Beginning of the End - Ellen G. White

Philistines?'" They did not see that it was because of their own sins
that this terrible disaster had occurred.
And they said, "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." The Lord had given no command or
permission for the ark to come into the army, yet the Israelites felt
confident that victory would be theirs, and they gave a great shout
when it was carried into the camp by the sons of Eli.
The Philistines considered the ark as the god of Israel. They
said, "'What does the sound of this great shout in the camp of the
Hebrews mean?' Then they understood that the ark of the Lord had
come into the camp. So the Philistines were afraid, for they said,
'God has come into the camp!' And they said, 'Woe to us! ... These
are the gods who struck the Egyptians with all the plagues in the
wilderness. 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 made a fierce attack, which resulted in great
slaughter. Thirty thousand men lay dead on the field, and the ark of
God was taken. The two sons of Eli died while fighting to defend it.
The most terrifying calamity that could happen had come on
Israel. The ark of God was in the hands of the enemy. The symbol of
the abiding presence and power of Jehovah was gone. In former
days, miraculous victories had followed whenever it appeared. The
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