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Texts -- 1 Samuel 6:1-17 (NET)

Context
The Philistines Return the Ark
6:1 When the ark of the Lord had been in the land of the Philistines for seven months , 6:2 the Philistines called the priests and the omen readers , saying , “What should we do with the ark of the Lord ? Advise us as to how we should send it back to its place .” 6:3 They replied , “If you are going to send the ark of the God of Israel back , don’t send it away empty . Be sure to return it with a guilt offering . Then you will be healed , and you will understand why his hand is not removed from you.” 6:4 They inquired , “What is the guilt offering that we should send to him?” They replied , “The Philistine leaders number five. So send five gold sores and five gold mice , for it is the same plague that has afflicted both you and your leaders . 6:5 You should make images of the sores and images of the mice that are destroying the land . You should honor the God of Israel . Perhaps he will release his grip on you, your gods , and your land . 6:6 Why harden your hearts like the Egyptians and Pharaoh did? When God treated them harshly , didn’t the Egyptians send the Israelites on their way ? 6:7 So now go and make a new cart . Get two cows that have calves and that have never had a yoke placed on them. Harness the cows to the cart and take their calves from them back to their stalls . 6:8 Then take the ark of the Lord and place it on the cart , and put in a chest beside it the gold objects you are sending to him as a guilt offering . You should then send it on its way . 6:9 But keep an eye on it. If it should go up by the way of its own border to Beth Shemesh , then he has brought this great calamity on us. But if that is not the case, then we will know that it was not his hand that struck us; rather, it just happened to us by accident .” 6:10 So the men did as instructed . They took two cows that had calves and harnessed them to a cart ; they also removed their calves to their stalls . 6:11 They put the ark of the Lord on the cart , along with the chest , the gold mice , and the images of the sores . 6:12 Then the cows went directly on the road to Beth Shemesh . They went along, mooing as they went ; they turned neither to the right nor to the left . The leaders of the Philistines were walking along behind them all the way to the border of Beth Shemesh . 6:13 Now the residents of Beth Shemesh were harvesting wheat in the valley . When they looked up and saw the ark , they were pleased at the sight . 6:14 The cart was coming to the field of Joshua , who was from Beth Shemesh . It paused there near a big stone . Then they cut up the wood of the cart and offered the cows as a burnt offering to the Lord . 6:15 The Levites took down the ark of the Lord and the chest that was with it, which contained the gold objects . They placed them near the big stone . At that time the people of Beth Shemesh offered burnt offerings and made sacrifices to the Lord . 6:16 The five leaders of the Philistines watched what was happening and then returned to Ekron on the same day . 6:17 These are the gold sores that the Philistines brought as a guilt offering to the Lord – one for each of the following cities: Ashdod , Gaza , Ashkelon , Gath , and Ekron .

Pericope

NET

Bible Dictionary

  • Cart

    [ebd] a vehicle moving on wheels, and usually drawn by oxen (2 Sam. 6:3). The Hebrew word thus rendered, 'agalah (1 Sam. 6:7, 8), is also rendered "wagon" (Gen. 45:19). It is used also to denote a war-chariot (Ps. 46:9). Carts wer...
    [isbe] CART - kart (`aghalah): The Hebrew word has been translated in some passages "cart," and in others "wagon." In one verse only has it been translated "chariot." The context of the various passages indicates that a distinction...
    [smith] (Genesis 45:19,27; Numbers 7:3,7,8) a vehicle drawn by cattle, (2 Samuel 6:6) to be distinguished from the chariot drawn by horses. Carts and wagons were either open or covered, (Numbers 7:3) and were used for conveyance o...
    [nave] CART, 1 Sam. 6:7-14; 2 Sam. 6:3; Isa. 28:27, 28. See: Wagon.

  • Philistines

    [nave] PHILISTINES Descendants of Mizraim, Gen. 10:14; 1 Chr. 1:12; Jer. 47:4; Amos 9:7. Called Cherethites, 1 Sam. 30:14-16; Ezek. 25:16; Zeph. 2:5; Casluhim, Gen. 10:14; 1 Chr. 1:12; Caphtorim, Jer. 47:4; Amos 9:7. Territory of...

  • Miracles

    [nave] MIRACLES. Index of Sub-topics Catalog of, and Supernatural Events, Of Jesus, in Chronological Order, Of the Disciples of Jesus; Convincing Effect of; Design of; Miraculous Gifts of the Holy Spirit; Miscellany of Minor Sub-...

  • Kirjath-jearim

    [nave] KIRJATH-JEARIM, called also Baalah, one of the four cities of the Gibeonites. Inhabitants of, not killed, on account of the covenant made by the Israelites with the Gibeonites, but put under servitude, Josh. 9:17, with verses...

