FEED 229 Mentoring Through 1 Samuel Session 5A: 1 Samuel 4 MAH YEOW BENG

FEED 229 Mentoring Through 1 Samuel Session 5A: 1 Samuel 4 MAH YEOW BENG

1 Samuel 4:1-3 1 And Samuel s word came to all Israel. Now the Israelites went out to fight against the Philistines. The Israelites camped at Ebenezer, and the Philistines at Aphek. 2 The Philistines deployed their forces to meet Israel, and as the battle spread, Israel was defeated by the Philistines, who killed about four thousand of them on the battlefield. 3 When the soldiers returned to camp, the elders of Israel asked, Why did the Lord bring defeat on us today before the Philistines? Let us bring the ark of the Lord s covenant from Shiloh, so that he may go with us and save us from the hand of our enemies.

1 Samuel 4:4-5 4 So the people sent men to Shiloh, and they brought back the ark of the covenant of the Lord Almighty, who is enthroned between the cherubim. And Eli s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God. 5 When the ark of the Lord s covenant came into the camp, all Israel raised such a great shout that the ground shook.

1 Samuel 4:6-8 6 Hearing the uproar, the Philistines asked, What s all this shouting in the Hebrew camp? When they learned that the ark of the Lord had come into the camp, 7 the Philistines were afraid. A god has come into the camp, they said. Oh no! Nothing like this has happened before. 8 We re doomed! Who will deliver us from the hand of these mighty gods? They are the gods who struck the Egyptians with all kinds of plagues in the wilderness.

1 Samuel 4:9-11 9 Be strong, Philistines! Be men, or you will be subject to the Hebrews, as they have been to you. Be men, and fight! 10 So the Philistines fought, and the Israelites were defeated and every man fled to his tent. The slaughter was very great; Israel lost thirty thousand foot soldiers. 11 The ark of God was captured, and Eli s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, died.

1 Samuel 4:12-13 12 That same day a Benjamite ran from the battle line and went to Shiloh with his clothes torn and dust on his head. 13 When he arrived, there was Eli sitting on his chair by the side of the road, watching, because his heart feared for the ark of God. When the man entered the town and told what had happened, the whole town sent up a cry.

1 Samuel 4:14-16 14 Eli heard the outcry and asked, What is the meaning of this uproar? The man hurried over to Eli, 15 who was ninety-eight years old and whose eyes had failed so that he could not see. 16 He told Eli, I have just come from the battle line; I fled from it this very day. Eli asked, What happened, my son?

1 Samuel 4:17-18 17 The man who brought the news replied, Israel fled before the Philistines, and the army has suffered heavy losses. Also your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and the ark of God has been captured. 18 When he mentioned the ark of God, Eli fell backward off his chair by the side of the gate. His neck was broken and he died, for he was an old man, and he was heavy. He had led Israel forty years.

1 Samuel 4:19-20 19 His daughter-in-law, the wife of Phinehas, was pregnant and near the time of delivery. When she heard the news that the ark of God had been captured and that her father-in-law and her husband were dead, she went into labor and gave birth, but was overcome by her labor pains. 20 As she was dying, the women attending her said, Don t despair; you have given birth to a son. But she did not respond or pay any attention.

1 Samuel 4:21-22 21 She named the boy Ichabod, saying, The Glory has departed from Israel because of the capture of the ark of God and the deaths of her father-in-law and her husband. 22 She said, The Glory has departed from Israel, for the ark of God has been captured.

BACKGROUND SURROUNDING CHAPTER 4 1 Samuel 4

BACKGROUND SURROUNDING CHAPTER 4 If the entire Samuel narrative runs towards David, then Chapters 1-3 have introduced us to Samuel as the kingmaker. Chapters 4-6 provide us a second reason for the emergence of David: the Philistines emergency.

BACKGROUND SURROUNDING CHAPTER 4 Chapters 4-6 1 coherent and distinctive narrative unit called the ark narrative. 3 Interesting observations: 1Samuel is not present. 2Theologically primitive in the sense that Yahweh acts directly, without recourse to any secondary agent. 3A chiastic unity in 1 Samuel 4 to 7.

