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probably not re-taken until the victories of Saul had liumi- 

 liated the enemy ; at least, it is not, most certainly among 

 those recovered by Samuel, Avhich lay between «' Ekron and 

 Gath," (Saml. 14.) ; while it is exactly adjoining, (a little to 

 the North-west) of Michmash, Avhere the Philistines assembled 

 and were defeated by Saul. (Saml. 13. v. 2. 5. ] l.&c. 14. 31.) 

 And it is remarkable that it is mentioned, (14. 21.) that the 

 Philistines were at that time attended by the Israelites of 

 " the country round about the camp," which evidently in- 

 cludes Shiloh. We are to suppose then, that as the defeat was 

 most complete, and, " they smote the Philistines that day from 

 Michmash to Ajalon," (v. 31.) Shiloh was recovered and per- 

 haps the ark removed there, " for the ark of God was at that 

 time with the children of Israel," (v. IS.)— a most forcible 

 evidence for our supposition, particularly if we consider the 

 chronologic characters of it, for this was when " Saul had 

 reigned two years over Israel." (xiii. 1.) Now, granting l6 

 or 18 years to Samuel alone, as the most distinguished chro- 

 nologists agree, this was perhaps precisely in the twenty-first 

 year after the taking of the ark, and probably, as it " remained 

 seven months in the country of the Philistines," (6. 1.) it con- 

 tinued, as the disputed text assigns, exactly twenty years in 

 the city of Kirjathjearim, and after the death of Saul and the 

 destruction of his host in Mount Gilboa, we may suppose, 

 that the experience of its security made the Israelites, remove 

 it to Kirjathjearim, again, as Shiloh, was too much in the vi- 

 cinity 



