1.3 The Fall of Shiloh (1)
The land of Canaan had known little peace in the centuries before Joshua’s victories brought the children of Israel to their Promised Land. Waves of peoples had washed over the land, their flow and ebb as relentless as the tides of the great sea to the west.
So, too, the tribes of Israel had spread over the land. They had established their borders by lots according to God’s will, but they had not driven the people of Canaan out before them as God had instructed. In addition to the uneasy relationship now existing with the peoples within her borders, Israel also experienced difficulties with her neighboring states. War with Moab and Edom to the south was inevitable; only the timing was uncertain. From the east, Ammon threatened, but from the west, Philistia spoke not with words but with the sword. For all of the battles fought to establish themselves in the Promised Land, peace would not come.
The Philistines had come to Canaan from the north via the sea, making incursions into the land even before the time of Abraham. A warlike people who had mastered the use of iron, their weaponry and shields had made them formidable foes when they made permanent settlements in Canaan only a few generations earlier. Their chariots were unknown to the peoples of the eastern coast of the Great Sea and ensured that the Philistines would rule the flat coastal plain. They held southern Canaan through a confederation of five cities: Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gaza, Gath, and Ekron.
The allotments of the tribes of Judah, Benjamin, and Dan all bordered Philistia. Dan had succumbed to the Philistine tide in the days of the judges. Most of the tribe had moved far to the north, above the tribe of Naphtali, into the hills and valleys that gave rise to the brooks and streams that later joined to form the Jordan River. The Philistines then had spread through Dan, pressing against the tribe of Ephraim to the north.
The fluid borders of the informal nations gave ample opportunity for the mixing of people in the positive aspects of intercourse such as trade, but wars were easily ignited, as well. Because Israel had no king, loose confederations within and between the tribes helped Israel to present a sometimes-united front against the press of nations to the east, south, and west.
With the aged Eli as the nominal head of Israel and his house in disrepute, Israel was politically weak at this time. Every faithful servant of God was also aware of the spiritual weakness of the people. Household idols were again common, and the Law of God was held in low esteem, as if a quaint reminder of some bygone era.
Bounded by the sea to the west and the Sinai desert to the south, the Philistines looked north to Ephraim and east to Benjamin and Judah. Here they saw the wealth and softness of Israel through the permeable borders. Sensing the time was ripe for additional conquest, the Philistine confederation drew its armies together.
The amassing of the Philistines at Aphek, well into Ephraim north of Dan, prompted a response and the call went out to all of the elders of Israel to send their support against the invaders.
Thousands of men answered the call, including a young Benjamite named Jeshua who felt optimistic excitement in this his first battle. Many of the young Israelites were like Jeshua, ignorant of the realities of war. For the older men who had been to battle, memories of the fierceness of the Philistines had grown dim and the increase that Israel had enjoyed in Canaan had given a false sense of confidence. With the many men and the greatness of Israel, what was there to fear?
Volunteers marched from their various lands toward Aphek, joining together some miles east of their foe between Mizpah and Shen. There was great anticipation and confidence as the men marched forward.
Eli watched with misgiving, uncertain that this was God’s will, for who had even asked? The Urim and Thummim had not been consulted. Eli’s sons also watched the march from their vantage point, confident but quite willing to remain in Shiloh.
The two armies poised for battle on the Plain of Sharon near the Philistine encampment at Aphek. As with many of the other young men who stood on the open plain, it was only here when they were about to be joined in battle that Jeshua became aware of the imminent danger. The terrible swords and the full armor of the Philistines glinted in the morning sun, the flashing brightness and their great number unnerving the inexperienced would-be warriors among the Israelites. In the moment that he saw the swiftness of the Philistine chariots racing toward himself and his compatriots, this uneasy feeling in Jeshua rose to the level of sheer terror. As the ranks of his compatriots were torn by the chariots and then swamped by the metal-clad waves of soldiers, he and many others fled before the enemy.
The battle quickly went against Israel. The iron swords crashed through the bronze or wooden shields of the Israelites, and the iron shields of the Philistines were virtually impenetrable to the Israelites’ more primitive weaponry. The Israelites’ swords were but pieces of wood with one side of the blade coated with bronze. These had no effect against their better-equipped foe and the Israelite army was routed after a heavy loss.
When news came back to Israel, a disbelieving nation asked, “Why has the Lord defeated us today before the Philistines?”
There were those few who answered the question correctly, that God was no more absent in battle than in their daily lives, but this was not the answer that the multitude sought. As men are wont to do, the children of Israel placed the fault outside of themselves.