BACKGROUND SURROUNDING CHAPTER 4 Chapters 4-6 Chiastic unity in 1 Samuel 4 to 7: A. Philistines defeated Israel: 4:2-9 B. Philistines captured the ark: 4:10-22 C. The LORD retaliated against the Philistines: ch. 5 B Philistines returned the ark: ch. 6 A Israel defeated the Philistines: ch. 7

BACKGROUND SURROUNDING CHAPTER 4 Chapter 4 Insiders who failed to know God Outsiders who seemed to know God more 1 st Battle Israel defeated (vv.1-2) The Masses 1) Israelites (vv.3-5): 2) Philistines (vv.6-9): USING GOD FIGHTING GOD Let us bring the ark of the Lord s covenant Be strong, Philistines! Be men, and fight! from Shiloh, so that he may go with us and save (v.9) us from the hand of our enemies. (v.3b) 2 nd Battle Israel humiliated (vv.10-11) The Individuals 3) Eli (vv.12-18): WORRYING FOR GOD the ark of God has been captured. (v.17b) 4) Wife of Phinehas (vv.19-22): LOSING GOD She named the boy Ichabod, saying, The Glory has departed from Israel (v.21a)

1 st BATTLE: ISRAEL DEFEATED VV. 1-2 Israel was defeated by the Philistines, who killed about four thousand of them on the battlefield. (v.2b).

1 ST BATTLE: ISRAEL DEFEATED VV. 1-2

1 ST BATTLE: ISRAEL DEFEATED VV. 1-2 19 Not a blacksmith could be found in the whole land of Israel, because the Philistines had said, Otherwise the Hebrews will make swords or spears! 20 So all Israel went down to the Philistines to have their plow points, mattocks, axes and sickles sharpened. 21 The price was two-thirds of a shekel for sharpening plow points and mattocks, and a third of a shekel for sharpening forks and axes and for repointing goads. (1 Sam 13:19-21)

1 ST BATTLE: ISRAEL DEFEATED VV. 1-2

1. USING GOD VV. 3-5 Let us bring the ark of the Lord s covenant from Shiloh, so that he may go with us and save us from the hand of our enemies. (v.3b)

1. USING GOD VV. 3-5 14 But if you will not listen to me and carry out all these commands, 15 and if you reject my decrees and abhor my laws and fail to carry out all my commands and so violate my covenant, 16 then I will do this to you: I will bring on you sudden terror, wasting diseases and fever that will destroy your sight and sap your strength. You will plant seed in vain, because your enemies will eat it. 17 I will set my face against you so that you will be defeated by your enemies; those who hate you will rule over you, and you will flee even when no one is pursuing you. (Leviticus 26:14-17) 15 However, if you do not obey the Lord your God and do not carefully follow all his commands and decrees I am giving you today, all these curses will come on you and overtake you: 25 The Lord will cause you to be defeated before your enemies. You will come at them from one direction but flee from them in seven, and you will become a thing of horror to all the kingdoms on earth. (Deuteronomy 28:15, 25)

1. USING GOD VV. 3-5 35 Whenever the ark set out, Moses said, Rise up, Lord! May your enemies be scattered; may your foes flee before you. (Numbers 10:35) 6 So Joshua son of Nun called the priests and said to them, Take up the ark of the covenant of the Lord and have seven priests carry trumpets in front of it. 7 And he ordered the army, Advance! March around the city, with an armed guard going ahead of the ark of the Lord. (Joshua 6:6-7)

1. USING GOD VV. 3-5 The ark of covenant represents Yahweh s rule, revelation, and reconciliation. This was the throne of God from which He spoke to His people (ex. 25:10-22). The ark is to the Israelites unlike an idol is to the nations for it does not embodies God fully such that it is to be worshipped as an object. Unfortunately, the Israelites too have fallen to the misconception of equating the ark to God s presence: A god has come into the camp, (v.7) The Ark of the Covenant It is mentioned 12 times in Ch. 4, 12 times in Ch. 5 and 11 times in Ch. 6. It would leave Israel on its own accord with the fall of Eli but return when Samuel began judging. Though the Israelites called it the Ark of the Covenant they willfully remembered only the ark but conveniently forgot about the covenant.

