提要
非利士人將以色列人的約櫃當作戰利品放在亞實突他們的大袞神廟內。亞實突是非利士人的五個主要城市之一，靠近地中海岸，在猶大支派境內的耶路撒冷以西約三十五公里處。非利士人這麼做可能是出於報復的心理，因為多年以前，參孫在迦薩毀滅了他們的一座大袞廟，造成好幾千人死亡（士16：21~30）。他們把約櫃放在大袞之下，想顯示他們的神超越以色列的上帝，但上帝再次證明，祂不會被羞辱。大袞像兩次仆倒在約櫃前以示臣服，第二次上帝定將大袞像肢解了。大袞可能是「魚神」（「大」原文的意思是魚），有魚身和人頭；它也可能是穀神（「大袞」的意思是「玉蜀黍」或「穀粒」），因為那地非常肥沃。
上帝不只羞辱了非利士人的神，還用可怕的災病（可能是疔癤、膿腫、也可能是一種鼠疫）咒詛約櫃所到之三城的居民。約櫃在亞實突和迦特造成極大的災殃，非利士人不得不把約櫃送到以革倫。但以革倫人害怕極了，他們不願接受這個燙手的山芋，因此詢問他們的祭司應當如何把約櫃運回以色列。
非利士人在遣送約櫃回境的事上對以色列的上帝表現了高度的敬畏。在古代宗教信仰裡有一種所謂的「安撫祭」，平息神的怒氣，以避免祂的懲罰；那就是非利士人在約櫃之外另加上五個金瘤、五隻金老鼠的目的（6：5）。載運約櫃的母牛表現出極不尋常的行為，清楚的向非利士人證明，他們所遭的災禍是來自上帝。母牛沒有回到自己的牛犢身旁，反而逕向以色列境內走去，好像有人在作牠們的前導。而且雖然那兩隻母牛都未曾負過軛，但牠們的腳步卻很一致（6：7）。
與非利士人比起來，伯示麥的以色列人對約櫃到臨的反應多麼不同啊！上帝同在的象徵帶給以色列人極大的喜樂，但帶給敵人的卻是恐懼。伯示麥人為了表達對上帝的感謝，特請利未人協助他們獻祭敬拜上帝。示羅可能已遭非利士人摧毀（參詩78：60~64；耶7：12；26：9），所以伯示麥人無法立刻將約櫃送回最適合的地點。由於沒有供職的祭司和敬拜的中心，有關獻祭的常規也暫時中止。現在，伯示麥人有了利未人的協助和適當的祭物，才又開始恢復原先的秩序。
然而，快樂很快就消失了。在伯示麥有一些人好奇的擅觀約櫃（民1：50~51；4：20），上帝的怒氣和審判立刻臨到他們，伯示麥有許多人在上帝所降的災禍中死亡。伯示麥人不悔改，也不願照上帝聖潔的要求而活，只想脫離享有上帝同在連帶的責任。他們趕緊請求鄰鎮的基列耶琳人來將約櫃接走。
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Overview
As a trophy of their defeat over the Israelites and their God, the Philistines placed the ark in the temple of their god Dagon in Ashdod. This was one of the five major Philistine cities near the coast of the Mediterranean about 35 miles west of Jerusalem in the territory allotted to the tribe of Judah. The Philistines may have done this out of revenge for the destruction of their other temple of Dagon in Gaza which Samson had caused some years earlier, resulting in the deaths of thousands (Judges 16:21-30). In placing the ark below Dagon, they intended to show the superiority of their god over the God of Israel, but once again the true God of Israel was not put to shame. The idol fell twice as though in homage to Him, and the second time God smashed it in pieces. Dagon may have been the "fish-god" (dag means "fish"), having the hands and head of a man and the body of a fish, or it may have been a grain-god of agriculture (dagan means "corn" or "grain"), since that territory was very fertile.
Not only did God humiliate the Philistine god, He also humbled and cursed the people of the three cities to which they took the ark with terrible sicknesses (probably boils, tumors, or abscesses; or it may have been the bubonic plague). After much destruction in both Ashdod and Gath, the ark was sent to Ekron. When the people saw it coming to their city, it is no wonder they feared greatly, refused to keep it, and sought out advice for its return.
In returning the ark, the Philistines showed respect and fear of the God of Israel. The ancient religions had offerings to appease their gods in order to avoid divine punishment, and this was their purpose in sending the five golden tumors and the five golden rats with the ark (6:5). It was clearly evident to them that the plague had come directly from God when they saw how the milk cows behaved in an unnatural manner. They did not return to their calves, but rather walked directly into Israelite territory as though being led. The cows walked in unison, even though they had never before been yoked (6:7).
What a difference there was in the reaction of the Israelites of Beth Shemesh to the arrival of the ark when compared to that of the Philistines upon its arrival at Ekron (compare 5:10; 6:13). The symbolic presence of the Lord brought great rejoicing for Israel but dread and great fear for the enemy. In their thankfulness to God, the people of Beth Shemesh called upon the Levites to aid them in worshipping the Lord with sacrifices. Shiloh had probably been destroyed by the Philistines (compare Psalm 78:60-64; Jeremiah 7:12; 26:9), and so they could not make plans for the ark to be sent immediately to its proper home. Without any serving priests or a central place of worship, the usual law concerning sacrifices (Deuteronomy 12:10-14) was temporarily suspended. With the gathering of the Levites and these sacrifices, the restoration of order began.
The happiness, however, soon faded when some curious, disrespectful and unholy people looked into the ark (Numbers 1:50-51; 4:20). God's wrath and immediate judgment came upon them in the form of the same plague, bringing death to many in Beth Shemesh. Rather than repenting and desiring to live in accordance with the holiness of God, they wanted to be free from the responsibilities involved with His presence. They were quick to ask the people of the nearby town of Kirjath Jearim to take the ark away.
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