1 Samuel - Odessa, Missouri Community of Christ

2007 Edition Dr. Constable's Notes on 1 Samuel 23period of the judges the Israelites as a whole had adopted an increasingly pagan attitudetoward Yahweh. They felt that they could satisfy Him with simply formal worship andthat they could secure His help with offerings rather than humility. They were treating theark the same way they treated God. They believed the ark's presence among them inbattle would insure victory."We eventually all learn what Israel discovered in battle against thePhilistines. Having the paraphernalia of God and having God are not thesame." 60The paraphernalia that modern believers sometimes rely on in place of God include acrucifix, a picture of Jesus, or a family Bible positioned conspicuously in the home butseldom read. Others base their hope of spiritual success on a spiritually strong spouse,regular church attendance, or even the daily reading of the Bible. These things are nosubstitute for a vital personal relationship with God.Perhaps the elders of Israel remembered that in Joshua's conquest of Jericho the arkplayed a very important and visible part in the victory (Josh. 6:2-20). Nevertheless thenthe people trusted in Yahweh, not in the ark as a talisman. The custom of taking idols intobattle so their gods would deliver them was common among ancient warriors (cf. 2 Sam.5:21; 1 Chron. 14:12). Obviously the Israelites were wrong in thinking that the presenceof the ark would guarantee success."The offenses against the ark as pledge of Yahweh's presence appear to bemainly of two kinds: (1) a misplaced reliance on the ark, and (2) anirreverent disregard for the ark." 61The Hebrew word eleph, translated thousand (v. 2), can also mean military unit. Militaryunits were of varying sizes but considerably smaller than 1,000 soldiers. 62Ancient Near Eastern artists sometimes pictured a king sitting on a throne supported oneither side by a cherub, which the artist represented as a winged lion (sphinx) with ahuman head. 63 This may have been the image of the Lord of hosts (armies) "who sitsabove the cherubim" that the writer had in mind here (v. 4).The fact that the people shouted loudly when the ark arrived at Ebenezer from Shiloh (v.5) may be another indication that they were hoping to duplicate the victory at Jericho (cf.Josh. 6:20). Likewise the response of the Philistines when they heard the cry recallsRahab's revelation of how the Canaanites feared Yahweh (Josh 2:9-11). These allusionsto the victory at Jericho contrast the Israelites' present attitude toward God with what ithad been at that earlier battle.60 Kenneth L. Chafin, 1, 2 Samuel, p. 54.61 Marten H. Woudstra, The Ark of the Covenant from the Conquest to Kingship, p. 55.62 For more information concerning the problem of large numbers in the Old Testament, see R. E. D. Clark,"The Large Numbers of the Old Testament," Journal of Transactions of the Victoria Institute 87 (1955):82-92; and J. W. Wenham, "Large Numbers in the Old Testament," Tyndale Bulletin 18 (1967):19-53.63 W. F. Albright, "What Were the Cherubim?" Biblical Archaeologist 1:1 (1938):1-3.