A cry went up, “Let us bring the ark of the Covenant of the Lord from Shiloh to us, that when it comes among us it may save us from the hand of our enemies.” Eli showed no more resolve here than he had with his sons, and he acquiesced. Hophni and Phinehas even volunteered to take the ark into battle, so sure they were of God’s protection.
Many of the men who had fled from the first encounter with the Philistines felt confident that the battle would be won with the ark present. The young Benjamite, Jeshua, chastened himself for fleeing so quickly in the first battle and recommitted to this second confrontation. Much of the scattered army reassembled, and many new volunteers joined with them, all waiting for the arrival of the ark that would ensure the victory.
Indeed, when the ark was brought into the Israelite camp, the men rejoiced so boisterously that it is said that the earth shook, even to where the Philistines camped nearby. Jeshua and every other soldier felt the renewal of spirit. It was as though God had arrived the way the people cheered and glorified the ark!
Now the Philistines had some sense of the history of Israel and knew that the small nation had defeated Egypt, freeing itself by supernatural events attributed to their God. When they understood the meaning of the cheering, that the ark of God had come to the field, they became fearful of the challenge that lay ahead.
Ironically, the arrival of the ark had more effect in strengthening the resolve of the Philistines than of the Israelites. The Philistine commanders turned the news into justification for even greater valor on the part of their men. “Be strong and conduct yourselves like men, you Philistines, that you do not become servants of the Hebrews , as they have been to you. Conduct yourselves like men, and fight!”
The Philistines attacked with a vigor that overwhelmed the soldiers of Israel. The chariots raced through the Israelite ranks once more, followed again by the terrible iron swords and impenetrable armor of the Philistine foot soldiers. Again, Israel was defeated with an even greater loss of life, including the lives of Hophni and Phinehas.
Jeshua escaped only at the last minute. He saw the Philistine horde surround the ark and kill the priests. At that moment he knew that all was lost and ran to give the news to those remaining at Shiloh.
Anxiously awaiting news in Shiloh, Eli had an ominous foreboding about the battle, at least in part due to his awareness that the spirit of Israel was not aligned with the spirit of the Lord. Dreading word of the outcome but also thirsty for the news, he went out and sat on the hand of the gate awaiting word from the battlefield.
At length Eli saw a man running toward Shiloh. Eli’s weak eyes could not see that the man’s clothing was torn and that he had dirt heaped upon his head, signs of mourning. Weary from hours of running and focused on the tabernacle as his goal, the young man did not notice the old man sitting upon the judgment seat of the gate, rushing past the high priest as he made his way toward the tabernacle.
Eying a priest as he entered the courtyard, the messenger gasped, “I have news from the battlefield.”
The priest called in a louder voice for those within and around the tabernacle to come hear news of the battle. He brought a cup of water as Samuel and the priests gathered together.
The messenger eagerly accepted the water, giving the news of the defeat and the loss of the ark between gulps. As he concluded, he asked for the high priest, only to be told that Eli was sitting at the gate that he had just passed.
The young man gave thanks for the water and ran back to the gate.
Still rooted in his seat upon the hand of the gate, Eli had turned when he heard loud wailing from the direction of the tabernacle. He watched the weary messenger return. Approaching the priest, Jeshua called out, “I fled today from the battle line.”
Eli prodded him, “What happened, my son?”
Still gasping for breath, Jeshua replied, “Israel has fled before the Philistines, and there has been a slaughter among the people. Also, your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and the ark of God has been captured!”
Eli felt that a blow had struck him, a blow like one that might have killed Hophni or Phinehas. He recognized the blow as God’s judgment upon him as he remembered the prophecy. His dim eyesight left him as his large body fell backward from his seat upon the hand of the gate, striking his head upon a stone as he hit the ground.
The young Benjamite hurried to the body of the high priest. He knelt down and raised the old man’s head. Feeling the looseness of the neck, Jeshua realized that it was broken. There was no life in the high priest.
For all that had happened this day, the young man wept.
With the messenger’s news and Eli absent, Samuel assumed charge of the tabernacle. He ordered the priests to gather all the belongings of the temple and make them ready for transport. When he saw that these tasks were being accomplished, he ran toward the city gate in search of the high priest.
Samuel could see Eli lying on the ground as he approached the gate, the messenger still crying over the body. He walked toward the distraught youth and put a hand on his shoulder. Speaking in a reassuring voice, Samuel said, “Come, there is work to be done for the Lord on this dark day.”
Jeshua looked up with wet streaks upon his face, his voice shaken, “Where is the Lord that He has allowed this to happen?”
Samuel looked patiently at the boy, a boy just days or one experience away from becoming a young man. Samuel let his hand remain upon the youth’s bony shoulder. “The Lord is where He always is. Who has asked Him to come?”
