The cows brought the "Ark of the Covenant" to a town called Beth-shemesh, an Israelite controlled city on the boarder of Israel and Philistia. Seventy men of Beth-shemesh were struck down by God.* *Note: Most modern translations show the amount of 70, as correct; but ancient translations Masoretic Text show the number to be 50,070 that were killed by God.) Why did this happen?? The people of Israel lost the "Ark" because they had forgotten to be reverent to the Lord. When the "Ark" had come back to Israel, they again forgot to show God the reverence He deserves, and they looked into the "Ark of the Covenant". This is another reminder of how far the Israelites had fallen away from God. They sent messengers to Kiriath-jearim for Levites knowledgeable in how to move the "Ark of the Covenant" with the respect that God deserves. Remember this, because the Israelites will forget this lesson again, and again. God expects His people to Trust and Obey His Words. This is still true today. When the Levites arrived they took down the "Ark", and the chest containing the sin offering made by the Philistines, from the cart. They placed them near the big stone. At that time the people of Beth Shemesh offered burnt offerings and made sacrifices to the Lord. The five leaders of the Philistines watched what was happening and then returned to Ekron on the same day. The "Ark of the Covenant" stayed in the field outside Beth Shemesh, because Joshua (who led the Israelite re-occupation of Canaan), was from Beth Shemesh. Since the Lord had killed so many people of Beth Shemesh, they felt that they could not live so close to a "Holy God", so they sent messengers to Kiriath Jearim, saying. "The Philistines have returned the ark of the Lord. Come down here and take it back with you. The "Ark" remained at Kiriath Jearim, until David comes and takes it to Jerusalem. The people of Kiriath Jearim brought the "Ark" to the house of Abinadab, and put Eleazar his son to guard the "Ark" of the Lord. Abinadab was a Levite and this is why the "Ark" was left in his possession.
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