Following the Journey of the Ark of the Covenant (picture from Shiloh)

We will take you in the foot step of the Ark of the Covenant

The Ark was taken from Shiloh to asist the war with the Philistines

 Captured by the Philistines – Battle of Ebenezer

1 Samuel 4:1–11

The Israelites went out to fight against the Philistines… The Philistines deployed their forces to meet Israel, and Israel was defeated… The ark of God was captured, and Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, died.

7 Months in Philistine Cities – Plagues & Panic

Ashdod	Dagon falls twice; head & hands broken	1 Sam 5:1–4
Gath	Outbreak of tumors (hemorrhoids/plague)	1 Sam 5:6–9
Ekron	People cry out: “They brought the ark to kill us!”	1 Sam 5:10–12

Samuel 6:1 “The ark of the Lord was in Philistine territory seven months.”

Returned on a Cart – With Guilt Offering

Samuel 6:7–12

They took a new cart and two milk cows… The cows went straight to Beth Shemesh, lowing but never turning left or right.

Beth Shemesh – Joy & Tragedy

Samuel 6:13–19

The people of Beth Shemesh were harvesting… They rejoiced when they saw the ark. But some men looked into the ark → God struck down 70 men They said: “Who can stand in the presence of the Lord?”

Decision: Send it away → Kiriath Jearim

Kiriath Jearim – 70 Years in Abinadab’s House

1 Samuel 7:1–2

The men of Kiriath Jearim came and took the ark… They brought it to Abinadab’s house on the hill and consecrated Eleazar his son to guard it. It stayed there for 20 years (later sources say ~70 years total until David).

Location: NW of Jerusalem (~12 km), modern Abu Ghosh

Obed-Edom the Gittite – 3-Month Stop

2 Samuel 6:9–11

David was afraid of the Lord that day and said, “How can the ark of the Lord come to me?” He was not willing to take the ark into the City of David. Instead, he took it to the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite. The ark remained there for three months, and the Lord blessed Obed-Edom and his entire household.

Who was Obed-Edom?

• A Levite from Gath (a Philistine city) who converted or served Israel.

• Lived near Jerusalem (possibly in the suburbs or on the way from Kiriath Jearim).

• Not Doeg the Edomite – that’s a different person (Saul’s chief shepherd, evil).

Final Journey to Jerusalem – David’s Celebration

2 Samuel 6:12–17

When told that God had blessed Obed-Edom because of the ark, David went and brought the ark from Obed-Edom’s house to the City of David with rejoicing. Every six steps, he sacrificed a bull and a fattened calf. David danced before the Lord with all his might, wearing a linen ephod. The ark was placed inside the tent David had pitched for it.