The fact that Israel alone was the elect nation charged with such astounding privilege and responsibility means that Israel alone could prosecute Yahweh war as a righteous act. And even Israel could do so only when God gave special mandate and instruction in each case. The mere performance of ritual or use of artifacts, such as the ark of the covenant, could not guarantee success or even qualify the engagement as Yahweh war (see, e.g., Num. 14:39–45; 1 Sam. 4:1–11). If God was not in it, no amount