a and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were slain. 12 And there ran a man of Benjamin out of the army, and came to Shiloh the same day, with his clothes rent, and e with earth upon his head. 13 And when he came, lo, Elid sat upon a seat by the way-side, watching: for his heart trembled for the ark of God. And when the man came into the city and told it, all the city cried out. 14 And when Eli heard the noise of the crying, he said, 'What meaneth the noise of this tumult? and the man came in hastily, and told Eli. 15 Now Eli was ninety and eight years old; and his eyes were dim, that he could not see. 16 And the man said unto Eli, I am he that came out of the army, and I fled today out of the army. And he said, i What is there done, my son? k 17 And the messenger answered and said, Israel is fled before the Philistines: and there hath been also a great slaughter among the people; and thy two sons also, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead; and the ark of God is taken. n TM when he 18 And it came to pass, made mention of the ark of God, that he fell from off the seat backward, by the side of the gate, and his neck brake, and he died; for he was an old man, and heavy: and he had judged Israel forty years. 19 And his daughter-in-law, Phinehas's wife, was with child, near to be delivered: and when she heard the tidings that the ark of God was taken, and that her father-in-law and her husband were dead, she bowed herself and travailed; for her pains came upon her. 20 And about the time of her death, the women that stood by her, said unto her, Fear not, for thou hast born a son. But she answered not, "neither did she regard it. 21 And she named the child ** I-chabod, saying, The glory is departed from Israel: (because the ark of God was taken, and because of her father-in-law, and her husband:) 22 And she said, The glory is departed from Israel; for the ark of God is taken. m 21,22. Ps. 26:8. 42:3,10. 69: | T Heb. and set not her heart. V. 10, 11. On the former defeat the Israel-ark, and the departure of the glory from Israel; ites returned to the camp (3): but this was so for with her parting breath she named her son entire, that the survivors were totally dispers-I-chabod, or inglorious. In this her judgment ed. Probably Hophni and Phinehas fell fighting in defence of the ark. (Note, 4,5.) was right: the presence and ordinances of God were the chief glory of Israel; and the loss of them was the departure of that glory. This chiefly lay at her heart, as the concerns of rewellligion do on all pious spirits.' Bp. Patrick. But if she supposed that the Lord had finally departed from Israel, she was under a great mistake. From Shiloh indeed the ark, the glory of Israel, was finally removed; for probably the inhabitants of that city had too much resembled the abandoned priests; as is generally the case, when such examples of sacerdotal impiety and profligacy are exhibited: but it was restored to Israel, and established in another place. (Notes, Ps. 78:61-64,67-69. Jer. 7:12-15.) Neither was the ruin of Eli's family the destruction of the Aaronic priesthood. (Note, 2:35,36.) V. 13-18. Though Eli had been most criminally indulgent to his sons, and had abundant reason to expect to hear of their death, as as of the defeat of Israel, yet his chief anxiety appears to have been about the ark of God. Accordingly he bore the tidings of Israel's calamity, and of the death of his sons, in the midst of their unrepented crimes, with fortitude and resignation. (Notes, 3:16-18. 2 Sam. 18:28-33.) But when he heard that "the ark of God was taken;" his reflections on the dishonor to God and to religion, and the dreadful loss to his people, which his sins and negligence had occasioned, were more than he could support; and falling down in a swoon, his neck brake and he died. Thus his death, under a divine rebuke for his sins, has been a salutary warning to others, even to this present day: yet, in the circumstances of it he testified his Supreme regard to the honor of God, and the interests of religion, above all personal and relative considerations; and notwithstanding all his faults, he died in a lively exercise of love to God and his ordinances, and even by PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS. When the judgments denounced in the word of God do not bring sinners to repentance, the speedy execution of them may be expected.The nearer any persons are to the Lord in profession, and the greater privileges they are favored with, the more certain and dreadful will be their punishment, if they thence take en. couragement to commit iniquity.-Unhumbled V. 19-22. (Notes, Gen. 35:17,18.) The wife professors of true religion, especially if observ. of Phinehas, (though married to so wicked a ant of forms, whether of divine appointment or priest,) appears to have been a person of emi-human invention, are apt to think, that they are nent piety. The death of her father-in-law and of her husband contributed to hasten her death: but her dying regret was for the captivity of the occasion of it. entitled to help from God, because they are called by his name, though they disgrace it with their erimes; and to murmur at those rebukes, CHAP. V. 1, 2. Dagon falls down before it, and is broken in pieces, 3-5. The Philistines are smitten with emerods at Ashdod, Gath, and Ekron, when the ark is brought to those cities, 6-12. 