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Patriarchs and Prophets
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 fear. Eager to be free
from its presence, yet not daring to remove it, the Beth-shemites sent
a message to the inhabitants of Kirjath-jearim, inviting them to take
it away. With great joy the men of this place welcomed the sacred
chest. They knew that it was the pledge of divine favor to the obedient
and faithful. With solemn gladness they brought it to their city and
placed it in the house of Abinadab, a Levite. This man appointed his
son Eleazar to take charge of it, and it remained there for many years.
During the years since the Lord first manifested Himself to the
son of Hannah, Samuel’s call to the prophetic office had come to be
acknowledged by the whole nation. By faithfully delivering the divine
warning to the house of Eli, painful and trying as the duty had been,
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Samuel had given proof of his fidelity as Jehovah’s messenger; “and
the Lord was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground.
And all Israel from Dan even to Beersheba knew that Samuel was
established to be a prophet of the Lord.”
The Israelites as a nation still continued in a state of irreligion
and idolatry, and as a punishment they remained in subjection to the
Philistines. During this time Samuel visited the cities and villages
throughout the land, seeking to turn the hearts of the people to the
God of their fathers; and his efforts were not without good results.
After suffering the oppression of their enemies for twenty years, the
Israelites “mourned after the Lord.” Samuel counseled them, “If ye do
return unto the Lord with all your hearts, then put away the strange
gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts unto