Jeshua looked at the man, only a little older than himself and with long hair. He realized that this must be Samuel, the Nazirite and seer. With hope returning, he asked, “Are you Samuel?”
“Yes, I am Samuel.” As if reading the misplaced hope in the youth’s voice, he added, “Although our hope is in God, we must flee this place. Come, we have much to do,” Samuel said. He would have turned to leave, but he saw the young man was not ready.
“But what of the loss of the ark today, and all of those men who died?”
Samuel acknowledged the question and answered in the way that he might bring understanding. “There are many who weep this day, for the loss of lives, for the loss of land, and for the loss of the ark that has proven a vain hope. Just as the heathen Philistines feared the ark, many of the Israelites placed their faith in the ark. The ark has become detached from God and from the people’s faith. It has become a god itself. As with the idols in many of their households, the people expected miracles from this object made by the hands of man. They seek divine intervention without relationship, a god in their power rather than being in the power of their God. Today’s loss is real, but much already had been lost long ago.”
Looking down at the body of Eli, he added, “Help me attend to Eli, then we will prepare the things that we must carry to Ramah.” Samuel sensed through his hand on the shoulder that the fear was leaving the youth and he gave a firm squeeze as if to wring out the last doubt.
Jeshua felt the strength in the hand on his shoulder flow into his body. He relaxed in this strength. He was also relieved to have a sense of purpose and by the calming voice of the holy man. Jeshua rose to his bidding.
Jeshua and Samuel dug a grave for Eli close to the city and tabernacle where he had served for so many years. Here they committed the priest back to the earth to join his ancestors, a ceremony performed with as much dignity as the circumstances allowed. The urgency of the moment did not take away the need for the attendant rites.
The imminent arrival of the Philistines was a real threat, and Jeshua and Samuel were both aware of how long they had tarried. They hurried back to the tabernacle, making there way through streets filling with people panicked by the threat of the Philistine army.
When they arrived at the courtyard, the priests had followed Samuel’s instructions and there was little left for Samuel and Jeshua to do in preparation for flight. Samuel walked through the tabernacle one last time, giving some instructions on final details to the priests, and then came back out into the courtyard.
He looked at the wooden walls encircling the courtyard, the permanent structure that had replaced the linens of Moses’ time. He then gazed one last time at the edifice of the tabernacle itself. This building and the courtyard about it had been the only home that he had ever known, but there was no holding onto this piece of the past.
Although Samuel spoke to the assembled group, he seemed to be assuring himself, as well. “There is much that we cannot take with us, but we have all that is holy. These things will be no loss to God. Let us leave.”
The city of Shiloh was in turmoil by this time, the narrow streets filled with people. Some were leaving with their possessions, seeking haven in the remote countryside. Others were securing their possessions and livestock, hoping the Philistines would pass through and leave them unharmed.
As they prepared to depart, Jeshua found himself in very select company. Samuel had dispersed the priests except for the few that he knew to be true men of God. These priests had already gathered together the consecrated items and furnishings of the tabernacle, wrapping them in protective cloths or skins, as required.
The cart that had been loaded with the articles of the Holy Place and Most Holy Place was ready. One of the priests hitched the cart to a strong ass and gave a prod to move forward. The wheels creaked under the heavy load as it began to roll. The men walked before and behind it carrying their few possessions in rolled blankets. It was a small procession that set out toward Ramah, Samuel’s first home, a home that he knew not.
The tabernacle had been borne by a host of men as Israel had crossed the desert from Sinai to the Promised Land. Many times it had been erected and broken down, always under the watchful eye of the High Priest, Aaron. Although the tabernacle had been made a permanent structure in Shiloh where mobility had not been required, the High Priest had always maintained oversight. The absence of the High Priest and the loss of the structure of the tabernacle both contributed to the solemnity of this forced march.
The afternoon passed mostly in silence except when the journey required communication, as when they worked to help the heavily laden cart along the uneven road. Jeshua had much he wanted to say during the afternoon. More accurately, he had much that he wanted to ask. But he saw that Samuel’s thoughts were far away, the holy man’s steps and actions only perfunctory. He decided to maintain the silence also observed by the priests that walked with them.
For his part, Samuel spent the journey in deep thought. All of the years of his life had been spent in the protective surroundings of Shiloh. Eli had always been there, managing the day-to-day affairs and providing the physical necessities. Eli also had provided good guidance, even if not the best parental example. The high priest’s thorough management had left Samuel free of much of the daily tasks, although he had always been willing to do the work to maintain the tabernacle.
People had journeyed to Shiloh to make their offerings to God. A continual fire that consumed these offerings created an ever-present plume visible to those who came from afar to honor their God. The rich had come with great offerings, and the poor had come with small offerings, all equal in the sight of the Lord.