4 And when they arose early on the The Philistines place the ark in the temple of Dagon at Ashdod, morrow-morning, behold Dagon was fallen upon his face to the ground before the ark of the LORD; and the head of Dagon, and both the palms of his hands, were cut off upon the threshold; only the stump of Dagon was left to him. A God, and brought it from Eben- C ezer unto Ashdod. 2 When the Philistines took the ark of God, they brought it into the house of Dagon, and set it by Dagon. 3 And when they of Ashdod arose early on the morrow, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the earth, before the ark of the LORD. And they took gon, and set him in his place again. a 4:11,17,18,22. Ps. 78:61. b 4:1. 7:12. e Josh. 11:22. Acts 8:40. Azotus. d Judg. 16:23. 1 Chr. 10:10. Dan. 5:2,23. Hab. 1:11,16. h 5 Therefore neither the priests of Dagon, nor any that come into Dagon's in Ashdod unto this day. house, tread on the threshold of Dagon i k 6 ¶ But the hand of the LORD was Da-heavy upon them of Ashdod, and he destroyed them, and smote them with emerods, even Ashdod, and the coasts thereof. e Ex. 12:12. Ps. 97:7. Is. 19:1. f Is. 40:20. 41:7. 44:17-20. 46: tions however peculiarly remind those placed them to be ready for a sudden call; and few more than pregnancy.-But those who belong to the Lord, need not desire to survive, when the ordinances of God are withdrawn, and his cause is run down: little comfort can they take in their children, or in life itself, under such circumstances. Yet even these trials will prove blessings, where the ark and cause of God are thus dear to the heart.-Though the glory may successively be withdrawn from sinful nations, cities, or villages; yet it shall never depart from Israel, but shall shine forth in one place, when it has been eclipsed in another: for Jesus, our High Priest, ever liveth to maintain his own cause, and the gates of hell shall never prevail against his church; whatever may be the triumphing boasts of his enemies, or the desponding fears of his people. NOTES. by which they are warned to repent and to amend their lives. As their dependence is plac-in ed upon external signs and symbols, the increase of their hypocrisies buoys up their presumptuous hopes: and they often take the name of the Lord in vain, and dishonor him more in attending on his ordinances, than they could do by neglecting them; so that he abhors those services, for which they expect his favor and think themselves entitled to it, or even deserving of it. (Notes, Ps. 50:16–21. Is. 1:10-20. 48:1,2. 58:1-4. Jer. 7:5—7,21-23. Ez. 20:39. || Am. 5:21-24. Matt. 23:14.) But he will rather let his avowed enemies triumph for a season, than encourage hypocrites, whose crimes still more dishonor his holy name.-The most avowed infidels and Atheists, and the most atrocious and desperate offenders, have their pangs of conviction and disquietude of mind: with all their efforts, they cannot utterly exclude forebodings of fatal effects from their rebellion against the God of heaven; and though they conceal and quiet this apprehension for a time, and even prosper in their ungodliness; yet their fear will come upon them, and even far worse than they ever foreboded. (Note, Prov. 10:24.) -Whilst the impenitent are consigned to final run, the offending servants of God, who tremble at his judgments, and for the dishonor which they have occasioned to his name, may die in an awful manner, for a warning to those who are left behind. (Notes, 1 Kings 13:20-32.) Yet, when death in its most formidable shape finds men humbled for their sins, crying for mercy, and more anxious for the cause of God and truth, than for the most valued earthly comforts, it will eventually prove a blessing; yea, every disV. 3-5. The image of Dagon is supposed to pensation is mercy, which rescues the immortal have been framed in the upper part like a man, soul from hell. (P. O. Dan, 4:28-37.)-What and below like a fish: when therefore the head miseries do some ungodly men entail upon all and hands were broken off, a deformed trunk connected with them! And what an awful les-alone remained. Thus the helplessness and inson is here for parents, who are tempted to connive at the first appearances of vice in their children! Let them reflect on Eli's death, on the far more dreadful condition of his sons, on the dying agonies and sorrows of Phinehas's wife, on the slaughter of Israel, the ark taken captive, "the glory departed," and Shiloh forsaken; and let them tremble to think "how great a matter a little fire kindleth." (Notes, 2 Kings 11:1,2. 2 Chr. 18:1. 19:2. 21:3,4.)-In of him formed as soon as possible. (Notes, P "the midst of life we are in death:' some situa-115:3-8. Is. 41:5-7. 44:12-20.) CHAP. V. V. 1, 2. Besides the other wickedness of Israel, the idolatry of the Danites yet remained unpunished and unrepressed: and this might be one reason why the Lord was pleased to deliver his ark into the hand of these idolaters. (Notes, Judg. 18:30,31. 