1 Samuel 6:1-12: The Ark of God and the Philistines
The Ark of God Captured by the Philistines
1 Samuel 6:1-3 And the ark of God was in the country of the Philistines seven months. And the Philistines called for the priests and the diviners, saying, "What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel?" And they said, "If you send away the ark of the God of Israel, do not send it away empty; but by all means return it to its rightful owner with a guilt offering, and you will be healed, and it will be known to you why His hand is not removed from you."
The Philistines had captured the Ark of God, and it had been in their possession for seven months. They were unsure of what to do with it, so they called for the priests and diviners to advise them. The priests and diviners told them that if they wanted to return the Ark, they should not send it back empty-handed, but rather with a guilt offering. This would show that they were acknowledging their wrongdoing and seeking to make amends with the God of Israel.
The Philistines' Guilt Offering
1 Samuel 6:4-6 Then the Philistines said, "What shall be the guilt offering which we shall return to Him?" And they said, "Five golden tumors and five golden mice, according to the number of the lords of the Philistines—for one plague was on all of you, and on your lords. Why then do you harden your hearts as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened their hearts? When He killed them, did He not afterward make Israel dwell?"
The priests and diviners advised the Philistines to return the Ark to Israel with a guilt offering of five golden tumors and five golden mice. These offerings represented the plague of tumors and the plague of mice that had afflicted the Philistines when the Ark was in their possession. The priests and diviners reminded the Philistines of the Israelites' experience with the Egyptians and Pharaoh, who had hardened their hearts and suffered consequences as a result.
The Return of the Ark
1 Samuel 6:7-10 So they made a new cart, took two milk cows which had never been yoked, and hitched the cows to the cart. And they took the Ark of the Lord and placed it on the cart, along with the chest containing the gold mice and the images of their tumors. And the cows headed straight for the road to Beth Shemesh, and went along the highway, lowing as they went, and did not turn aside to the right hand or the left. And the lords of the Philistines went after them to the border of Beth Shemesh.
The Philistines followed the advice of the priests and diviners and prepared a new cart and two milk cows that had never been yoked. They placed the Ark on the cart, along with the guilt offering, and let the cows lead the way. The cows, unguided, made their way straight to Beth Shemesh, lowing as they went.
The Ark Arrives in Beth Shemesh
1 Samuel 6:11-12 Now the people of Beth Shemesh were reaping their wheat harvest in the valley, and they lifted their eyes and saw the ark, and rejoiced to see it. Then the cart came into the field of Joshua of Beth Shemesh, and stood there; a large stone was there. And they split the wood of the cart and offered the cows as a burnt offering to the Lord.
When the Ark arrived in Beth Shemesh, the people were overjoyed to see it. They took the cart and the cows, and offered the cows as a burnt offering to the Lord. The Ark of God had finally returned to its rightful owners, and the people rejoiced at its return.