1. USING GOD VV. 3-5

1. USING GOD VV. 3-5

1. USING GOD VV. 3-5 Let God be God and we be wee! Marva J. Dawn 1948 - Christian theologian, author, musician and educator.

1. USING GOD VV. 3-5

2. FIGHTING GOD VV. 6-9 Be strong, Philistines! Be men, and fight! (v.9)

Used 150 times in 1 & 2 Samuel. The Sea Peoples who had migrated from Greece and Crete to South Western Coastal Canaan (Phoenicia) in approximately 1200 B.C.. Gen 10:14 traces their origins while Gen 21:32, may be an anachronism of the place in which Abram settled prior to the arrival of the Philistines. 2. FIGHTING GOD VV. 6-9 The Philistines

2. FIGHTING GOD VV. 6-9 1 Samuel 5 1 Samuel 6

2. FIGHTING GOD VV. 6-9 But if a wicked person turns away from all the sins they have committed and keeps all my decrees and does what is just and right, that person will surely live; they will not die. Ezekiel 18:21,27 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9 Those who honor me I will honor, but those who despise me will be disdained. 1 Sam 2:30b

2 ND BATTLE: ISRAEL HUMILIATED VV. 10-11 the Israelites were defeated and every man fled to his tent. The slaughter was very great; Israel lost thirty thousand foot soldiers. 11 The ark of God was captured, and Eli s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, died. (VV. 10-11)

3. WORRYING FOR GOD VV. 12-18 the ark of God has been captured. (v.17b)

3. WORRYING FOR GOD VV. 12-18 When [the messenger] mentioned the ark of God [was taken], Eli fell backward and he died (4:18) Indictment against Eli s house (1 Sam 2:31-34): 1. There will be no old man in his family (2:31) 2. All his descendants will die at prime of life (2:32,33) 3. He will see distress in God s dwelling (2:32) 4. Those spared (of short life) will blind his eyes with tears and grieve his heart (2:33) 5. Both Hophni and Phinehas will die on the same day (2:34). 6. The priesthood would be given to someone else (2:35-36).

3. WORRYING FOR GOD VV. 12-18 The Decline Fulfillment of Punishment (4:17,18) Hophni and Phinehas died in battle on the same day Israel routed by Philistines Ark captured by Philistines Eli witnessed all above before passing away Ahijah (14:3, 18), also known as Ahimelech (Ch. 21, 22) son of Ahitub, son of Phinehas became priest under Saul but later he and his father s whole family together (85 of them) with the town of Nob were martyred by Saul (22:11) fulfilling 1 Samuel 2:31-33. Ahimelech s son, Abiathar, escaped (22:20, 23:6) and became co-priest with Zadok under David. But later Abiathar supported Adonijah s attempt on throne (1 Kg 1:7) and became the last of Eli s line to serve as priest to the king when Solomon banished him for siding with Adonijah (1 Kg 2:26,27) Zadok descended from Aaron s 3 rd son Eleazar (2 Sam 8:17, 1 Chr 24:3) and his descendants held the high priest office till the fall of Jerusalem. Thus he fulfilled 1Sam 2:35, 36 of the faithful priest who will serve the anointed forever.

4. LOSING GOD VV. 19-22 She named the boy Ichabod, saying, The Glory has departed from Israel (v.21a)

4. LOSING GOD VV. 19-22 As the wife of Phinehas was dying, she named her newborn son Ichabod. Kabod in Hebrew means glory Ichabod means No glory Twice she explained that: The Glory has departed from Israel for the ark of God has been captured (vv.21, 22). The word departed in Hebrew is galah which also means carried into exile.