20:8—11,20—25.` The Philistines concluded that they had overcome the God of Israel, by the help of Dagon, and placed the ark in his temple, as a trophy of their victory. (Note, Judg. 16:23,24.) But they did not attempt to destroy it, as Israel destroyed the images of the Canaanites. (Note, 2 Sam. 5:21.) It has indeed been conjectured, that they intended to worship it, in conjunction with their former idol, though in subordination to him. sensibility of the dumb idol were made apparent: yet the Philistines, in this respect as senseless as their idol, instead of despising so contemptible a stock, revered as sacred the very threshold on which the idol had been disgraced and broken; and thus perpetuated the memory of JEHOVAH's triumph, by their own foolish superstition! They likewise either continued to worship the stump of Dagon; or got a new image 7 And when the men of Ashdod m saw that it was so, they said, "The ark of the God of Israel shall not abide with us: for his hand is sore upon us, and upon Dagon our god. 8 They sent therefore and gathered all the lords of the Philistines unto them, and said, What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel? And they answered, Let the ark of the God of Israel be carried about unto Gath. And they carried the ark of the God of Israel about thither. 10 Therefore they sent the ark of God to Ekron. And it came to pass as the ark of God came to Ekron, that the Ekronites cried out, saying, They have brought about the ark of the God of Israel to us, to slay us and our people. 11 So they sent and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines, and said, Send away the ark of the God of Israel, and let it go again to his own place, that it slay + us not, and our people: for there was a deadly destruction throughout all the city; the hand of God was very heavy there. u 12 And the men that died not were smitten with the emerods; and the cry of the city went up to heaven. V. 6-12. As the Philistines were not con- repentance, faith, and love, and conversion vinced by this defeat of Dagon, that their at- from every idol to his worship and service. tempt to keep the ark in captivity was foolish Yet those confessions, which are extorted by and ruinous; they were visited with some fatal torment or terror, (Mark 5:7.) are honorable judgment, probably a pestilence, which swept to God, though useless to the impenitent; and away multitudes: while the rest were afflicted he will glorify his name in the punishment of very generally with emerods, which put them his enemies, as well as in the salvation of his to excruciating pain, and extorted the most people. When he contends, he will overcome; doleful lamentations. The emerods are suppos- and all endeavors to evade or escape his wrath, ed to have been the worst sort of the disease will only increase the sinner's misery, till he is now called the piles.-Under this terrible visit- either brought to true repentance, or sinks unation, they sent the ark of God from city to city, der final condemnation. When the Lord's approbably in hopes of thus obtaining deliverance: pointed time shall arrive, all attempts to uphold but the same calamities attended the inhabit- the falling kingdom of idolatry, superstition, ants wherever they carried it. (Notes, Ps. 78: infidelity, or profaneness, will be utterly una65,66. Zech. 12:2-5.)-Thus, while the Israel- vailing; and destruction will overtake all those, ites were so degenerate, as to make no attempt who are not led to repentance. It is equally for the recovery of this sacred symbol of JEHO- dangerous to oppose those partial revivals of VAH's gracious presence, and indeed were ut- true religion, which take place from age to age: terly unworthy of being honored in such a ser- for the ark of God will cause every Dagon to vice; he himself rendered the Philistines will- || fall down before it, till all of them be broken ing to send back the ark; and so over-ruled in pieces. The zeal and pertinacity, with these events, as to expose idolatry to the deep-which the grossest idolatries and most stupid est contempt, and to convince the obstinate superstitions have been supported against the idolaters, that they could not profane his sacred cause of God and truth, display the blindness institutions with impunity. (Notes, Josh. 7:6—|| of fallen man's understanding, as much as the 9. Ps. 115:1,2.) depravity of his affections. Thus, convinced sinners also, with perverse assiduity, set up again those false confidences and worldly idols, PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS. which seemed to be thrown down under the The Lord may for a season permit his cause preaching of the gospel: or when the old deluto be run down, in order to expose the hypoc- sion will no longer soothe their consciences, risy, to undermine the vain confidence, or to they exchange it for another equally absurd, chastise the wickedness, of his professed peo- as long as they continue to love sin, and to hate ple: for he knows how, without any human the spiritual service and humbling truth of God. help, and in defiance of all enemies, to recover But when Christ, the true Ark of the covenant, it from the ruins, and to establish it in greater really enters the heart of fallen man, (which is splendor; and this may account for the success-indeed Satan's temple,) all idols will fall before es of infidels and Atheists, through so many countries, which have long professed Christianity, but have corrupted and disgraced it. But the short-lived triumphings of the wicked, on such occasions, will terminate in their deeper disgrace, and more dreadful punishment.