The theme of necessary obedience to please God is revisited time and again throughout both the Old and New Testaments. A summary of a time when the ark of the covenant was taken by the Philistines (related in 1 Samuel) is one such example of that theme.
Many will be familiar with the climactic scene in Raiders of the Lost Ark when the Nazis had their faces melted off because they opened the ark of the covenant. Perhaps the scene was inspired by what happened to the Philistines in 1 Samuel 5.
The events begin with the evil actions of the sons of Eli, high priest of Israel. “Now the sons of Eli were corrupt; they did not know the Lord” (2:12). They corrupted the sacrifices of the people, and committed fornication with the women who presented themselves at the tabernacle. Because of their sin, God promised judgment upon Eli’s house, and the death of his sons, Hophni and Phinehas. (cf. 2:33-36).
This judgment was brought about by Israel’s defeat at the hand of the Philistines. Israel went out to battle (4:1), and was defeated, as 4,000 men were killed. The elders of Israel gave instruction that the ark of the covenant be brought into the camp, thinking of the ark as a talisman that would ensure victory against the Philistines. (A talisman is an object that is believed to have magical powers and to bring good luck).
This superstition is embraced by people today as well. A St. Christopher medal is worn for protection by some. Holy water is stated in the Catholic church’s catechism to offer “protection from the powers of darkness.” Such confidence in an inanimate object is as misplaced today as it was from the Israelites on that day. The ark was brought in, the fight was joined, and the Philistines slaughtered Israel. 30,000 foot soldiers were killed, Hophni and Phinehas were killed as well, and the Philistines captured the ark (4:1-18).
This happened, not because of any power in the ark itself, or lack thereof, but because of the disobedience of Eli’s sons, and his failure to restrain their sin.
When the Philistines took the ark, they too incurred Jehovah’s wrath. They put the ark in the house of Dagon in Ashdod, and so God destroyed the idol. God ravaged the people of Ashdod, striking them with tumors. They sent the ark to Gath, and God struck that city. It was sent to Ekron, and they too were ravaged by tumors (cf. 5:1-12).
The Philistines returned the ark to Israel at Beth Shemesh, with an pagan offer of appeasement. But when it came to that community, we are told that God “struck the men of Beth Shemesh, because they had looked into the ark of the Lord.” This was another act of disobedience that led to 50,070 men to be struck down by the Lord (6:19).
Finally, the ark was taken to Kirjath Jearim, and Abinadab consecrated his son Eleazer to keep the ark of the Lord. There it remained for 20 years (7:1-2).
How was God’s wrath abated? Samuel the prophet spoke to the people, “If you return to the Lord with all your hearts, then put away the foreign gods…He will deliver you from the hand of the Philistines” (7:3). They did so, and “served the Lord only” (7:4).
As always, the lesson is clear. Those who abide by the will of God are blessed by Him. Those who are disobedient to His will are condemned for their sins. The next time someone tells you that the Bible is not intended to be a pattern for us to heed and follow, don’t believe them! Remember this story, and use it as motivation to obey God in all things.
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