1)
Why must they go to Beis Shemesh?
1.
Malbim: This is its resting place. 1
1
Its resting place is in Shilo! Presumably, 'its resting place' means among Yisrael, and Beis Shemesh was the closest such place. "Derech Gevulo" supports this. (PF)
2)
If it does not go to Beis Shemesh, can they say that everything was chance?!
1.
Malbim: Surely it was from Hashem. They were unsure if the punishment was due to the Aron, or of another reason, and the Aron was merely the means via which He punished them; it has a Segulah (trait) to strike whoever touches it. "Mikreh" means that Hashem was angry for a different reason.
