But God had never bidden them take the Ark. He had commanded that it should stay in its place at Shiloh. They did not heed this, but took it out into the camp, and all the people shouted for joy when it was brought, with the two priests, Hophni and Phinehas, Eli's sons, to take care of it. When the Philistines heard the shout, they said that the gods of Israel were come, and that they must fight all the more bravely. And they did.
God would not help His people because of their self-will, so He let them be beaten by the Philistines, and Hophni and Phinehas were killed, and the holy Ark of God was taken by these heathens. And when poor old Eli, the High Priest, heard the sad news, he was so much shocked, that he fell down backwards and broke his neck and died.
God still shewed His power, for when the Philistines put the Ark into the temple of one of their false gods the idol fell down and was broken; and wherever it was taken the people fell sick, till at last they sent it back to the Israelites: but it never came back to Shiloh. It was hidden in a lonely house in the woods; and the Philistines were strong and the Israelites were very weak and miserable, because they had been so very disobedient.
THE DEATH OF ELI.—1 Sam. 4:17, 18.
QUESTIONS.
1. What people came to fight with the Israelites? 2. Why did God let any one hurt the Israelites? 3. What did the Israelites think would help them to fight? 4. What was in the Ark of the Covenant? 5. Where was it kept? 6. Ought they to have taken it? 7. Why not? 8. Why did they take it? 9. Did it give them the victory? 10. Why not? 11. Who were killed? 12. Who was the father of Hophni and Phinehas? 13. What happened to Eli when he heard the Ark was taken? 14. Why did God allow it to be taken? 15. Did it come back again? 16. Why did not the Philistines keep it? 17. What happened to their idol? 18. What happened to themselves? 19. Where had it been before? 20. Did it ever come back to Shiloh? 21. Where was it kept?