4. LOSING GOD VV. 19-22 1 Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; 2 While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear. 3 Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; 4 But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. 1 Peter 3:1-4 (KJV)

Insiders who failed to know God Outsiders who seemed to know God more 1 st Battle Israel defeated (vv.1-2) The Masses 1) Israelites (vv.3-5): USING GOD Let us bring the ark of the Lord s covenant from Shiloh, so that he may go with us and save us from the hand of our enemies. (v.3b) 2) Philistines (vv.6-9): FIGHTING GOD Be strong, Philistines! Be men, and fight! (v.9) 2 nd Battle Israel humiliated (vv.10-11) The Individuals 3) Eli (vv.12-18): WORRYING FOR GOD the ark of God has been captured. (v.17b) 4) Wife of Phinehas (vv.19-22): LOSING GOD She named the boy Ichabod, saying, The Glory has departed from Israel (v.21a)

FEED 229 Mentoring Through 1 Samuel Session 5B: The Ark & Samuel s Leadership 1 Samuel 5-7 MAH YEOW BENG

Chapters 4-6 Chiastic unity in 1 Samuel 4 to 7: A. Philistines defeated Israel: 4:2-9 B. Philistines captured the ark: 4:10-22 C. The LORD retaliated against the Philistines: ch. 5 B Philistines returned the ark: ch. 6 A Israel defeated the Philistines: ch. 7

1 Samuel 5 Arkaeological Discoveries in Philistia

1 Samuel 5 Arkaeological Discoveries in Philistia vv.1-5 1 After the Philistines had captured the ark of God, they took it from Ebenezer to Ashdod. 2 Then they carried the ark into Dagon s temple and set it beside Dagon.3 When the people of Ashdod rose early the next day, there was Dagon, fallen on his face on the ground before the ark of the Lord! They took Dagon and put him back in his place. 4 But the following morning when they rose, there was Dagon, fallen on his face on the ground before the ark of the Lord! His head and hands had been broken off and were lying on the threshold; only his body remained. 5 That is why to this day neither the priests of Dagon nor any others who enter Dagon s temple at Ashdod step on the threshold.

1 Samuel 5 Arkaeological Discoveries in Philistia vv.6-8 6 The Lord s hand was heavy on the people of Ashdod and its vicinity; he brought devastation on them and afflicted them with tumors. 7 When the people of Ashdod saw what was happening, they said, The ark of the god of Israel must not stay here with us, because his hand is heavy on us and on Dagon our god. 8 So they called together all the rulers of the Philistines and asked them, What shall we do with the ark of the god of Israel? They answered, Have the ark of the god of Israel moved to Gath. So they moved the ark of the God of Israel.

1 Samuel 5 Arkaeological Discoveries in Philistia vv.9-12 9 But after they had moved it, the Lord s hand was against that city, throwing it into a great panic. He afflicted the people of the city, both young and old, with an outbreak of tumors. 10 So they sent the ark of God to Ekron. As the ark of God was entering Ekron, the people of Ekron cried out, They have brought the ark of the god of Israel around to us to kill us and our people. 11 So they called together all the rulers of the Philistines and said, Send the ark of the god of Israel away; let it go back to its own place, or it will kill us and our people. For death had filled the city with panic; God s hand was very heavy on it. 12 Those who did not die were afflicted with tumors, and the outcry of the city went up to heaven.

1 Samuel 5 Arkaeological Discoveries in Philistia Progression of Polemics of Yahweh over Dagon and his son, Baal: The Song of Deborah: the Lord portrayed as sovereign over the storm as He defeated the Canaanite armies (Judges 5:4-5). Baal s inability to avenge Gideon s (Jerubbaal s) attack on his altar (Judges 6:25-32). Samson burning the grains of Philistines (Judges 15:4-5). Samson brought Dagon s temple to the ground (Judges 16:30). Hannah s Song: celebrated the Lord s ability (and not Baal s) to give fertility (1 Sam 2:1-10). God thundered the Philistines into defeat (1 Sam 7:10): The climax!

