1 Samuel - Odessa, Missouri Community of Christ

30 Dr. Constable's Notes on 1 Samuel 2007 EditionWhy did God strike dead some Israelites who touched the ark inappropriately (v. 19; 1Chron. 13:10; cf. Lev. 10:2) and not deal with the Philistines in the same way (4:17)?God was merciful to the Philistines. He will be gracious to whom He will be gracious,and He will show compassion on whom He will show compassion (Exod. 33:19). Thereason for His patience with the Philistines was partially to teach the Israelites and thePhilistines His omnipotence. Also the Israelites' greater knowledge of God's will placedthem under greater responsibility to do His will.The Israelites came to a fresh appreciation of Yahweh's holiness because these men died(v. 20). The last part of this verse indicates that they wished God would depart fromthem, because they were sinful and He was holy. Thus the capture of the ark resulted inthe Philistines recognizing that Yahweh was the true source of fertility and blessing. TheIsraelites' also rededicated themselves to investigating and following the revealed will ofGod in the Mosaic Covenant.Archaeologists believe they have located the remains of Kiriath-jearim about 10 mileseast and a little north of Bethshemesh. Why did the Israelites not return the ark to thetabernacle at Shiloh? One possibility is that the Philistines had destroyed Shiloh (cf. Ps.78:60; Jer. 7:12, 14; 26:6, 9). The ark did not reside in an appropriate place of honor untilDavid brought it into his new capital, Jerusalem (2 Sam. 6). Kiriath-jearim was not aLevitical city nor is there any reason to believe Abinadab and Eleazar were priests orLevites. Perhaps the Israelites kept the ark there for convenience sake. It evidentlyremained there for many years (cf. 2 Sam. 6:2). 84"The certainty of God's presence is always a sign of hope, however darkthe circumstances may be." 85This whole major section of 1 Samuel (4:1b—7:1) advances the fertility motif. Dagon,the chief god of Israel's chief rival, proved incapable of preventing Yahweh's curse fromfalling on the Philistines. Yahweh Himself appears as sovereign and all powerful.Whereas the ark was the symbol of God's presence, it was not a talisman that wouldsecure victory for its possessor. The Israelites' attitude reveals that they did not appreciatethe importance of obeying the Mosaic Law. Some individuals probably perceived thatGod's presence was essential to Israel's blessing. Perhaps Eli and Phinehas' wife did.When God's presence was near again, there was rejoicing. In spite of Israel'sunfaithfulness, God gave the nation some blessing and returned the ark to His people. Heevidently did this so they would be able to rediscover the true nature of worship at afuture time, under David's leadership.84 Wood, p. 23, n. 8, calculated that "it was there about seventy years." See also ibid., p. 190. For a study ofthe complex history of Kiriath-jearim, see Joseph Blenkinsopp, "Kiriath-jearim and the Ark," Journal ofBiblical Literature 88 (1969):143-56. Baale-judah (2 Sam. 6:2) may be a later name for Kiriath-jearim(Youngblood, p. 868).85 Payne, p. 37.