CAPTURED BY THE  ENEMY
Although many Old Testament scriptures portray death by the sword as the conclusion of warfare, many other scriptures report that enemies capture people and takes them away to their kingdoms where they serve as slaves. Unless we read very carefully, however, we will not recognize that God allows enemies to capture Israel and the ark of god because God uses the enemy to punish Israel for its unfaithfulness. These situations are referred to as “exile” to religious kingdoms such as Assyria and Babylon. Exile is the basic tool that God uses to discipline his people.

On other occasions, during seasons of Israel’s faithfulness to enter into warfare with its enemies, Israel is empowered to capture the enemy because God is with them.

After Solomon’s death, Israel divided into two kingdoms. The northern kingdom is called Ephraim and the southern kingdom is called Judah. Both kingdoms worshiped other gods and eventually fought with each other.