1 Samuel 5 Arkaeological Discoveries in Philistia KEYWORDS: Ark of God: 12 times (vv. 1-11). Dagon: 8 times (vv. 1-7). The Lord s hand: 4 times (vv. 6-11). Heavy: 3 times (vv. 6, 7, 11).

1 Samuel 5 Arkaeological Discoveries in Philistia Within the Canaanite pantheon, Dagon seems to have been second only to El in power. He was one of four sons born to Anu. Dagon was also the father of Baal. Among the Canaanites, Baal eventually assumed the position of god of fertility, which Dagon had previously occupied. Dagon was sometimes associated with the half fish female deity Derceto (which may account for the theory of Dagon being portrayed as half fish). Little else is known of Dagon's place in the Canaanite pantheon, but his role in Philistine religion as primary deity is quite evident. It is known, however, that the Canaanites imported Dagon from Babylonia. Judd Burton, Dagon in About.Com: Ancient/Classical History http://ancienthistory.about.com/od/godsmyth/a/dagon.htm (Accessed on 20 Oct 2008).

1 Samuel 5 Arkaeological Discoveries in Philistia early the next day (5:3) and the following morning when they rose (5:4) Calls to mind the Easter formula of the Gospels (Matt 28:1; Mark 16:2; Luke 24:1).

1 Samuel 5 Arkaeological Discoveries in Philistia The expression fall on the ground often refers to an act of submission and/or fear (Gen. 44:14; Josh 5:14; 7:6; Judg 13:20; Ruth 2:10; 1 Sam 28:20; 2 Sam 1:2; 14:4; 22; 2 Kings 4:37; Job 1:20), but it can also be used of military defeat and death (Judg 3:25; 1 Sam 17:49; 2 Chron 20:24). Robert B. Chisholm Jr. Teach the Text Commentary Series: 1 & 2 Samuel (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2013), 34.

1 Samuel 5 Arkaeological Discoveries in Philistia 5:6 afflicted them with tumors

1 Samuel 5 Arkaeological Discoveries in Philistia 5:7 [Yahweh s] hand is heavy upon [them] The theological contrast is that Dagon has lost his hands (5:4 His head and hands had been broken off ) but the Lord s hand is wreaking havoc among Dagon s worshippers! The word heavy db;k' kabad {kaw-bad'} or dbek' kabed {kaw-bade'} (see also 5:7, 11) is from the same root word as glory dabk' kabowd {kaw-bode'} rarely dbok' kabod {kaw-bode'} used in 4:21-22.

1 Samuel 5 Arkaeological Discoveries in Philistia Progress in degree of panic as the Philistines passed the ark from one city to another: At Ashdod (vv.1-7): Dagon fell on his face on the ground before the ark of the Lord (v.3). Dagon s head and hands broken off (v.4). The Lord s hand was heavy on the people; he brought devastation on them and afflicted them with tumors. (v.6). At Gath (vv.8-9): the Lord s hand was against that city, throwing it into a great panic. He afflicted the people of the city, both young and old, with an outbreak of tumors. (v.9) At Ekron (vv.10-12): Send the ark of the god of Israel away; let it go back to its own place, or it will kill us and our people. For death had filled the city with panic; God s hand was very heavy on it. 12 Those who did not die were afflicted with tumors, and the outcry of the city went up to heaven. (vv.11-12).

1 Samuel 6 The Ark Returned to Israel

1 Samuel 6 The Ark Returned to Israel vv.1-3 1 When the ark of the Lord had been in Philistine territory seven months, 2 the Philistines called for the priests and the diviners and said, What shall we do with the ark of the Lord? Tell us how we should send it back to its place. 3 They answered, If you return the ark of the god of Israel, do not send it back to him without a gift; by all means send a guilt offering to him. Then you will be healed, and you will know why his hand has not been lifted from you.

1 Samuel 6 The Ark Returned to Israel vv.4-6 4 The Philistines asked, What guilt offering should we send to him? They replied, Five gold tumors and five gold rats, according to the number of the Philistine rulers, because the same plague has struck both you and your rulers. 5 Make models of the tumors and of the rats that are destroying the country, and give glory to Israel s god. Perhaps he will lift his hand from you and your gods and your land. 6 Why do you harden your hearts as the Egyptians and Pharaoh did? When Israel s god dealt harshly with them, did they not send the Israelites out so they could go on their way?

