SERIES I --- THE NATION UNITES

BIBLE STUDY LESSON 04

THE ARK OF GOD

THE DAY THE ARK WAS LOST
From 1 Samuel 4
“When war swept across the land, the Philistines set up camp at Aphek and the Israelites at Ebenezer. In one great battle against Israel, the Philistines killed four thousand Israelite troops in the fields and sent the survivors retreating to camp to report their defeat. Why has the Lord let this happen to us?, the elders of Israel asked. Perhaps if we brought the Ark of the Lord here, along with Hophni and Phinehas, then the Lord might save us. Word was sent to Shiloh for the Ark of the Lord to be brought, as well as Hophni and Phinehas, Eli’s sons. Would not the Lord Who sits on His throne above the cherubim bring victory?

Excitement swept through the camp of Israel when the Ark arrived. The men shouted so loud that the earth trembled. What’s happening over there in the Hebrew camp? The Philistines wondered when they heard the shouting. Then the report came that the Ark of the Lord had come into the battle.

The Philistines were afraid when they heard that. They have brought their God to fight with them, they said. Woe to us! We have never fought their God before. Who can save us from His power, for He is the One Who saved the Hebrews by sending plagues to the Egyptians. Take courage! Fight like men, so that we will not become their slaves as they have been ours. The Philistines fought mightily and defeated the people of Israel again, killing thirty thousand Israelites this time. They also captured the Ark of the Lord and killed Hophni and Phinehas. A man from the tribe of Benjamin escaped from the battle, arriving in Shiloh the same day with his clothes torn and his head covered with dirt to show his sorrow. When he told what had happened that day, a great cry went up from the city. Eli had been sitting by the gate where the road went into the city, waiting for news of the Ark, for he was deeply concerned for it. When the cry went up from the city, Eli shouted out, what is all that noise about?

Then the messenger ran over and told Eli about the great defeat and the loss of the Ark and the death of his sons. Eli was ninety-eight years old and was blind and fat. I escaped from the battle today, said the messenger. “Our people have been defeated and your sons have been killed, along with thousands of our men. The Philistines have also captured the Ark of the Lord. When Eli heard about the Ark of the Lord, he fell backward from his seat at the gate and broke his neck. For forty years he had ruled over Israel as judge. Eli’s daughter-in-law, the wife of Phinehas, also heard the tragic news that both her husband and father-in-law were dead and that the Ark of the Lord was captured. She had been expecting a baby. When she heard this news, she began to give birth to the child. Don’t be afraid, for you have had a baby boy, the women who helped her said. But Phinehas’ wife was dying and did not answer them, although she did name the child Ichabod, which meant “The Glory is Gone.” The glory is gone from Israel, she said, for the Ark of the Lord was gone and her husband and Eli both were dead.”

COMMENTARY

THE BATTLE OF EBENEZER
When an Israelite army was defeated by the Philistines, a call went out to bring the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant to the army camp. The Ark, dating from the time of Exodus, was the focus of God’s presence with His people. It was to be kept in the inner room of the tabernacle. But the army cried, “Bring the Ark that it may save us.” Trust in God could have brought deliverance. But trust in the Ark of God led to devastating defeat. It was a dark day for Israel. The cheers of the jubilant soldiers seemed to rock the ground when Phinehas and Hophni entered the camp with the Ark. Alone they had little hope of defeating the Philistines, but with the Holy Ark they were certain they would not fail.

Many of the soldiers believed that the Ark would guarantee God’s presence on the battlefield. They remembered other times that God had acted through the Ark. When the priests waded into the Jordan River, the waters opened up for the people to cross into Canaan. Throughout the years of the Exodus and the Conquest, the Ark was an instrument of God’s direction. Surely they reasoned, it would work for them this time as well. The Philistines were frightened when they discovered the Israelite plan. Other people carried their idols into battle as a safeguard against danger, but they were especially afraid of the Israelites’ God. Everyone knew of the wonders He had worked in Egypt. Both sides were stunned at the end of the battle. To the Israelites, the Lord had deserted His people. To others, Philistine military power seemed stronger than the Lord’s power. The Israelites had learned a hard lesson. God had warned them He would punish the corruption of His temple. His power alone gave meaning to the Ark; it could not be used to manipulate His actions.

TEST YOURSELF

1.) Who defeated Israel and captured the Ark?
            A) The Edomites
            B) The Egyptians
            C) The Philistines
            D) The Moabites

2.) Who delivered the news of Israel’s defeat to Eli?
            A) A Benjamite man
            B) A Nazirite woman
            C) A Judean girl
            D) An Egyptian boy

3.) How did Eli die?
            A) He was slain in battle
            B) He fell over and broke his neck
            C) He was poisoned
            D) He died of leprosy

4.) What does “Ichabod” mean?
            A) “God is angry”
            B) “Gunslinger”
            C) “The glory is gone”
            D) “The long journey”