In spite of Israelite enthusiasm (v. 5; in Israel’s view God is always good for morale) and Philistine alarm, the scheme flopped. In view of all the hype one expects more than the laconic entry of verse 10: “So the Philistines fought and Israel was struck down, and each man fled to his tent.” Not only that, but Yahweh’s ark was captured (v. 11). The people who read the papers and listened to the newscasts could draw only one conclusion: Yahweh had suffered defeat; he was unable to deliver the goods