patriarchs and prophets-第153章
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idol was like that of a man； and the lower part was in the likeness of a
fish。 Now every part that resembled the human form had been cut off； and
only the body of the fish remained。 Priests and people were horror…struck；
they looked upon this mysterious event as an evil omen； foreboding
destruction to themselves and their idols before the God of the Hebrews。
They now removed the ark from their temple and placed it in a building by
itself。
The inhabitants of Ashdod were smitten with a distressing and fatal disease。
Remembering the plagues that were inflicted upon Egypt by the God of Israel；
the people attributed their afflictions to the presence of the ark among
them。 It was decided to convey it to Gath。 But the plague followed close
upon its removal； and the men of that city sent it to Ekron。 Here the people
received it with terror； crying； 〃They have brought about the ark of the God
of Israel to us； to slay us and our people。〃 They turned to their gods for
protection； as the people of Gath and Ashdod had done； but the work of the
destroyer went on； until； in their distress； 〃the cry of the city went up to
heaven。〃 Fearing longer to retain the ark among the homes of men； the people
next placed it in the open field。 There followed a plague of mice； which
infested the land； destroying the products of the soil； both in the
storehouse and in the field。 Utter destruction； by disease or famine； now
threatened the nation。
For seven months the ark remained in Philistia； and during all this time the
Israelites made no effort for its recovery。 But the Philistines were now as
anxious to free themselves from its presence
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as they had been to obtain it。 Instead of being a source of strength to
them； it was a great burden and a heavy curse。 Yet they knew not what course
to pursue； for wherever it went the judgments of God followed。 The people
called for the princes of the nation； with the priests and diviners； and
eagerly inquired； 〃What shall we do to the ark of Jehovah？ tell us wherewith
we shall send it to his place？〃 They were advised to return it with a costly
trespass offering。 〃Then；〃 said the priests； 〃ye shall be healed； and it
shall be known to you why His hand is not removed from you。〃
To ward off or to remove a plague； it was anciently the custom among the
heathen to make an image in gold； silver； or other material； of that which
caused the destruction； or of the object or part of the body specially
affected。 This was set up on a pillar or in some conspicuous place； and was
supposed to be an effectual protection against the evils thus represented。 A
similar practice still exists among some heathen peoples。 When a person
suffering from disease goes for cure to the temple of his idol； he carries
with him a figure of the part affected； which he presents as an offering to
his god。
It was in accordance with the prevailing superstition that the Philistine
lords directed the people to make representations of the plagues by which
they had been afflicted〃five golden emerods； and five golden mice；
according to the number of the lords of the Philistines： for；〃 said they；
〃one plague was on you all； and on your lords。〃
These wise men acknowledged a mysterious power accompanying the arka power
which they had no wisdom to meet。 Yet they did not counsel the people to
turn from their idolatry to serve the Lord。 They still hated the God of
Israel； though compelled by overwhelming judgments to submit to His
authority。 Thus sinners may be convinced by the judgments of God that it is
in vain to contend against Him。 They may be compelled to submit to His
power； while at heart they rebel against His control。 Such submission cannot
save the sinner。 The heart must be yielded to Godmust be subdued by divine
gracebefore man's repentance can be accepted。
How great is the long…suffering of God toward the wicked！ The idolatrous
Philistines and backsliding Israel had alike enjoyed the gifts of His
providence。 Ten thousand unnoticed mercies
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were silently falling in the pathway of ungrateful； rebellious men。 Every
blessing spoke to them of the Giver； but they were indifferent to His love。
The forbearance of God was very great toward the children of men； but when
they stubbornly persisted in their impenitence； He removed from them His
protecting hand。 They refused to listen to the voice of God in His created
works； and in the warnings； counsels； and reproofs of His word； and thus He
was forced to speak to them through judgments。
There were some among the Philistines who stood ready to oppose the return
of the ark to its own land。 Such an acknowledgment of the power of Israel's
God would be humiliating to the pride of Philistia。 But 〃the priests and the
diviners〃 admonished the people not to imitate the stubbornness of Pharaoh
and the Egyptians； and thus bring upon themselves still greater afflictions。
A plan which won the consent of all was now proposed； and immediately put in
execution。 The ark； with the golden trespass offering； was placed upon a new
cart； thus precluding all danger of defilement； to this cart； or car； were
attached two kine upon whose necks a yoke had never been placed。 Their
calves were shut up at home； and the cows were left free to go where they
pleased。 If the ark should thus be returned to the Israelites by the way of
Beth…shemesh； the nearest city of the Levites； the Philistines would accept
this as evidence that the God of Israel had done unto them this great evil；
〃but if not；〃 they said； 〃then we shall know that it is not His hand that
smote us； it was a chance that happened to us。〃
On being set free； the kine turned from their young and； lowing as they
went； took the direct road to Beth…shemesh。 Guided by no human hand； the
patient animals kept on their way。 The divine Presence accompanied the ark；
and it passed on safely to the very place designated。
It was now the time of wheat harvest； and the men of Beth…shemesh were
reaping in the valley。 〃And they lifted up their eyes； and saw the ark； and
rejoiced to see it。 And the cart came into the field of Joshua； a
Beth…shemite； and stood there； where there was a great stone： and they clave
the wood of the cart； and offered the kine of burnt…offering unto the Lord。〃
The lords of the Philistines； who had followed the ark 〃unto the border of
Beth…shemesh；〃 and had witnessed its reception； now returned to
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Ekron。 The plague had ceased； and they were convinced that their calamities
had been a judgment from the God of Israel。
The men of Beth…shemesh quickly spread the tidings that the ark was in their
possession； and the people from the surrounding country flocked to welcome
its return。 The ark had been placed upon the stone that first served for an
altar； and before it additional sacrifices were offered unto the Lord。 Had
the worshipers repented of their sins； God's blessing would have attended
them。 But they were not faithfully obeying His law； and while they rejoiced
at the return of the ark as a harbinger of good； they had no true sense of
its sacredness。 Instead of preparing a suitable place for its reception；
they permitted it to remain in the harvest field。 As they continued to gaze
upon the sacred chest and to talk of the wonderful manner in which it had
been restored； they began to conjecture wherein lay its peculiar power。 At
last； overcome by curiosity； they removed the coverings and ventured to open
it。
All Israel had been taught to regard the ark with awe and reverence。 When
required to remove it from place to place the Levites were not so much as to
look upon it。 Only once a year was the high priest permitted to behold the
ark of God。 Even the heathen Philistines had not dared to remove its
coverings。 Angels of heaven； unseen； ever attended it in all its
journeyings。 The irreverent daring of the people at Beth…shemesh was
speedily punished。 Many were smitten with sudden death。
The survivors were not led by this judgment to repent of their sin； but only
to regard the ark with superstitious