1 Samuel 6 The Ark Returned to Israel vv.7-9 7 Now then, get a new cart ready, with two cows that have calved and have never been yoked. Hitch the cows to the cart, but take their calves away and pen them up. 8 Take the ark of the Lord and put it on the cart, and in a chest beside it put the gold objects you are sending back to him as a guilt offering. Send it on its way, 9 but keep watching it. If it goes up to its own territory, toward Beth Shemesh, then the Lord has brought this great disaster on us. But if it does not, then we will know that it was not his hand that struck us but that it happened to us by chance.

1 Samuel 6 The Ark Returned to Israel vv.10-12 10 So they did this. They took two such cows and hitched them to the cart and penned up their calves. 11 They placed the ark of the Lord on the cart and along with it the chest containing the gold rats and the models of the tumors. 12 Then the cows went straight up toward Beth Shemesh, keeping on the road and lowing all the way; they did not turn to the right or to the left. The rulers of the Philistines followed them as far as the border of Beth Shemesh.

1 Samuel 6 The Ark Returned to Israel vv.13-16 13 Now the people of Beth Shemesh were harvesting their wheat in the valley, and when they looked up and saw the ark, they rejoiced at the sight. 14 The cart came to the field of Joshua of Beth Shemesh, and there it stopped beside a large rock. The people chopped up the wood of the cart and sacrificed the cows as a burnt offering to the Lord. 15 The Levites took down the ark of the Lord, together with the chest containing the gold objects, and placed them on the large rock. On that day the people of Beth Shemesh offered burnt offerings and made sacrifices to the Lord. 16 The five rulers of the Philistines saw all this and then returned that same day to Ekron.

1 Samuel 6 The Ark Returned to Israel vv.17-18 17 These are the gold tumors the Philistines sent as a guilt offering to the Lord one each for Ashdod, Gaza, Ashkelon, Gath and Ekron. 18 And the number of the gold rats was according to the number of Philistine towns belonging to the five rulers the fortified towns with their country villages. The large rock on which the Levites set the ark of the Lord is a witness to this day in the field of Joshua of Beth Shemesh.

1 Samuel 6 The Ark Returned to Israel vv.19-21 19 But God struck down some of the inhabitants of Beth Shemesh, putting seventy of them to death because they looked into the ark of the Lord. The people mourned because of the heavy blow the Lord had dealt them. 20 And the people of Beth Shemesh asked, Who can stand in the presence of the Lord, this holy God? To whom will the ark go up from here? 21 Then they sent messengers to the people of Kiriath Jearim, saying, The Philistines have returned the ark of the Lord. Come down and take it up to your town.

1 Samuel 6 The Ark Returned to Israel KEYWORDS: Ark: 11 times (vv. 1-21). Gift/offering: 7 times (vv. 3-17). Hand: 3 times (vv. 3,5, 9).

1 Samuel 6 The Ark Returned to Israel 6:4 "Five gold tumors and five gold rats Gold: again echoes Israel s taking of gold and silver from Egypt (Exod. 11:2; 12:35-36).

1 Samuel 6 The Ark Returned to Israel 6:5: give glory kabod give glory to God. The same God who seemed to have lost glory (4:21-22) is now to be honored and made heavy by Philistine deference. Again, this connects to the narrative in the Exodus (Exod. 14:4, 17). you, your gods and your land Demonstrates the extend of Yahweh s power: Yahweh rules everything that is Philistine, in their heaven as well as on their earth

1 Samuel 6 The Ark Returned to Israel 6:6 Why do you harden your hearts as the Egyptians and Pharaoh did? When he treated them harshly, did they not send the Israelites out so they could go on their way?

