The Ark of God Moves Around

The Ark does move around before it's brought up and deposited in the temple when we finally get a temple. It would be ironic if it really is the Ark because you have the irony of Saul imitating the disastrous decision that Eli and his household did to bring the Ark into the field of battle against the Philistines way back in 1 Samuel 4 and 5. The priest seems to embolden Saul's men at least in verse 19. This whole thing about stretching out the hand as a gesture of prayer is a familiar Old Testament territory.