神の箱のあった地 – Hashem Gathers

Ashdod is one of the Pentapolis, 5 cities of the Philistine, along with Ashkelon, Ekron, Gath and Gaza. Ashdod is currently a very Jewish city with more than 90% of its population being Jewish, but it was the land of Philistine anciently.

Ashdod is mentioned a couple times in the Bible, but the most memorable scene would be in I Samuel chapter 6.

After the Philistines had captured the ark of God, they took it from Ebenezer to Ashdod. Then they carried the ark into Dagon’s temple and set it beside Dagon. When the people of Ashdod rose early the next day, there was Dagon, fallen on his face on the ground before the ark of the Lord! They took Dagon and put him back in his place.
I Samuel 5:1-3

Israel, not being able to be spiritually united in God, was defeated by the Philistines, where the ark of God was captured by them. The philistines then carried the ark to Ashdod. Dagon is a Philistine idol, which the creator God of Israel would never tolerate. I wonder where this Dagon's temple was. I asked Google and a couple other people, but could not get a straight answer. Nonetheless the ark was here in Ashdod, and it might be right here on the street I am walking!

Inside the ark is two stone tablets with 10 commandments Moses received (symbol of Torah), Aaron's rod and a jar of mannna. The ark is the very presence of God of Israel, and should never be on the land of the Philistines. There is this scene where God Himself returned to the land of Israel.

The ark of God made Dagon fallen on the floor and caused devastation and tumors among the Philistines. The Philistines thought it might not be a good idea to keep the ark among them, and placed the ark on a cart with two cows, to see whether the ark would stay in the land of Philistines, in which case the devastation and tumors were just coincidence, or the ark would return to Israel, in which case the devastation and tumors were by the hand of God of Israel and they should never keep it for more troubles. So, what happened?

Then the cows went straight up toward Beth Shemesh, keeping on the road and lowing all the way; they did not turn to the right or to the left. The rulers of the Philistines followed them as far as the border of Beth Shemesh. Now the people of Beth Shemesh were harvesting their wheat in the valley, and when they looked up and saw the ark, they rejoiced at the sight. The cart came to the field of Joshua of Beth Shemesh, and there it stopped beside a large rock. The people chopped up the wood of the cart and sacrificed the cows as a burnt offering to the Lord.
I Samuel 6:12-14

Whereabouts of the ark of God is not known (not revealed by God), but I am sure our God desires and continues to desire to be with His people, ceaselessly until the Day comes.

I happened to find an article on the possible archaeological discovery of the place where people placed the ark of God on a large stone and offered sacrifices in Beth Shemesh. I really want to visit the site someday!