1 SAMUEL 4

ISRAEL LOSES THE ARK OF THE COVENANT IN BATTLE

The Israelites battle their enemies, the Philistines, and are defeated. Desperate, the Israelites take the ark of the covenant, containing the stone tablets of the ten commandments, into battle with them. The holy seat, located upon the ark of the covenant, is representative of God’s presence among Israel.

Upon seeing the ark, the Philistines are confused and scared, but they continue to battle and ultimately defeat Israel. Because the Israelites used the ark of the covenant in a way that did not honor God, God allows the ark to be stolen from their possession. The very thing that set Israel apart as God’s people was taken from them.

Eli’s two sons, Phineas and Hophni die, just as God previously told Samuel.

The news of the loss of the ark is so devastating it causes two deaths: Eli falls backwards, breaks his neck, and dies, and the wife of Phineas goes into labor and dies. That is some majorly bad news!