Tara-Leigh Cobble

The Philistines are so distraught that they want to send the Ark back to Israel. So they consult with their own priests and diviners to find out how to go about this. The priests tell them to send a guilt offering along with the Ark to appease the Israelite God.

The Philistines are so distraught that they want to send the Ark back to Israel. So they consult with their own priests and diviners to find out how to go about this. The priests tell them to send a guilt offering along with the Ark to appease the Israelite God.

The guilt offering should be five golden tumors, one for every city in Philistia, and five golden mice, because God maybe also struck the five cities with a mouse infestation that ravaged their land and crops. The text isn't really clear on that. The priest also gave instructions to build a cart for the ark and have that cart pulled by two milk cows. Why milk cows?

The guilt offering should be five golden tumors, one for every city in Philistia, and five golden mice, because God maybe also struck the five cities with a mouse infestation that ravaged their land and crops. The text isn't really clear on that. The priest also gave instructions to build a cart for the ark and have that cart pulled by two milk cows. Why milk cows?

The guilt offering should be five golden tumors, one for every city in Philistia, and five golden mice, because God maybe also struck the five cities with a mouse infestation that ravaged their land and crops. The text isn't really clear on that. The priest also gave instructions to build a cart for the ark and have that cart pulled by two milk cows. Why milk cows?

Because they're untrained and they have calves to feed, and their natural instincts mean they're going to go home to their calves. But if these milk cows go against their natural instincts, then something supernatural is taking place. And the God of Israel must be in charge of all that's happening in Philistia. And wouldn't you know it, the cows go straight off into the distance.

Because they're untrained and they have calves to feed, and their natural instincts mean they're going to go home to their calves. But if these milk cows go against their natural instincts, then something supernatural is taking place. And the God of Israel must be in charge of all that's happening in Philistia. And wouldn't you know it, the cows go straight off into the distance.

Because they're untrained and they have calves to feed, and their natural instincts mean they're going to go home to their calves. But if these milk cows go against their natural instincts, then something supernatural is taking place. And the God of Israel must be in charge of all that's happening in Philistia. And wouldn't you know it, the cows go straight off into the distance.

When the cows in the ark arrive at Beth Shemesh, which is in Judah, the Israelites who see it offer the milk cows as a burnt offering to the Lord. This sounds awesome, except that Leviticus 1 specifies that only male animals are supposed to be used for offerings. On top of that, there are 70 people who look at the ark, which also violates God's law to shield the ark from view in Numbers 4.

When the cows in the ark arrive at Beth Shemesh, which is in Judah, the Israelites who see it offer the milk cows as a burnt offering to the Lord. This sounds awesome, except that Leviticus 1 specifies that only male animals are supposed to be used for offerings. On top of that, there are 70 people who look at the ark, which also violates God's law to shield the ark from view in Numbers 4.

When the cows in the ark arrive at Beth Shemesh, which is in Judah, the Israelites who see it offer the milk cows as a burnt offering to the Lord. This sounds awesome, except that Leviticus 1 specifies that only male animals are supposed to be used for offerings. On top of that, there are 70 people who look at the ark, which also violates God's law to shield the ark from view in Numbers 4.

So God strikes them down. The Levites who were there should have known these things. Either they know and they're ignoring it, or they're ignorant of God's laws altogether. But as we've learned, even unintentional sin is still sin. If you think God's being too harsh about the punishment He doles out here, most governments operate that way too.

So God strikes them down. The Levites who were there should have known these things. Either they know and they're ignoring it, or they're ignorant of God's laws altogether. But as we've learned, even unintentional sin is still sin. If you think God's being too harsh about the punishment He doles out here, most governments operate that way too.

So God strikes them down. The Levites who were there should have known these things. Either they know and they're ignoring it, or they're ignorant of God's laws altogether. But as we've learned, even unintentional sin is still sin. If you think God's being too harsh about the punishment He doles out here, most governments operate that way too.

For instance, just because I'm not intentionally speeding or don't know what the speed limit is, doesn't mean I don't get a speeding ticket. All this terrifies the people of Beth Shemesh, and they ask their neighbors in Kiriath-Jerim to come take the Ark away. The people of Kiriath-Jerim keep the Ark for 20 years.

For instance, just because I'm not intentionally speeding or don't know what the speed limit is, doesn't mean I don't get a speeding ticket. All this terrifies the people of Beth Shemesh, and they ask their neighbors in Kiriath-Jerim to come take the Ark away. The people of Kiriath-Jerim keep the Ark for 20 years.

For instance, just because I'm not intentionally speeding or don't know what the speed limit is, doesn't mean I don't get a speeding ticket. All this terrifies the people of Beth Shemesh, and they ask their neighbors in Kiriath-Jerim to come take the Ark away. The people of Kiriath-Jerim keep the Ark for 20 years.

The fact that it doesn't get returned to the tabernacle in Shiloh suggests that Shiloh has probably been destroyed by the Philistines, who are likely ruling over Israel at this point. As they often do when they're being oppressed, the people of Israel begin to repent. Then we hear from Samuel for the first time in a long time, and by now he is viewed as the chief leader of all of Israel.

The fact that it doesn't get returned to the tabernacle in Shiloh suggests that Shiloh has probably been destroyed by the Philistines, who are likely ruling over Israel at this point. As they often do when they're being oppressed, the people of Israel begin to repent. Then we hear from Samuel for the first time in a long time, and by now he is viewed as the chief leader of all of Israel.

The fact that it doesn't get returned to the tabernacle in Shiloh suggests that Shiloh has probably been destroyed by the Philistines, who are likely ruling over Israel at this point. As they often do when they're being oppressed, the people of Israel begin to repent. Then we hear from Samuel for the first time in a long time, and by now he is viewed as the chief leader of all of Israel.