Midrash for I Samuel 4:4
וַיִּשְׁלַ֤ח הָעָם֙ שִׁלֹ֔ה וַיִּשְׂא֣וּ מִשָּׁ֗ם אֵ֣ת אֲר֧וֹן בְּרִית־יְהוָ֛ה צְבָא֖וֹת יֹשֵׁ֣ב הַכְּרֻבִ֑ים וְשָׁ֞ם שְׁנֵ֣י בְנֵֽי־עֵלִ֗י עִם־אֲרוֹן֙ בְּרִ֣ית הָאֱלֹהִ֔ים חָפְנִ֖י וּפִֽינְחָֽס׃
So the people sent to Shiloh, and they brought from thence the ark of the covenant of the LORD of hosts, who sitteth upon the cherubim; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.
Midrash Tanchuma Buber
(Numb. 31:6, cont.:) AND THE VESSELS OF THE SANCTUARY (haqodesh). This refers to the Ark (and its contents), since it is stated (in Numb. 7:9): BECAUSE THEY (i.e., the children of Korah) HAD THE SERVICE OF THE HOLY (haqodesh) OBJECTS, WHICH THEY CARRIED ON THE SHOULDER.16The interpretation assumes an analogy with I Sam. 4:4. R. Johanan said: These were the priestly garments, for in them were the Urim and Thummim, as stated (in Exod. 29:29): AND THE SACRED (haqodesh) GARMENTS OF AARON. (Numb. 31:8:) THEY ALSO KILLED BALAAM BEN PEOR WITH THE SWORD. Now what was he doing there? He had simply gone to receive a reward for twenty-four thousand that had fallen through his counsel.
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