Many of those who came had shared their stories with Samuel. The rich had their hopes and fears, and the poor had their hopes and fears. These, too, were equal in the sight of the Lord.
Always, over everything, there had been the voice of God. It seemed that the world had come to Samuel, and God had been there with him in the courtyard.
These had been years of learning and observing. Samuel had come to realize the needs of the people about him, both those within Shiloh and those who had come from distant parts of Israel. He saw how they had strayed from the calling of God or were returning to Him. But how many of all the thousands in Israel had ever come to Shiloh? How many had he seen or how many lives had he touched? Samuel reflected on how many people there might be in Israel that he would never know as he waited on the Lord in Shiloh.
The prophecies concerning Eli were now set in motion, although not yet fulfilled. The seed of Eli continued in his grandson, Ahitub, the son of Phinehas. Ahitub would inherit the high priest position, but he would also inherit the prophecies. To him would fall the burden of change if he were to escape the future that lay on the present path.
Samuel had already realized that the Philistine victory was a call to all Israel to come home to God. God had not abandoned Israel, but Israel had abandoned Him. As he understood this, Samuel also realized that this was a call to him. God was calling Samuel out of Shiloh and into Israel. If there had been limitations upon him, they were gone with the death of Eli and the destruction of the tabernacle. God beckoned him forth.
As he traveled toward Ramah, Samuel’s thoughts were meditations on this newfound freedom. He opened his mind to God and listened to His instructions for the future.
Ramah was less than a day’s journey west of Shiloh, but the journey began well into the day and the rough road made the cart’s journey slow. The sky was almost fully dark and Ramah not yet in sight. With no light to see how to negotiate the rough road, they encamped in a field.
The quiet continued as they ate from their provisions. With no need of a fire, they ate quickly and spread their rolls for the night.
The men settled into their blankets, each considering the life-altering day they had just experienced.
As he gazed at the stars above, Jeshua realized that many of the questions he had for Samuel were probably questions that the others would want to ask about the future, as well. Samuel was a seer, one who was known for his predictions of the future. Had he seen this event coming? He did not seem any more prepared for this than any of the others in the group.
Some of Jeshua’s questions were about God. He wished that Samuel would further explain his comment at the gate. Where was God usually? And what would it take to call Him? Thoughts raced through his mind but he drifted off to sleep quickly, more exhausted by the trials of the day than energized by these unsettling questions.
The sun was just rising and the cool night air still prevailed as the weary men began to stir the next morning. Each woke to a discouraged spirit, except for Samuel who now had his eyes and heart set more clearly toward the future.
Samuel urged them to start the day in prayer, beginning with thanksgiving, proceeding to praise, and then to seek a blessing for the day. Jeshua and the priests followed his example and stood in a circle, hands open and stretched to heaven. Only when they heard Samuel’s prayer for a blessing did their spirits begin to rise.
The prayer of Samuel ended with Samuel beseeching the Lord for a return of the ark. He followed this with the request of a blessing for the Lord’s prophets, that Israel might better know God through His servants. He then thanked God that those things would come to pass.
The others were themselves praying for the return of the ark. But Samuel’s request for a blessing for the prophets came as a surprise to all in the small group. Prophets had long been in disrepute, the true Word of God a memory from the distant past was Samuel. From where would these prophets come? And how could Samuel give thanks for what had not yet come to pass?
When questioned, Samuel explained. “I have seen that there are men who have come to Shiloh from all over Israel, good men who know God. There is also a generation waiting to learn of Him. Indeed, there are many of the older generations that want to know Him better. We will teach Israel of God, and God will return the ark and return the land to us.”
For Samuel, the answer was this simple. Jeshua and the priests all began asking questions at once, questions beginning with “When…” and “How…,” but Samuel held up a hand. “This will be in the Lord’s time and in the Lord’s way.” Gesturing to the men gathered around him, Samuel added, “And we will be His hands.”
Pointing toward Ramah, out of sight in the distance, Samuel continued, “And this is where we will begin. We will train up the young in the way that they should go, in the way that I was trained, and in the way that you have been trained, also. Here we will teach men to be true prophets of God. Here we will begin,” he said, gesturing toward Ramah ahead of them. And then sweeping his hand along the horizon all the way around him as he turned, he said, “and out there we will continue until we are a nation of prophets.”
Samuel turned to collect his few possessions and his blanket. When he realized that the others were still in awe of what he had spoken, Samuel encouraged them with a hearty voice, “Come! We have the Lord’s work to do!”
And so they proceeded toward Ramah, half a dozen priests, a young Levite from Benjamin, and a seer.
