The Ark Returns to Israel

1 Samuel 6:1-21                  

Key Verses 6:13b

“When they looked up and saw the ark, they rejoiced at the sight”

Read verses 1-6.  After the ark of the Lord had been in Philistine territory seven months, what did  the Philistine do? (1, 2)  How did the priests and the diviners answer? (3)  What kind of guilt offering did they suggest to send with the ark of the Lord? (4-5)  What did they remind them of from history?(6) 

Read verses 7-12. What was their advice for preparing for returning the ark to Israel? (7-8)  How would the Philistines know whether the disasters among them were caused by God or by chance? (9) Why could this be a test?  What happened when the ark of the Lord when the cart was sent away? (10-12)

Read verses 13-16. How did the people of Beth Shemesh respond to the ark’s return? (13)  Where did the cart carrying the ark stop? (14a)  What did they do for the Lord? (14b)  What did the Levites do the ark of the Lord, together with the chest containing the gold objects? (15) What did the five rulers of the Philistines do? (16)

Read verses 17-21.What were the guilt offerings that the Philistines sent with the ark of the Lord? (17, 18)  Where was the ark of the Lord set? (18)  Why did God strike down some of the men of Beth Shemesh? (19a)  How did they deal with the heavy blow from God? (19b, 20)  Where did they send messengers in order to send the ark away? (21)