。 It was not enough that the priests offered sacrifices； and that the
people were called the children of God。 The Lord does not regard the request
of those who cherish iniquity in the heart； it is written that 〃he that
turneth away his ear from hearing the law； even his prayer shall be
abomination。〃 Proverbs 28：9。
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When the army went out to battle； Eli； blind and old； had tarried at Shiloh。
It was with troubled forebodings that he awaited the result of the conflict；
〃for his heart trembled for the ark of God。〃 Taking his position outside the
gate of the tabernacle； he sat by the highway side day after day； anxiously
expecting the arrival of a messenger from the battlefield。
At length a Benjamite from the army； 〃with his clothes rent； and with earth
upon his head；〃 came hurrying up the ascent leading to the city。 Passing
heedlessly the aged man beside the way； he rushed on to the town； and
repeated to eager throngs the tidings of defeat and loss。
The sound of wailing and lamentation reached the watcher beside the
tabernacle。 The messenger was brought to him。 And the man said unto Eli；
〃Israel is fled before the Philistines； and there hath been also a great
slaughter among the people； and thy two sons also； Hophni and Phinehas； are
dead。〃 Eli could endure all this； terrible as it was； for he had expected
it。 But when the messenger added； 〃And the ark of God is taken；〃 a look of
unutterable anguish passed over his countenance。 The thought that his sin
had thus dishonored God and caused Him to withdraw His presence from Israel
was more than he could bear； his strength was gone； he fell； 〃and his neck
brake； and he died。〃
The wife of Phinehas； notwithstanding the impiety of her husband； was a
woman who feared the Lord。 The death of her father…in…law and her husband；
and above all； the terrible tidings that the ark of God was taken； caused
her death。 She felt that the last hope of Israel was gone； and she named the
child born in this hour of adversity； Ichabod； or 〃inglorious；〃 with her
dying breath mournfully repeating the words； 〃The glory is departed from
Israel： for the ark of God is taken。〃
But the Lord had not wholly cast aside His people； nor would He long suffer
the exultation of the heathen。 He had used the Philistines as the instrument
to punish Israel； and He employed the ark to punish the Philistines。 In time
past the divine Presence had attended it； to be the strength and glory of
His obedient people。 That invisible Presence would still attend it； to bring
terror and destruction to the transgressors of His holy law。 The Lord often
employs His bitterest enemies to punish the unfaithfulness of His professed
people。 The wicked may triumph for a time as they see Israel suffering
chastisement； but the time will
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come when they； too； must meet the sentence of a holy； sin…hating God。
Whenever iniquity is cherished； there； swift and unerring； the divine
judgments will follow。
The Philistines removed the ark in triumph to Ashdod； one of their five
principal cities； and placed it in the house of their god Dagon。 They
imagined that the power which had hitherto attended the ark would be theirs；
and that this； united with the power of Dagon； would render them invincible。
But upon entering the temple on the following day； they beheld a sight which
filled them with consternation。 Dagon had fallen upon his face to the earth
before the ark of Jehovah。 The priests reverently lifted the idol and
restored it to its place。 But the next morning they found it； strangely
mutilated； again lying upon the earth before the ark。 The upper part of this
idol was like that of a man； and the lower part was in the likeness of a
fish。 Now every part that resembled the human form had been cut off； and
only the body of the fish remained。 Priests and people were horror…struck；
they looked upon this mysterious event as an evil omen； foreboding
destruction to themselves and their idols before the God of the Hebrews。
They now removed the ark from their temple and placed it in a building by
itself。
The inhabitants of Ashdod were smitten with a distressing and fatal disease。
Remembering the plagues that were inflicted upon Egypt by the God of Israel；
the people attributed their afflictions to the presence of the ark among
them。 It was decided to convey it to Gath。 But the plague followed close
upon its removal； and the men of that city sent it to Ekron。 Here the people
received it with terror； crying； 〃They have brought about the ark of the God
of Israel to us； to slay us and our people。〃 They turned to their gods for
protection； as the people of Gath and Ashdod had done； but the work of the
destroyer went on； until； in their distress； 〃the cry of the city went up to
heaven。〃 Fearing longer to retain the ark among the homes of men； the people
next placed it in the open field。 There followed a plague of mice； which
infested the land； destroying the products of the soil； both in the
storehouse and in the field。 Utter destruction； by disease or famine； now
threatened the nation。
For seven months the ark remained in Philistia； and during all this time the
Israelites made no effort for its recovery。 But the Philistines were now as
anxious to free themselves from its presence
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as they had been to obtain it。 Instead of being a source of strength to
them； it was a great burden and a heavy curse。 Yet they knew not what course
to pursue； for wherever it went the judgments of God followed。 The people
called for the princes of the nation； with the priests and diviners； and
eagerly inquired； 〃What shall we do to the ark of Jehovah？ tell us wherewith
we shall send