[1] 1 Samuel 4:1-4:22
The land of Canaan had known little peace in the centuries before Joshua’s victories brought the children of Israel to their Promised Land. Waves of peoples had washed over the land, their flow and ebb as relentless as the tides of the great sea to the west.
So, too, the tribes of Israel had spread over the land. They had established their borders by lots according to God’s will, but they had not driven the people of Canaan out before them as God had instructed. In addition to the uneasy relationship now existing with the peoples within her borders, Israel also experienced difficulties with her neighboring states. War with Moab and Edom to the south was inevitable; only the timing was uncertain. From the east, Ammon threatened, but from the west, Philistia spoke not with words but with the sword. For all of the battles fought to establish themselves in the Promised Land, peace would not come.
The Philistines had come to Canaan from the north via the sea, making incursions into the land even before the time of Abraham. A warlike people who had mastered the use of iron, their weaponry and shields had made them formidable foes when they made permanent settlements in Canaan only a few generations earlier. Their chariots were unknown to the peoples of the eastern coast of the Great Sea and ensured that the Philistines would rule the flat coastal plain. They held southern Canaan through a confederation of five cities: Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gaza, Gath, and Ekron.
The allotments of the tribes of Judah, Benjamin, and Dan all bordered Philistia. Dan had succumbed to the Philistine tide in the days of the judges. Most of the tribe had moved far to the north, above the tribe of Naphtali, into the hills and valleys that gave rise to the brooks and streams that later joined to form the Jordan River. The Philistines then had spread through Dan, pressing against the tribe of Ephraim to the north.
The fluid borders of the informal nations gave ample opportunity for the mixing of people in the positive aspects of intercourse such as trade, but wars were easily ignited, as well. Because Israel had no king, loose confederations within and between the tribes helped Israel to present a sometimes-united front against the press of nations to the east, south, and west.
With the aged Eli as the nominal head of Israel and his house in disrepute, Israel was politically weak at this time. Every faithful servant of God was also aware of the spiritual weakness of the people. Household idols were again common, and the Law of God was held in low esteem, as if a quaint reminder of some bygone era.
Bounded by the sea to the west and the Sinai desert to the south, the Philistines looked north to Ephraim and east to Benjamin and Judah. Here they saw the wealth and softness of Israel through the permeable borders. Sensing the time was ripe for additional conquest, the Philistine confederation drew its armies together.
The amassing of the Philistines at Aphek, well into Ephraim north of Dan, prompted a response and the call went out to all of the elders of Israel to send their support against the invaders.
Thousands of men answered the call, including a young Benjamite named Jeshua who felt optimistic excitement in this his first battle. Many of the young Israelites were like Jeshua, ignorant of the realities of war. For the older men who had been to battle, memories of the fierceness of the Philistines had grown dim and the increase that Israel had enjoyed in Canaan had given a false sense of confidence. With the many men and the greatness of Israel, what was there to fear?
Volunteers marched from their various lands toward Aphek, joining together some miles east of their foe between Mizpah and Shen. There was great anticipation and confidence as the men marched forward.
Eli watched with misgiving, uncertain that this was God’s will, for who had even asked? The Urim and Thummim had not been consulted. Eli’s sons also watched the march from their vantage point, confident but quite willing to remain in Shiloh.
The two armies poised for battle on the Plain of Sharon near the Philistine encampment at Aphek. As with many of the other young men who stood on the open plain, it was only here when they were about to be joined in battle that Jeshua became aware of the imminent danger. The terrible swords and the full armor of the Philistines glinted in the morning sun, the flashing brightness and their great number unnerving the inexperienced would-be warriors among the Israelites. In the moment that he saw the swiftness of the Philistine chariots racing toward himself and his compatriots, this uneasy feeling in Jeshua rose to the level of sheer terror. As the ranks of his compatriots were torn by the chariots and then swamped by the metal-clad waves of soldiers, he and many others fled before the enemy.
The battle quickly went against Israel. The iron swords crashed through the bronze or wooden shields of the Israelites, and the iron shields of the Philistines were virtually impenetrable to the Israelites’ more primitive weaponry. The Israelites’ swords were but pieces of wood with one side of the blade coated with bronze. These had no effect against their better-equipped foe and the Israelite army was routed after a heavy loss.
When news came back to Israel, a disbelieving nation asked, “Why has the Lord defeated us today before the Philistines?”
There were those few who answered the question correctly, that God was no more absent in battle than in their daily lives, but this was not the answer that the multitude sought. As men are wont to do, the children of Israel placed the fault outside of themselves.
