The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1907-06-14

DeinuSA " vut sue 40 tASy R1esco,
and saying with a sneef
Art thou a prophet and Judge, in.
deed, in Israel? Hath God spoken by
thy MOUTH We shall see
And Samuel was left standing alone
in the temple courtway while Prime.
has and Hophni and the Levites bear
ing the ark and the shouting multitude
passed out on their way to the place
where the army Of Israel was stretch
ed cut in battle array before the army
Of the Philistines. As the sound OF
the multitude grew faint In the dis
lance Samuel aroused himself and
with heavy heart sought out the aged
Eli and told him all that had come to
spass. The old priest bowed his head
In sorrow, and after a brief silence
he lifted his face to the young man
who stood before him ami said, with
an effort to be hopeful;
1T cannot be that disaster will come
to the ark Of the Lord, and If courage
comes to the hearts of the people by
its presence it may be that victory
will come to the army Of Israel. We
must wait"
And the feeble old man, with the
help of Samuel went to his seat in the
| place at the entrance to the city, and
there kept vigil all the day that he
might receive the first tidings which
would come to the city, and Samuel
returned to his duties.
In the meantime the ark had reach.
ed the camp of Israel and had been re.
ceived with tumultuous shouts of joy.
New courage and hope arose in the
hearts of the lsraelites, and their lead
ers could scarce restrain them from
rushing into battle and engaging the
enemy. Phinehas and Hophni contem.
plated the situation with an intense
feeling Of qualification and triumph.
for of late their standing with the
people had seemed to be impaired
through the words which Samuel had
spoken. A bitter hatred had grown
up in their hearts against this usurper,
as they styled him. and each fresh
utterance which he had made against
their corrupt methods in the dis.
charge Of their priestly functions had
only intensified this feeling. But the
demand for the ark and their bringing
1t forth into the midst of the camp
had won the popular approval, and
they felt that the hour Of their tri.
umph over this man Samuel had come.
After the victory which Israel would
win through their efforts they would
be revenged upon him.
At last the battle was Joined, and
with eager confidence Phinehas and
Hophni pressed forward with the ark
borne by the Levites. How desperate.
ly and with what confidence Israel
fought. Forward, ever forward, moved
the ark, while the shouts of the PEG.
pie indicated to the enemy the point
where the ark rested.
Thus it was that the Philistines
were led to concentrate their forces
upon that one point, reasoning wisely
that if the forces of Israel could be
broken and scattered at that point the
rest of the army would give way and
fee. So it came to pass that ere
long the two priestly sons of Eli found
themselves the center Of a mighty and
desperate struggle. Gradually at first,
and then with p~recipitate haste the sol
diers of Israel began to give way and
then to fee. In vain did Phinehas
and Hophni seek e rally the forces
by shouting that the ark was with
them. In vain did they raise far
above their heads this cleaning gold.
en- ark on which rested the two cher.
ubim. In vain did they call upon the
name Of their God whose presence was
supposed to rest between the cher.
ubim upon the ark.
The horror of fear and apprehension
deepened upon their faces as they
looked at each other. Over their souls
there swept the memory Of the words
of Judgment which the Lord had
spoken by Samuel, and which up to
this time they had received with scoff.
ing words of ridicule and contempt.
And now the forces about the ark are
surging and falling backward before
the enemy which is fiercely pressing
the battle. Everywhere the dead are
lying, so that the Levites bearing the
ark with difficulty maintain their feet.
And now the Philistines are full upon
them, wild with joy that the ark OF
Israel is just within their grasp. In
the frenzy of despair Phinehas and
Hophni throw themselves upon the
sacred emblem, while a dozen spears
at once pierce their bodies and they
are cast aside while the ark is borne
off in triumph to the camp of the Phil.
istines.