Joshua
The ark of the covenant was placed on a rock in the field of Joshua of Beth-shemesh.
Biography
Joshua of Beth-shemesh was a resident of the city of Beth-shemesh in whose field the ark of the covenant came to rest when it was returned by the Philistines following its capture (1 Samuel 6:14). After the Philistines had suffered severe divine judgment, plagues of tumors, for seven months while the ark was in their territory, they placed it on a cart drawn by two milking cows and sent it back toward Israel. The cows followed the road to Beth-shemesh without guidance, stopping in Joshua's field. The Levites placed the ark on a large stone there, and the people of Beth-shemesh offered burnt offerings in celebration. Joshua's field thus became the site of Israel's joyful reunion with the symbol of God's presence after its capture.
Significance
The return of the ark to Joshua's field at Beth-shemesh represents a powerful affirmation of God's sovereignty over the nations. The Philistines had captured the ark thinking they had gained power over Israel's God, but the divine plagues that followed demonstrated that God cannot be captured or controlled. The ark's miraculous return, guided by two cows without human direction, proclaimed to both Israel and Philistia that the Lord was acting in history according to His own purposes. Joshua's field, though a simple agricultural plot, became holy ground where Israel witnessed the irresistible return of God's manifest presence to His covenant people.
Verse Appearances (2)
References
- Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Individualised Proper Names with all References (TIPNR). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Wikidata contributors (n.d.) Wikidata. Available at: https://www.wikidata.org. [CC0]
- Church of England (1769) The Holy Bible, Authorized (King James) Version. [Public Domain]