The Philistines won a major victory over the Israelites and took possession of the Ark of the Covenant in the spoils of war. At first they celebrated this magnificent coup, defeating Israel and their god, but before long they realized that the God of Israel wasn’t contained in the box they captured.

Their people soon suffered from an infestation of rats, and an outbreak of tumors. Commentators see this as evidence of bubonic plague, carried by fleas on the rats. Devastating to a population, the leaders of the Philistines needed to act.

Choosing to appease the God of Israel, they sent the ark away, along with golden figures of rats and tumors. The cows pulling the cart wandered into Israeli territory, and God staunched the plague.

In the minds of the Philistines hovered the fate of Pharaoh so many years ago. Horrific plagues of rats and tumors – what would eight more rounds bring? Better to cut their losses now than suffer under the hand of the same God.

I wonder how many Philistines paused in doubt on their next visit to the temple of Dagon (their god mentioned in this account). How many quietly began praying to the God of Israel instead? Not in public, which was dangerous, but in the privacy of their hearts?

I imagine several. Like underground believers in the Muslim world, or Hindu nations, or American universities, more people recognize the power of the Living God and turn to Him than we realize.

I’m praying they might soon enjoy open and free worship.

I Samuel 5&6 in week sixteen of reading the Bible cover to cover

The painting featured – The Plague at Ashdod – is by Nicolas Poussin. Poussin painted this during a plague that took place in Italy from 1629 to 1631, influencing his accurate portrayal of the epidemic.