The Philistine's Encounter the Ark: 5:1–12 A note of humor creeps into the narrative as the ark’s encounter with Philistine cities is described. Both Israel and Philistia had to realize that Israel’s God had not lost control. The importance of outsiders understanding the nature and power of Yahweh is a theme that recurs throughout the OT. One of the reasons for the exile, for example, was that the nations should not think that the Lord did not care about Israel’s idolatry and immorality, whereas the return from exile was so that the nations might not think that the Lord is powerless (cf. Ezek. 6; 36). The same pattern is found here. Israel must not th…