1 Samuel Chapter 6

In 1 Samuel 6, the Philistines returned the Ark of the Covenant to the Israelites after experiencing plagues and misfortunes. They sought to appease the God of Israel and requested the Israelites to take the Ark back. The Philistines devised a plan to test if the plagues were a result of divine intervention or mere coincidence.

They crafted a guilt offering, making golden replicas of the tumors and rats that plagued them, and placed them in a cart alongside the Ark. They yoked two milch cows to the cart and sent it on its way, with no driver, toward Israelite territory. The Philistines observed to see if the cows would return to their calves or head towards Israel. Miraculously, the cows went straight to Beth-shemesh in Israel, pulling the cart with the Ark behind them.

When the people of Beth-shemesh saw the Ark, they rejoiced but failed to show the proper reverence. Some of them looked inside the Ark, which resulted in the death of many. Frightened, the people sent messengers to the people of Kirjath-jearim, requesting them to take the Ark. The Ark remained in Kirjath-jearim for twenty years while the people mourned and sought the Lord.

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