1 Samuel 6

1 Samuel 6

Trapp adds "Here they seem peevishly [angrily] to lay the blame of their sufferings upon God, as over-holy and strict: of their sins, the true cause, they say nothing; but take care to rid their hands of the ark, which they should have retained reverently.” And to whom shall He go up from us?" - CSB - "Who should the ark go to from here?" Knowing Yahweh was holy did not make them want to draw near but to put some distance between Him and them! And so in an incredible irony, the citizens of Beth-shemesh mimic the Philistines in seeking to get rid of the Ark because of the great slaughter, which was the same thing that had motivated the Philistines! 1 Samuel 6:21 So they sent messengers to the inhabitants of Kiriath-jearim, saying, "The Philistines have brought back the ark of the LORD; come down and take it up to you." Kirjath-jearim: Jos 18:14 Jdg 18:12 1Ch 13:5,6 Ps 78:60 Jer 7:12,14 See Kiriath-jearim next destination for the Ark PREPARATION FOR TRANSPORT OF ARK TO KIRIATH-JEARIM So they sent messengers to the inhabitants of Kiriath-jearim - Why did they select this particular town? The text is silent. Kiriath-jearim was a Gibeonite city some fifteen miles to the east. Saying, "The Philistines have brought back the ark of the LORD; come down and take it up to you - We don't want the Ark in Beth-shemesh!