Sending the Ark Back: 6:1–12 It was apparent to the Philistines that the disasters befalling them were related to their possession of the ark, but it took seven months before they decided the way to handle this crisis was to send the ark back. To do that could be seen as a politically significant admission of weakness and could be interpreted by the Israelites as an invitation to attack; the Philistines’ reluctance is unsurprising.

It was vital to conduct the transaction in the least damaging way possible. The Philistines wanted to pacify Israel’s God in order to prevent further devastation, but they needed to do this without inciting Israel to battle at a time when Philistia was recovering from epidemic disease. Their solution was masterly and shows why they were such a formidable enemy. T…