1 Samuel 6 The Ark Returned to Israel 6:12 Here was Yahweh s cowfirmation for the Philistines; perhaps we could say He spoke to them in a low but clear voice. This Yahweh s new exodus.

1 Samuel 6 The Ark Returned to Israel Now the people of Beth Shemesh were harvesting their wheat in the valley, and when they looked up and saw the ark, they rejoiced at the sight 6:13

1 Samuel 6 The Ark Returned to Israel 6:19 Beth Shemesh was a priestly city according to Josh 21:16. So, the residents should be inexcusable for mishandling the ark. (Num 4:5-6, 15-20)

1 Samuel 6 The Ark Returned to Israel NASB s 50,070 (in 6:19) is improbable because: The syntax is irregular: there is an absence of conjunction and the small number comes first. (The literal translation says, seventy men, fifty thousand men. ) Three reputable manuscripts omit the number. It is highly improbable that 50,000 people lived in the small town. Josephus attested to 70 instead of 50,070 (Antiquities 6:1:4)

1 Samuel 6 The Ark Returned to Israel Why did the LORD strike down these 70? It s more accurate to say they look at rather than look into the ark. Number 4:1-20 says the ark has to be covered when removed from the Holy of Holies and cannot be gazed upon. This incident foreshadows Uzzah s incident in 2 Sam 6:6-7. Both the incidences reminded Israel that the Lord must be treated with respect, fear and holiness (1 Sam 6:20).

1 Samuel 6 The Ark Returned to Israel Comparing Chapter 4 and 6: Chapter 4 Chapter 6 Glory departed (4:21-22) Glory given (6:5) Outcry of Israel (4:14) Rejoicing of Israel (6:13) Yahweh s exile to captivity (4:21-22, 5:1) Yahweh s triumphant return (6:12-13) The two speeches of the Philistines (4:7-9; 6:4-9) trace the Exodus as a model of Yahweh s exile and triumphal return.

1 Samuel 6 The Ark Returned to Israel The entire event bespeaks of Yahweh s sovereign way in the world. In our text Yahweh has said nothing, decreed, asserted, required nothing. Yahweh has moved in total, astonishing silence. There is no doubt, however, either for Israel or for the Philistines, that the sovereign will of Yahweh dominates the story. Walter Brueggemann, First and Second Samuel (Interpretation, Louisville, Ky: John Knox, 1990), 43.

1 Samuel 6 The Ark Returned to Israel The church community is always going early in the next morning (cf. 5:4), expecting to find things as they were the night before. Never fully comprehending this God, the church blandly expects the dead to stay dead and the blind, lame, lepers, and poor all to remain as they were (cf. Luke 7:22-23). This story is congenial to the startling evangelical announcement that He is not here, he has risen. In the hiddenness of the night, in the dangerous presence of death, Yahweh s power for life has been unleashed. Nothing has stayed the same. All the Dagons of death have lost their grip. In their place has come Yahweh s power for life sight, well-being, cleansing, justice. The rejoicing of Easter is like the joy in the fields of Bethshemesh (6:13). All flesh sees the newness. The community does not speculate or explain, it simply notices and tells and dances and risks the newness. That is what the Philistines found the next morning: He is not here. Walter Brueggemann, First and Second Samuel (Interpretation, Louisville, Ky: John Knox, 1990), 46-47.

1 Samuel 7 Samuel Led Israel to Victory Over the Philistines

1 Samuel 7 Samuel Led Israel to Victory Over the Philistines vv. 1-4 1 So the men of Kiriath Jearim came and took up the ark of the Lord. They brought it to Abinadab s house on the hill and consecrated Eleazar his son to guard the ark of the Lord. 2 The ark remained at Kiriath Jearim a long time twenty years in all. Then all the people of Israel turned back to the Lord. 3 So Samuel said to all the Israelites, If you are returning to the Lord with all your hearts, then rid yourselves of the foreign gods and the Ashtoreths and commit yourselves to the Lord and serve him only,and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines. 4 So the Israelites put away their Baals and Ashtoreths, and served the Lord only.