A cry went up, “Let us bring the ark of the Covenant of the Lord from Shiloh to us, that when it comes among us it may save us from the hand of our enemies.” Eli showed no more resolve here than he had with his sons, and he acquiesced. Hophni and Phinehas even volunteered to take the ark into battle, so sure they were of God’s protection.
Many of the men who had fled from the first encounter with the Philistines felt confident that the battle would be won with the ark present. The young Benjamite, Jeshua, chastened himself for fleeing so quickly in the first battle and recommitted to this second confrontation. Much of the scattered army reassembled, and many new volunteers joined with them, all waiting for the arrival of the ark that would ensure the victory.
Indeed, when the ark was brought into the Israelite camp, the men rejoiced so boisterously that it is said that the earth shook, even to where the Philistines camped nearby. Jeshua and every other soldier felt the renewal of spirit. It was as though God had arrived the way the people cheered and glorified the ark!
Now the Philistines had some sense of the history of Israel and knew that the small nation had defeated Egypt, freeing itself by supernatural events attributed to their God. When they understood the meaning of the cheering, that the ark of God had come to the field, they became fearful of the challenge that lay ahead.
Ironically, the arrival of the ark had more effect in strengthening the resolve of the Philistines than of the Israelites. The Philistine commanders turned the news into justification for even greater valor on the part of their men. “Be strong and conduct yourselves like men, you Philistines, that you do not become servants of the Hebrews , as they have been to you. Conduct yourselves like men, and fight!”
The Philistines attacked with a vigor that overwhelmed the soldiers of Israel. The chariots raced through the Israelite ranks once more, followed again by the terrible iron swords and impenetrable armor of the Philistine foot soldiers. Again, Israel was defeated with an even greater loss of life, including the lives of Hophni and Phinehas.
Jeshua escaped only at the last minute. He saw the Philistine horde surround the ark and kill the priests. At that moment he knew that all was lost and ran to give the news to those remaining at Shiloh.
Anxiously awaiting news in Shiloh, Eli had an ominous foreboding about the battle, at least in part due to his awareness that the spirit of Israel was not aligned with the spirit of the Lord. Dreading word of the outcome but also thirsty for the news, he went out and sat on the hand of the gate awaiting word from the battlefield.
At length Eli saw a man running toward Shiloh. Eli’s weak eyes could not see that the man’s clothing was torn and that he had dirt heaped upon his head, signs of mourning. Weary from hours of running and focused on the tabernacle as his goal, the young man did not notice the old man sitting upon the judgment seat of the gate, rushing past the high priest as he made his way toward the tabernacle.
Eying a priest as he entered the courtyard, the messenger gasped, “I have news from the battlefield.”
The priest called in a louder voice for those within and around the tabernacle to come hear news of the battle. He brought a cup of water as Samuel and the priests gathered together.
The messenger eagerly accepted the water, giving the news of the defeat and the loss of the ark between gulps. As he concluded, he asked for the high priest, only to be told that Eli was sitting at the gate that he had just passed.
The young man gave thanks for the water and ran back to the gate.
Still rooted in his seat upon the hand of the gate, Eli had turned when he heard loud wailing from the direction of the tabernacle. He watched the weary messenger return. Approaching the priest, Jeshua called out, “I fled today from the battle line.”
Eli prodded him, “What happened, my son?”
Still gasping for breath, Jeshua replied, “Israel has fled before the Philistines, and there has been a slaughter among the people. Also, your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and the ark of God has been captured!”
Eli felt that a blow had struck him, a blow like one that might have killed Hophni or Phinehas. He recognized the blow as God’s judgment upon him as he remembered the prophecy. His dim eyesight left him as his large body fell backward from his seat upon the hand of the gate, striking his head upon a stone as he hit the ground.
The young Benjamite hurried to the body of the high priest. He knelt down and raised the old man’s head. Feeling the looseness of the neck, Jeshua realized that it was broken. There was no life in the high priest.
For all that had happened this day, the young man wept.
With the messenger’s news and Eli absent, Samuel assumed charge of the tabernacle. He ordered the priests to gather all the belongings of the temple and make them ready for transport. When he saw that these tasks were being accomplished, he ran toward the city gate in search of the high priest.
Samuel could see Eli lying on the ground as he approached the gate, the messenger still crying over the body. He walked toward the distraught youth and put a hand on his shoulder. Speaking in a reassuring voice, Samuel said, “Come, there is work to be done for the Lord on this dark day.”
Jeshua looked up with wet streaks upon his face, his voice shaken, “Where is the Lord that He has allowed this to happen?”
Samuel looked patiently at the boy, a boy just days or one experience away from becoming a young man. Samuel let his hand remain upon the youth’s bony shoulder. “The Lord is where He always is. Who has asked Him to come?”
