The Journey of the Ark of the Covenant – 1 Sam 4–7

c. 1050 BC

Trip stops (7)

1 Ebenezer 1 Sam 4:1-2 The Israelites camp at Ebenezer. The first battle against the Philistines: Israel is defeated and loses about 4,000 men.

2 Aphek 1 Sam 4:1-11 The Philistine camp. The ark is brought from Shiloh to the battlefield. The second battle: Israel suffers a crushing defeat, and 30,000 fall. Hophni and Phinehas are killed, and the ark is captured.

3 Ashdod – the temple of Dagon 1 Sam 5:1-7 The Philistines take the ark to the temple of Dagon. Twice the image of Dagon falls down before the ark. The people of the city are struck with tumours.

4 Gath 1 Sam 5:8-9 The ark is sent to Gath. Here too the Lord strikes the city with tumours, and there is great panic.

5 Ekron 1 Sam 5:10–6:12 The ark is sent on to Ekron. The people of Ekron cry out. The lords of the Philistines decide to send the ark back with guilt offerings: five golden tumours and five golden mice.

6 Beth-shemesh 1 Sam 6:12-19 Two milk cows pull the cart with the ark straight to Beth-shemesh. Reapers see the ark and rejoice. The Levites lift the ark down. 70 men die because they look into the ark.

7 Kiriath-jearim 1 Sam 6:21–7:2 The ark is taken up to the house of Abinadab on the hill. His son Eleazar is consecrated to keep it. The ark stays here for 20 years.

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