1 Samuel 7 Samuel Led Israel to Victory Over the Philistines vv. 5-6 5 Then Samuel said, Assemble all Israel at Mizpah, and I will intercede with the Lord for you. 6 When they had assembled at Mizpah, they drew water and poured it out before the Lord. On that day they fasted and there they confessed, We have sinned against the Lord. Now Samuel was serving as leader of Israel at Mizpah.

1 Samuel 7 Samuel Led Israel to Victory Over the Philistines vv. 7-9 7 When the Philistines heard that Israel had assembled at Mizpah, the rulers of the Philistines came up to attack them. When the Israelites heard of it, they were afraidbecause of the Philistines. 8 They said to Samuel, Do not stop crying out to the Lordour God for us, that he may rescue us from the hand of the Philistines. 9 Then Samuel took a suckling lamb and sacrificed it as a whole burnt offering to the Lord. He cried out to the Lord on Israel s behalf, and the Lord answered him.

1 Samuel 7 Samuel Led Israel to Victory Over the Philistines vv. 10-11 10 While Samuel was sacrificing the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to engage Israel in battle. But that day the Lord thundered with loud thunder against the Philistines and threw them into such a panic that they were routed before the Israelites. 11 The men of Israel rushed out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines, slaughtering them along the way to a point below Beth Kar.

1 Samuel 7 Samuel Led Israel to Victory Over the Philistines vv. 12-14 12 Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, Thus far the Lord has helped us. 13 So the Philistines were subdued and they stopped invading Israel s territory. Throughout Samuel s lifetime, the hand of the Lord was against the Philistines. 14 The towns from Ekron to Gath that the Philistines had captured from Israel were restored to Israel, and Israel delivered the neighboring territory from the hands of the Philistines. And there was peace between Israel and the Amorites.

1 Samuel 7 Samuel Led Israel to Victory Over the Philistines vv. 15-17 15 Samuel continued as Israel s leader all the days of his life. 16 From year to year he went on a circuit from Bethel to Gilgal to Mizpah, judging Israel in all those places. 17 But he always went back to Ramah, where his home was, and there he also held court for Israel. And he built an altar there to the Lord.

1 Samuel 7 Samuel Led Israel to Victory Over the Philistines 7:3-6 7:3 Conditions for deliverance: Return to the Lord with all your hearts: full repentance and no manipulations (v3). Rid yourself of foreign gods (v3). Commit yourself to the Lord: be His people again (v3). Serve the Lord only (v3). 7:4 Israel obeyed and put aside Baals Ashtoreths 7:5-6 Location: Mizpah a city in Benjamin (Josh 18:26) 7:6 Expressions for fulfilling the conditions for deliverance Poured water to the Lord (v 6). Fasted (v 6). Confessed (v6).

1 Samuel 7 Samuel Led Israel to Victory Over the Philistines 7:10 But that day the Lord thundered with loud thunder against the Philistines and threw them into such a panic that they were routed before the Israelites.

Ebenezer: Stone of Help: Up to this point has the Lord helped us. (7:12)

Ebenezer: Stone of Help: Up to this point has the Lord helped us. (7:12) This is a reversal of the earlier fortune (cf. 4:1-2). The setting up of stones has been a part of Hebrew culture: Jacob set up a memorial at Bethel (Gen 28:20-22; 35:14). Joshua set up 12 stones in the middle of Jordan (Josh 4:9) Joshua set up 12 stones in Gilgal (Josh 4:1-8; 19-21). Joshua set up a great heap of stone in Achor Valley to remind Jews of Achan s disobedience (Josh 7:24-26). Burial place for the King of Ai (Josh 8:29). At Makkedah where 5 kings were defeated and slain (Josh 10:25-27). Joshua s witness stone to obey and the Lord (Josh 24:26-28).

Ch.7 ends the theocratic rule of Yahweh. From Ch. 8 onwards, the people would insist on monarchic rule by a human king such as all the other nations have. (8:4) Despite the reasons put forth by Samuel against such a proposal, the people would not listen and insisted on a king to rule over them (8:19-20).