Jeshua looked at the man, only a little older than himself and with long hair. He realized that this must be Samuel, the Nazirite and seer. With hope returning, he asked, “Are you Samuel?”
“Yes, I am Samuel.” As if reading the misplaced hope in the youth’s voice, he added, “Although our hope is in God, we must flee this place. Come, we have much to do,” Samuel said. He would have turned to leave, but he saw the young man was not ready.
“But what of the loss of the ark today, and all of those men who died?”
Samuel acknowledged the question and answered in the way that he might bring understanding. “There are many who weep this day, for the loss of lives, for the loss of land, and for the loss of the ark that has proven a vain hope. Just as the heathen Philistines feared the ark, many of the Israelites placed their faith in the ark. The ark has become detached from God and from the people’s faith. It has become a god itself. As with the idols in many of their households, the people expected miracles from this object made by the hands of man. They seek divine intervention without relationship, a god in their power rather than being in the power of their God. Today’s loss is real, but much already had been lost long ago.”
Looking down at the body of Eli, he added, “Help me attend to Eli, then we will prepare the things that we must carry to Ramah.” Samuel sensed through his hand on the shoulder that the fear was leaving the youth and he gave a firm squeeze as if to wring out the last doubt.
Jeshua felt the strength in the hand on his shoulder flow into his body. He relaxed in this strength. He was also relieved to have a sense of purpose and by the calming voice of the holy man. Jeshua rose to his bidding.
Jeshua and Samuel dug a grave for Eli close to the city and tabernacle where he had served for so many years. Here they committed the priest back to the earth to join his ancestors, a ceremony performed with as much dignity as the circumstances allowed. The urgency of the moment did not take away the need for the attendant rites.
The imminent arrival of the Philistines was a real threat, and Jeshua and Samuel were both aware of how long they had tarried. They hurried back to the tabernacle, making there way through streets filling with people panicked by the threat of the Philistine army.
When they arrived at the courtyard, the priests had followed Samuel’s instructions and there was little left for Samuel and Jeshua to do in preparation for flight. Samuel walked through the tabernacle one last time, giving some instructions on final details to the priests, and then came back out into the courtyard.
He looked at the wooden walls encircling the courtyard, the permanent structure that had replaced the linens of Moses’ time. He then gazed one last time at the edifice of the tabernacle itself. This building and the courtyard about it had been the only home that he had ever known, but there was no holding onto this piece of the past.
Although Samuel spoke to the assembled group, he seemed to be assuring himself, as well. “There is much that we cannot take with us, but we have all that is holy. These things will be no loss to God. Let us leave.”
The city of Shiloh was in turmoil by this time, the narrow streets filled with people. Some were leaving with their possessions, seeking haven in the remote countryside. Others were securing their possessions and livestock, hoping the Philistines would pass through and leave them unharmed.
As they prepared to depart, Jeshua found himself in very select company. Samuel had dispersed the priests except for the few that he knew to be true men of God. These priests had already gathered together the consecrated items and furnishings of the tabernacle, wrapping them in protective cloths or skins, as required.
The cart that had been loaded with the articles of the Holy Place and Most Holy Place was ready. One of the priests hitched the cart to a strong ass and gave a prod to move forward. The wheels creaked under the heavy load as it began to roll. The men walked before and behind it carrying their few possessions in rolled blankets. It was a small procession that set out toward Ramah, Samuel’s first home, a home that he knew not.
The tabernacle had been borne by a host of men as Israel had crossed the desert from Sinai to the Promised Land. Many times it had been erected and broken down, always under the watchful eye of the High Priest, Aaron. Although the tabernacle had been made a permanent structure in Shiloh where mobility had not been required, the High Priest had always maintained oversight. The absence of the High Priest and the loss of the structure of the tabernacle both contributed to the solemnity of this forced march.
The afternoon passed mostly in silence except when the journey required communication, as when they worked to help the heavily laden cart along the uneven road. Jeshua had much he wanted to say during the afternoon. More accurately, he had much that he wanted to ask. But he saw that Samuel’s thoughts were far away, the holy man’s steps and actions only perfunctory. He decided to maintain the silence also observed by the priests that walked with them.
For his part, Samuel spent the journey in deep thought. All of the years of his life had been spent in the protective surroundings of Shiloh. Eli had always been there, managing the day-to-day affairs and providing the physical necessities. Eli also had provided good guidance, even if not the best parental example. The high priest’s thorough management had left Samuel free of much of the daily tasks, although he had always been willing to do the work to maintain the tabernacle.
People had journeyed to Shiloh to make their offerings to God. A continual fire that consumed these offerings created an ever-present plume visible to those who came from afar to honor their God. The rich had come with great offerings, and the poor had come with small offerings, all equal in the sight of the Lord.
