Footnote 1 – The Other Side of the Coin

“This word came from the Lord to Jeremiah … Go to my shrine at Shiloh, which once I made a dwelling for my name, and see what I did to it because of the wickedness of my people Israel … Therefore what I did to Shiloh I will do to this house which bears my name, the house in which you put your trust, the place I gave to you and your forefathers.” (Jeremiah 7:12–14) A similar prediction occurs in Jeremiah 26:4–6. The reference to Shiloh in Jeremiah’s prediction suggests that the loss of the Ark and of God’s presence could happen in Jerusalem as it once did in Shiloh. The Ark with the Tablets of the Law resided at Shiloh until it was carried by the Israelites to Ebenezer to strengthen them in battle with the Philistines. Despite this precaution, the Philistines defeated the Israelites at Ebenezer, captured the Ark and took it to Ashdod. Shortly thereafter a deadly plague besieged the Philistines. Attributing their bad fortune to the presence of the Ark, the Philistines carted the Ark back to the Israelites at Beth Shemesh from whence it was carried to Kiriath Yearim where it remained until David wore it to Jerusalem accompanied by dancing and singing.