Who: Philistines-a member of a non-Semitic people of ancient southern Palestine, who came into conflict with the Israelites during the 12th and 11th centuries BC.
When: Period- 11th century from 1001 to 1100 Julian calendar; 12th century from 1101 to 1200
Where: Ebenezer(Israle camped here before the attacks)
What: The Philistines attacked Isreal;
How was Israel defeated: 4K men were killed and Israel was defeated.
Quotes:
"Why has the LORD permitted us to be defeated today by the Philistines? Let us fetch the ark of the LORD from Shiloh that it may go into battle among us and save us from the grasp of our enemies."
Ark of the LORD: This was a chest made of acacia wood, about four feet long, two and a half feet wide, and two and a half feet high. It was overlaid with gold inside and out (Ex 25:11) and a ring of gold at each corner or foot through which poles were passed to carry it.
LOSS OF THE ARK: people sent to SHILOH and brought from there the ark of the LORD of hosts, who is enthroned upon the cherubim
God is represented seated upon a throne borne through the heavents by cherubim, creatures party human being, partly beast.*
Ark of the Lord arrived in the camp, all Israel shouted so loudly that the Earth shook
Because of this, the Philistines were frightened, they thought their GODs were against them otherwise they will become slaves like the HEBREWS. The Philistines fought valiantly and killed 30K Israel foot soldiers.
Hophni and Phinehas both died. 1Samuel 4; 11
Death of Eli
When Eli was sitting in his chair beside the gate and troubled at heart about the ark of God. Eli was 90 years old, and his eyes could not focus or see.
Summary from man:
- Israel fled from the Philistines
- heavy troop losses
- two sons dead: Hophni and Phineas
- Ark of God has been captured
Eli fell backwards and broke his neck. He judged Israel fro forty years.
His daughter-in-law, the wife of Phinehas birthed a son after hearing about everything that happened. She was about to die and gave birth to a son named Ichabod
Gone is the glory from Israel," because the ark of God had been captured.
Chapter 5:
The Philistines having captured the ark of GOD
Where: Ashdod
Chapter 5
Temple of Dagon: In the Hebrew Bible, Dagon is particularly the god of the Philistines with temples at Beth-dagon in the tribe of Asher (Joshua 19.27), in Gaza (Judges 16.23, which tells soon after how the temple is destroyed by Samson as his last act).
What: The Ark of God was transferred from Ebenezer to Ashdod.
Dagon was lay face down on the ground before the ark of the Lord, the hands and head were broken off and lying on the threhold, the trunk alone intact.
The Ark is carried About: The Lord judged Ashdod and inflicted tumors on them*
* mice, suggestive of the bubonic plague, infested their field.
The Philistines moved the Ark to Gath
"The hand of the lord was against the city, resulting in utter turmoil"
1 Samuel 5: 8-9
The ark was then moved to Ekron; "Why have they brought the ark of the GOD of Israel here to kill us and our kindred?"
"Send away the ark of the God of Israel. Send it back to its place so it does not kill us and our kidnred."
-Those who escaped death were afflicted with tumors; outcry form the city went up to the heavens.
1 Samuel 5: 10-12
CHAPTER 6:
The Ark is Returned:
"What shall we do with the ark of the LORD? Tell us what we should send back with it"
They can't send it back alone, they have to make amends to God.
