The Ark Of The Covenant Captured

Associated with everything from popular culture thanks to Indiana Jones to conspiracy theories about its whereabouts, the ark of the covenant is not as Biblically mysterious as some might think.  The instructions on how to build the ark of the covenant, called the ark of God in 1 Samuel, are found in Exodus 25:10-22.  Its chest and pole components are designed from acacia wood and gold.  Bezalel has to touch its materials as he crafts them according with the preceding details in Exodus 37:1-9, so of course it does not automatically kill all who see or touch it.  The ark is eventually captured by the Philistines (1 Samuel 4:10-21) but is not seemingly touched incorrectly so as to bring about the death of the holder--more will be said on this below.  What is said to take place afterward touches on everything from the inadequacy of idols to the real metaphysical source of power connected with the ark.

When the Philistines place the ark inside a temple of Dagon, the following day, they are said to have found the statue of Dagon fallen on its face before the ark of God, and the after the image is restored to an upright position, the statue is found fallen yet again the subsequent day, this time with its head and hands broken off (1 Samuel 5:1-5).  It is noteworthy that the image itself is called Dagon, whereas the ark is called the ark of God, this being consistent with the Bible's doctrine of other gods and goddesses really being demons (Leviticus 17, Deuteronomy 32) or mere natural materials that, though they are fashioned to resemble entities, are not really conscious or otherwise representative of an actual deity (Isaiah 44:9-20).

As an object crafted from substances like gold, the ark is just another material thing made from the resources of the world.  As a visible reminder of Yahweh's power--not a tangible representation of Yahweh himself, who has no form (Deuteronomy 4:15-20, Exodus 20:4-6, 22-23)--it is tied to a being greater than any metal or shape.  This is why the ark is presented as having a devastating effect on the Philistines.  Passing it from city to city in a vain attempt to escape tumors and death (1 Samuel 5:6-12), they decide to send it back to Israel with gold models of the tumors and rats that resemble their afflictions from Yahweh (6:1-5).  The Philistines put the gold models inside a chest next to the ark in a cart (1 Samuel 6:8), which is crucial because the text does not say they opened or gazed into the object.

The cows pulling the cart are observed as they return the ark to Israel (6:9-12, 16), with priests (seemingly from among the Philistines) saying that the cart going towards Beth Shemesh would be a sign that the disasters have been from Yahweh and it being brought in another direction would be a confirmation of coincidence.  This would be a total philosophical assumption since it does not follow, because the beasts heading towards Beth Shemesh could also be a chance phenomenon, but on the level of perception, it would provide some evidence that Yahweh is behind these events.  Indeed, the animals take the ark to Beth Shemesh, where there are sacrifices and great celebration (6:13-15).

When they receive the ark, some of the inhabitants of Beth Shemesh are nonetheless killed by God for looking inside it (1 Samuel 6:19), much like what happens to Uzzah later on for touching the ark when it looked like it would fall (2 Samuel 6:6-7).  This is in contrast with what even the Philistines are said to do to the ark.  However, both of these accounts clarify that it is God and not the ark that kills these people.  The ark on its own has no power.  It is a chest made of mere acacia wood overlayed with gold, not a relic with independent power.  Rather than a weapon that can be harnessed by just anyone who takes it for themselves or a token that binds God to the will of whoever possesses it, whatever their ideology, intentions, or deeds, it is presented as a physical object that represents God's favor and power, not God or an irrelevant form assigned to him.