-Men may be convinced by the judgments of God, that he is a terrible enemy, and that it is in vain to contend with him; and they may be constrained to render him a feigned submission: (Notes, Ps. 66:1-3. 81:14,15.) but nothing except his renewing grace, will produce genuine li his presence and power; every endeavor to set them up again will be in vain; all iniquity will be forsaken; all unrighteous gain;restored; and the Lord will claim and possess the throne. Yet pride, self-love, and worldly lusts, though dethroned and crucified, still remain within us. Let us then watch and pray against their prevalency; let us seek to have them more entirely destroyed: and let us consider death, through the mercy of God, and the grace of the gospel, as attended by the final destruction of our worst enemy, "the sin that dwelleth in us." NOTES. 6 Wherefore then do ye 1 harden your hearts, as "the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened their hearts? When he had wrought wonderfully among them, " did they not let the people go, and they de 7 Now therefore make a new cart, an take two milch-kine, Pon which there hath come no yoke, and tie the kine to the cart, and bring their calves home from them: 8 And take the ark of the LORD, and lay it upon the cart; and put the jewels of gold, which ye return him for a trespass-offering, in a coffer by the side thereof; and send it away, that it may go. 9 And see, if it goeth up by the way of his own coast to Beth-shemesh, then he hath done us this great evil: but if not, then we shall know that it is not his hand that smote us; it was a chance that happened to us. 10 ¶ And the men did so; and took two milch-kine, and tied them to the cart, and shut up their calves at home: u 11 And they laid the ark of the LORD upon the cart, and the coffer with the mice of gold and the images of their emerods. 12 And the kine took the straight way to the way of Beth-shemesh, and went to harden their hearts, but to let the ark go (6): but they did not advise them to repent, to reCHAP. VI. V. 1. Seven months.] During so nounce idolatry, or to worship JEHOVAH. Nay, long a time the Philistines endured the judg. they were reluctant to conclude that their af ments of God, before they so far yielded as to flictions were from him, and framed an artful restore the ark; and the Israelites neglected all device for putting it to the trial: and, if not conendeavors to recover it! But it was far more vinced by another complicated miracle, they honorable to the Lord, to constrain the Philis- || seemed determined to keep the ark, and ascribe tines to send it back of their own accord, than their sufferings to chance. (Notes, Is. 26:10,11. that war should wrest it, or that money should Matt. 16:1-4.) Some trespass-offerings they ransom it, out of their hands. (Note, 5:6-12.) supposed to be necessary, if the ark must be V. 29. It has been conjectured, that when restored, in order that "the LORD might lighten the emerods and pestilence exceedingly afflict- his hand from off them," or that they "might ed the inhabitants of each city, to which the know wherefore he did not." This opinion, that ark was carried, the Philistines placed it in the trespass-offerings must be sent with the ark, open field: and that then great numbers of mice was probably derived from some slight acbegan to destroy their crops and spoil the land. quaintance with the ritual law of Moses; or It is evident that there was a plague of destroy- from usages among themselves originally deing mice sent among them: (Note, Ex. 8:15-17.) rived from it. The oblations, however, were alout it is not said that the ark was placed in the together different from those which God refields of any city At length, however, being quired from his worshippers: (Notes, Lev. 5: 6:1 no longer able to endure their complicated dis--7.) but well suited to be monuments of their tresses, they determined to send back the ark, and consulted their priests and diviners about it; whose answer contains such an assemblage of inconsistencies, as clearly developes the workings of the human heart in difficult circumstances. From the tradition of Pharaoh's rebellion, and the destruction of him and his subjects, they seriously exhorted the people not shame, and of the Lord's triumph over them. In short, they evinced how unwilling they were to yield, and how unable to resist.