Many of those who came had shared their stories with Samuel. The rich had their hopes and fears, and the poor had their hopes and fears. These, too, were equal in the sight of the Lord.
Always, over everything, there had been the voice of God. It seemed that the world had come to Samuel, and God had been there with him in the courtyard.
These had been years of learning and observing. Samuel had come to realize the needs of the people about him, both those within Shiloh and those who had come from distant parts of Israel. He saw how they had strayed from the calling of God or were returning to Him. But how many of all the thousands in Israel had ever come to Shiloh? How many had he seen or how many lives had he touched? Samuel reflected on how many people there might be in Israel that he would never know as he waited on the Lord in Shiloh.
The prophecies concerning Eli were now set in motion, although not yet fulfilled. The seed of Eli continued in his grandson, Ahitub, the son of Phinehas. Ahitub would inherit the high priest position, but he would also inherit the prophecies. To him would fall the burden of change if he were to escape the future that lay on the present path.
Samuel had already realized that the Philistine victory was a call to all Israel to come home to God. God had not abandoned Israel, but Israel had abandoned Him. As he understood this, Samuel also realized that this was a call to him. God was calling Samuel out of Shiloh and into Israel. If there had been limitations upon him, they were gone with the death of Eli and the destruction of the tabernacle. God beckoned him forth.
As he traveled toward Ramah, Samuel’s thoughts were meditations on this newfound freedom. He opened his mind to God and listened to His instructions for the future.
Ramah was less than a day’s journey west of Shiloh, but the journey began well into the day and the rough road made the cart’s journey slow. The sky was almost fully dark and Ramah not yet in sight. With no light to see how to negotiate the rough road, they encamped in a field.
The quiet continued as they ate from their provisions. With no need of a fire, they ate quickly and spread their rolls for the night.
The men settled into their blankets, each considering the life-altering day they had just experienced.
As he gazed at the stars above, Jeshua realized that many of the questions he had for Samuel were probably questions that the others would want to ask about the future, as well. Samuel was a seer, one who was known for his predictions of the future. Had he seen this event coming? He did not seem any more prepared for this than any of the others in the group.
Some of Jeshua’s questions were about God. He wished that Samuel would further explain his comment at the gate. Where was God usually? And what would it take to call Him? Thoughts raced through his mind but he drifted off to sleep quickly, more exhausted by the trials of the day than energized by these unsettling questions.
The sun was just rising and the cool night air still prevailed as the weary men began to stir the next morning. Each woke to a discouraged spirit, except for Samuel who now had his eyes and heart set more clearly toward the future.
Samuel urged them to start the day in prayer, beginning with thanksgiving, proceeding to praise, and then to seek a blessing for the day. Jeshua and the priests followed his example and stood in a circle, hands open and stretched to heaven. Only when they heard Samuel’s prayer for a blessing did their spirits begin to rise.
The prayer of Samuel ended with Samuel beseeching the Lord for a return of the ark. He followed this with the request of a blessing for the Lord’s prophets, that Israel might better know God through His servants. He then thanked God that those things would come to pass.
The others were themselves praying for the return of the ark. But Samuel’s request for a blessing for the prophets came as a surprise to all in the small group. Prophets had long been in disrepute, the true Word of God a memory from the distant past was Samuel. From where would these prophets come? And how could Samuel give thanks for what had not yet come to pass?
When questioned, Samuel explained. “I have seen that there are men who have come to Shiloh from all over Israel, good men who know God. There is also a generation waiting to learn of Him. Indeed, there are many of the older generations that want to know Him better. We will teach Israel of God, and God will return the ark and return the land to us.”
For Samuel, the answer was this simple. Jeshua and the priests all began asking questions at once, questions beginning with “When…” and “How…,” but Samuel held up a hand. “This will be in the Lord’s time and in the Lord’s way.” Gesturing to the men gathered around him, Samuel added, “And we will be His hands.”
Pointing toward Ramah, out of sight in the distance, Samuel continued, “And this is where we will begin. We will train up the young in the way that they should go, in the way that I was trained, and in the way that you have been trained, also. Here we will teach men to be true prophets of God. Here we will begin,” he said, gesturing toward Ramah ahead of them. And then sweeping his hand along the horizon all the way around him as he turned, he said, “and out there we will continue until we are a nation of prophets.”
Samuel turned to collect his few possessions and his blanket. When he realized that the others were still in awe of what he had spoken, Samuel encouraged them with a hearty voice, “Come! We have the Lord’s work to do!”
And so they proceeded toward Ramah, half a dozen priests, a young Levite from Benjamin, and a seer.
[1] 1 Samuel 4:1-4:22
