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From Eternity Past
had attended the ark would be theirs, and that this, united with the
power of Dagon, would render them invincible.
But entering the temple the following day, they beheld a sight
which filled them with consternation. Dagon had fallen upon his face
before the ark of Jehovah. The priests reverently lifted the idol and
restored it to its place.
But the next morning they found it strangely mutilated, again lying
upon the earth before the ark. The upper part of this idol was like that
of a man, and the lower part 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 as an evil omen, foreboding destruction to themselves and
their idols before the God of the Hebrews. They removed the ark from
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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 inflicted upon Egypt, 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, 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.” The work of the destroyer went on,
until “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 in
the storehouse and in the field. Utter destruction now threatened the
nation.
For seven months the ark remained in Philistia. The Israelites
made no effort for its recovery. But the Philistines were anxious to free
themselves from its presence. Instead of being a source of strength
to them, it was a burden and heavy curse. Yet they knew not what
course to pursue. The people called for the princes of the nation, with
the priests and diviners, and 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.”