156 BATTLES OF THE BIBLE.

have been expected from the worshippers of Dagon, but
better might have been expected from the chosen people
than to look upon the ark as their god. The Philistines
did not suffer themselves to be overcome by terror ; they

resolved to exert themselves and fight the more bravely,
~ the more danger there was of their being overcome. A
second time Israel was smitten by the Philistines, smitten
with a very great slaughter, for of the children of Israel
thirty thousand footmen fell, and the remnant, quite dispi-
rited, gave up all thoughts of opposing again their victor-
ious enemy. ‘The ark was taken by the Philistines, and
the two sons of the high priest were slain. This was sad
news for all Israel to hear, but it was particularly sad
for Shiloh, the town where the ark had been kept, and
where the high priest lived. Thither ran a fugitive from
the army, with his clothes rent, and earth upon his head.
Eli the high priest, an old man of ninety-eight, sat by the
road side at the entrance of the city, anxious, very anxious,
for the ark of God. The fugitive soldier dreaded to tell
him the terrible tidings. He passed him—he could easily
pass him, for the old man’s eyes were dim—ran into the
city, and proclaimed it there. One cry of anguish, a cry
that came from many voices, told the city’s grief. The
high priest asked the meaning of the loud lamentations
that he heard, and he must be told. Still the messenger
shrunk from telling him the tale. “I am he that came
out of the army,” said the soldier of Israel, “and I fled
to-day out of the army.” “ What is there done, my son ?”
said Eli. The simple question must be simply replied