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| Chapter XXXI.
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Chapter XXXI.
The Philistines, victorious in
this prosperous battle, brought the ark of God, which had fallen into
their hands, into the temple of Dagon in the town of Azotus. But the
image, dedicated to a demon, fell down when the ark was brought in
there; and, on their setting the idol up again
in its place, in the following night it
was torn in pieces. Then mice, springing up throughout all the country,
caused by their venomous bites the death of many thousand
persons.298
| 298 No reference to
this occurs in the Hebrew text, but it is found in the Greek, and is
also noticed by Josephus. See the LXX. 1 Sam. v. 6, and Josephus, Antiq. vi.
1. | The men of
Azotus, constrained by this source of suffering, in order to escape the
calamity, removed the ark to Gath. But the people there being afflicted
with the same evils, conveyed the ark to Ascalon. The inhabitants,
however, of that place, the chief men of the nation having been called
together, formed the design of sending back the ark to the Hebrews.
Thus, in accordance with the opinion of the chiefs, and augurs, and
priests, it was placed upon a cart, and sent back with many gifts. This
remarkable thing then happened, that when they had yoked heifers to the
conveyance, and had retained their calves at home, these cattle took
their course, without any guide, towards Judæa, and showed no
desire of returning, from affection toward their young left behind. The
rulers of the Philistines, who had followed the ark into the territory
of the Hebrews, were so struck by the marvelousness of this occurrence
that they performed a religious service. But the Jews, when they saw
the ark brought back, vied with each other in joyously rushing forth
from the town of Betsamis to meet it, and in hurrying, exulting, and
returning thanks to God. Presently, the Levites, whose business it was,
perform a sacrifice to God, and offer those heifers which had brought
the ark. But the ark could not be kept in the town which I have named
above, and thus severe illness fell by the appointment of God, upon the
whole city. The ark was then transferred to the town of
Cariathiarim,299
| 299 Called
Kirjath-jearim in the English version. | and there it
remained twenty years.E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
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