-As the Egyptians hired Israel with jewels of gold to depart from them, yet were unwilling to let them go quite away; (Note, Ex. 12:35,36.) so did the Philistines respecting the ark, in taking which they had so greatly triumphed. along the high-way, lowing as they went, 13 And they of Beth-shemesh were reap 14 And the cart came into the field of a one, for Gaza one, for Askelon one, for Gath one, for Ekron one. 18 And the golden mice, according to the number of all the cities of the Philistines belonging to the five lords, both of fenced cities, and of country-villages, even unto the great stone of Abel, whereon they set down the ark of the LORD; which stone remaineth unto this day in the field of Joshua the Beth-shemite. 19 And he smote the men of Bethshemesh, because they had looked into of-the ark of the LORD, even he smote of the people fifty thousand and threescore and ten men. And the people lamented, because the LORD had smitten many of the people with a great slaughter. 15 And the Levites took down the ark of the LORD, and the coffer that was with it, wherein the jewels of gold were, and put them on the great stone: and the men of Beth-shemesh offered burnt-offerings and sacrificed sacrifices the same day unto the LORD. 16 And when the five lords of the Philistines had seen it, they returned to Ekron the same day. 17 And these are the golden emerods, which the Philistines returned for a trespass-offering unto the LORD; y for Ashdod 20 And the men of Beth-shemesh said, e Who is able to stand before this holy LORD God? and to whom shall he go up from us? 21 And they sent messengers to the inhabitants of Kirjath-jearim, saying, The Philistines have brought again the ark of the LORD; come ye down, and fetch it up to you. z Judg. 16:1,21. a Judg. 1:18. Zech. 9:5. b 5:8. 2 Sam. 1:20. 21:22. Am. c 5:10. 2 Kings 1:2. Am. 1:8. d Ex. 19:21. Lev. 10:1-3. 4:17. e Num. 17:12,13. 2 Sam. 6:9. 1 Chr. 13:11-13. Mal. 3:2. Luke 5:8. 8:37. f 5:8-12. g Josh. 18:14. Judg. 18:12. 1 Chr. 13:5,6. Ps. 78:60. Jer. 7: 12-14. of Kirjath-jearim gave it a different reception, and were accepted in so doing. (7:1,2.) V. 10-16. That two kine, which had never before been yoked, and whose calves were left at home, should draw quietly, and keep the V. 18. It seems evident that no more than road without a driver, for several miles, neither || five golden mice were sent (4); but the inhabstopping, nor turning aside, nor attempting to itants of the villages, as well as of the cities, return; and that, while they shewed the force contributed to the expense. The great stone of of instinct in lowing for their calves, they should Abel, or weeping, being so called probably on be urged forward with a stronger impulse to account of the mourning of the people over the very place, which the Philistines had men- those who were smitten (19), seems to have tioned (9), and stop there;-these circumstan- been the boundary, at that time, between the ces constituted in all respects a most astonish-land of the Philistines and that of Israel. ing miracle, or rather complication of miracles: V. 19-21. The Beth-shemites availed themand the obedience of the animals, in carrying selves of the opportunity thus given them, to back the ark, reproached the negligence of Is- gratify their curiosity, by presumptuously lookrael. The presumption of the Philistines, ining into the ark; even the outside of which was requiring this additional proof of JEHOVAH's not to be seen uncovered by the Levites who power, was very great; but it was over-ruled were appointed to carry it. (Num. 4:5,6,15.) for the manifestation of his glory, and to their Perhaps they professed a purpose of examining deeper condemnation in still cleaving to idola- whether the Philistines had taken away the tatry. The triumph of the ark was completed, bles of the law; but it does not appear, that any when it was thus miraculously restored, with of the Philistines had so much as looked into it. oblations, and the distant attendance of the Some of them might encourage themselves in lords of the Philistines.-Beth-shemesh was a this presumptuous conduct, by reason of their city of the priests out of the lot of Judah, in the office as priests, which in fact aggravated their border of the land nearest the country of the offence: and others, on the circumstance, that Philistines; (Josh. 21:16.) and no doubt some of the ark had been brought back to them in the that order, very properly, offered the kine in first instance, and on their having welcomed it, sacrifice before the ark, though kine in ordipa- and offered sacrifices before it. But the Lord ry circumstances were not appointed for burnt- was provoked by their irreverent intrusion, to fferings: (Notes, Lev. 1:1-4. 3:1.) but nothing, punish many of them with sudden death. (Notes, which had been used in this sacred service, Lev. 10:1-3. 2 Sam. 6:6,7.)-The number, as it could lawfully be employed for any common stands in our version, is so very large to be use. Their other sacrifices also were suitable found in one small city, and the expression in expressions of joy and gratitude: but placing the original is so uncommon, that it is generalthe ark upon a great stone, rather than taking ly allowed some mistake is made: Josephus it into their houses, or preparing a tent for it, mentions only seventy. The passage may be seems to have been improper. The inhabitants || rendered, "He smote ... seventy men, even fifty |