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reflecting that he who had condemned them to endure these
calamities was greater than the ark； and for whose sake it was
that this ark came to be honored。 So the ark came； and the sons
of the high priest with it； having received a charge from their
father； that if they pretended to survive the taking of the ark；
they should come no more into his presence； for Phineas
officiated already as high priest； his father having resigned his
office to him； by reason of his great age。 So the Hebrews were
full of courage； as supposing that； by the coming of the ark；
they should be too hard for their enemies： their enemies also
were greatly concerned； and were afraid of the ark's coming to
the Israelites： however； the upshot did not prove agreeable to
the expectation of both sides； but when the battle was joined；
that victory which the Hebrews expected was gained by the
Philistines； and that defeat the Philistines were afraid of fell
to the lot of the Israelites； and thereby they found that they
had put their trust in the ark in vain； for they were presently
beaten as soon as they came to a close fight with their enemies；
and lost about thirty thousand men； among whom were the sons of
the high priest； but the ark was carried away by the enemies。
3。 When the news of this defeat came to Shiloh； with that of the
captivity of the ark； （for a certain young man； a Benjamite； who
was in the action； came as a messenger thither；） the whole city
was full of lamentations。 And Eli； the high priest； who sat upon
a high throne at one of the gates； heard their mournful cries；
and supposed that some strange thing had befallen his family。 So
he sent for the young man； and when he understood what had
happened in the battle； he was not much uneasy as to his sons； or
what was told him withal about the army； as having beforehand
known by Divine revelation that those things would happen； and
having himself declared them beforehand； … for what sad things
come unexpectedly they distress men the most； but as soon as ＇he
heard＇ the ark was carried captive by their enemies； he was very
much grieved at it； because it fell out quite differently from
what he expected； so he fell down from his throne and died；
having in all lived ninety…eight years； and of them retained the
government forty。
4。 On the same day his son Phineas's wife died also； as not able
to survive the misfortune of her husband； for they told her of
her husband's death as she was in labor。 However； she bare a son
at seven months； who lived； and to whom they gave the name of
Icabod； which name signifies disgrace； … and this because the
army received a disgrace at this thee。
5。 Now Eli was the first of the family of Ithamar； the other son
of Aaron； that had the government； for the family of Eleazar
officiated as high priest at first； the son still receiving that
honor from the father which Eleazar bequeathed to his son
Phineas； after whom Abiezer his son took the honor； and delivered
it to his son； whose name was Bukki； from whom his son Ozi
received it； after whom Eli； of whom we have been speaking； had
the priesthood； and so he and his posterity until the thee of
Solomon's reign； but then the posterity of Eleazar reassumed it。
BOOK VI。
Containing The Interval Of Thirty…Two Years。
From The Death Of Eli To The Death Of Saul。
CHAPTER 1。
The Destruction That Came Upon The Philistines； And Upon Their
Land； By The Wrath Of Go On Account Of Their Having Carried The
Ark Away Captive； And After What Manner They Sent It Back To The
Hebrews。
1。 When the Philistines had taken the ark of the Hebrews captive；
as I said a little before； they carried it to the city of Ashdod；
and put it by their own god； who was called Dagon； （1） as one of
their spoils； but when they went into his temple the next morning
to worship their god； they found him paying the same worship to
the ark； for he lay along； as having fallen down from the basis
whereon he had stood： so they took him up； and set him on his
basis again； and were much troubled at what had happened； and as
they frequently came to Dagon and found him still lying along； in
a posture of adoration to the ark； they were in very great
distress and confusion。 At length God sent a very destructive
disease upon the city and country of Ashdod； for they died of the
dysentery or flux； a sore distemper； that brought death upon them
very suddenly； for before the soul could； as usual in easy
deaths； be well loosed from the body； they brought up their
entrails； and vomited up what they had eaten； and what was
entirely corrupted by the disease。 And as to the fruits of their
country； a great multitude of mice arose out of the earth and
hurt them； and spared neither the plants nor the fruits。 Now
while the people of Ashdod were under these misfortunes； and were
not able to support themselves under their calamities； they
perceived that they suffered thus because of the ark； and that
the victory they had gotten； and their having taken the ark
captive； had not happened for their good； they therefore sent to
the people of Askelon； and desired that they would receive the
ark among them。 This desire of the people of Ashdod was not
disagreeable to those of Askelon； so they granted them that
favor。 But when they had gotten the ark； they were in the same
miserable condition； for the ark carried along with it the
disasters that the people of Ashdod had suffered； to those who
received it from them。 Those of Askelon also sent it away from
themselves to others： nor did it stay among those others neither；
for since they were pursued by the same disasters； they still
sent it to the neighboring cities； so that the ark went round；
after this manner； to the five cities of the Philistines； as
though it exacted these disasters as a tribute to be paid it for
its coming among them。
2。 When those that had experienced these miseries were tired out
with them； and when those that heard of them were taught thereby
not to admit the ark among them； since they paid so dear a
tribute for it； at length they sought for some contrivance and
method how they might get free from it： so the governors of the
five cities； Gath； and Ekron； and Askelon； as also of Gaza； and
Ashclod； met together； and considered what was fit to be done；
and at first they thought proper to send the ark back to its own
people； as allowing that God had avenged its cause； that the
miseries they had undergone came along with it； and that these
were sent on their cities upon its account； and together with it。
However； there were those that said they should not do so； nor
suffer themselves to be deluded； as ascribing the cause of their
miseries to it； because it could not have such power and force
upon them； for； had God had such a regard to it； it would not
have been delivered into the hands of men。 So they exhorted them
to be quiet； and to take patiently what had befallen them； and to
suppose there was no other cause of it but nature； which； at
certain revolutions of time； produces such mutations in the
bodies of men； in the earth； in plants； and in all things that
grow out of the earth。 But the counsel that prevailed over those
already described； was that of certain men； who were believed to
have distinguished themselves in former times for their
understanding and prudence； and who； in their present
circumstances； seemed above all the rest to speak properly。 These
men said it was not right either to send the ark away； or to
retain it； but to dedicate five golden images； one for every
city； as a thank…offering to God； on account of his having taken
care of their preservation； and having kept them alive when their
lives were likely to be taken away by such distempers as they
were not able to bear up against。 They also would have them make
five golden mice like to those that devoured and destroyed their
country （2） to put them in a bag； and lay them upon the ark； to
make them a new cart also for it； and to yoke milch kine to it
（3） but to shut up their calves； and keep them from them； lest；
by following after them； they should prove a hinderance to their
dams； and that the dams might return the faster out of a desire
of those calves； then to drive these milch kine that carried the
ark； and leave it at a place where three ways met； and So leave
it to the kine to go along which of those ways they pleased； that
in case they went the way to the Hebrews； and ascended to their
country； they should suppose that the ark was the cause of their
misfortunes； but if they turned into another road； they said； 〃We
will pursue after it； and conclude that it has no such force in
it。〃
3。 So they determined that these men spake well； and they
immediately confirmed their opinion by doing accordingly。 And
when they had done as has been already described； they brought
the cart to a place where three ways met； and left it there and
went their ways； but the kine went the right way； and as if some
persons had driven them； while the rulers of the Philistines
followed after them； as desirous to know where they would stand
still； and to whom they would go。 Now there was a certain village
of the tribe of Judah； the name of wh