  • PALESTINE EXPLORATION, 2B

    [isbe] PALESTINE EXPLORATION, 2B - 4. Central Palestine: (1) Jerusalem. See above, III, 1, (2). (2) Samaria. (Harvard Expedition).--Although the ancient capital of the Northern Kingdom, yet Samaria was Centrally located, being 20 m...

  • David

    [ebd] beloved, the eighth and youngest son of Jesse, a citizen of Bethlehem. His father seems to have been a man in humble life. His mother's name is not recorded. Some think she was the Nahash of 2 Sam. 17:25. As to his personal ...

  • Ark

    [nave] ARK 1. Noah's. Directions for building of, Gen. 6:14-16. Noah and family preserved in, Gen. 6:18; 7:8; Matt. 24:38; Heb. 11:7; 1 Pet. 3:20. Animals saved in, Gen. 6:19, 20; 7:1-16. 2. Of Bulrushes, Ex. 2:3. 3. In the Tab...

  • MOUSE; MICE

    [isbe] MOUSE; MICE - mous, mis (`akhbar; Septuagint mus, "mouse"; compare Arabic `akbar, "jerboa" not 'akbar, "greater"; compare also proper noun, `akhbor, "Achbor" (Gen 36:38 f; 1 Ch 1:49; also 2 Ki 22:12,14; Jer 26:22; 36:12)): T...

  • Beth-shemesh

    [ebd] house of the sun. (1.) A sacerdotal city in the tribe of Dan (Josh. 21:16; 1 Sam. 6:15), on the north border of Judah (Josh. 15:10). It was the scene of an encounter between Jehoash, king of Israel, and Amaziah, king of Juda...
    [isbe] BETH-SHEMESH - beth-she'-mesh, beth'-shemesh (beth-shemesh; Baithsamus, "house of the sun"): This name for a place doubtless arose in every instance from the presence of a sanctuary of the sun there. In accordance with the m...
    [nave] BETH-SHEMESH 1. A set apart city of Dan, Josh. 21:16; 1 Sam. 6:15; 1 Chr. 6:59. On the northern border of Judah, Josh. 15:10; 1 Sam. 6:9, 12. In later times transferred to Judah, 2 Kin. 14:11. Mentioned in Solomon's commi...

  • Coffer

    [ebd] the receptacle or small box placed beside the ark by the Philistines, in which they deposited the golden mice and the emerods as their trespass-offering (1 Sam. 6:8, 11, 15).
    [isbe] COFFER - kof'-er ('argaz): A small box such as that in which the Philistines placed their golden mice and other offerings in returning the Ark (1 Sam 6:8,11,15).
    [smith] (argaz), a movable box hanging from the side of a cart. (1 Samuel 6:8,11,15) The word is found nowhere else.
    [nave] COFFER, a chest, 1 Sam. 6:8, 11, 15; Ezek. 27:24. See: Chest; Storehouses.

  • EMERODS

    [isbe] EMERODS - em'-er-odz `ophalim, techorim): These words are used in the account of the plague which broke out among the Philistines while the captive Ark of the Covenant was in their land. `Ophalim literally means rounded emin...
    [smith] (28:27; 1 Samuel 5:6,9,12; 6:4,5,11) Probably hemorrhiodal tumors , or bleeding piles, are intended. These are very common in Syria at present, Oriental habits of want of exercise and improper food, producing derangement o...

  • Haemorrhoids

    [ebd] or Emerods, bleeding piles known to the ancient Romans as mariscae, but more probably malignant boils of an infectious and fatal character. With this loathsome and infectious disease the men of Ashdod were smitten by the han...

  • KINE

    [isbe] KINE - kin: (1) 'alaphim, plural of 'eleph, "ox," or "cow," the American Standard Revised Version "cattle," the King James Version and the English Revised Version "kine" (Dt 7:13; 28:4,18,51); (2) baqar, "ox" or "cow," the A...

  • Ekron

    [ebd] firm-rooted, the most northerly of the five towns belonging to the lords of the Philistines, about 11 miles north of Gath. It was assigned to Judah (Josh. 13:3), and afterwards to Dan (19:43), but came again into the full po...

  • Mouse

    [ebd] Heb. 'akhbar, "swift digger"), properly the dormouse, the field-mouse (1 Sam. 6:4). In Lev. 11:29, Isa. 66:17 this word is used generically, and includes the jerboa (Mus jaculus), rat, hamster (Cricetus), which, though decla...
    [smith] (the corn-eater). The name of this animal occurs in (Leviticus 11:29; 1 Samuel 6:4,5; Isaiah 66:17) The Hebrew word is in all probability generic, and is not intended to denote any particular species of mouse. The original...
    [nave] MOUSE Forbidden as food, Lev. 11:29; used as food, Isa. 66:17. Images of, 1 Sam. 6:4, 5, 11, 18.

  • Cow

    [nave] COW Used for draught, 1 Sam. 6:7-12; Hos. 10:11. Milk of, used for food. See: Milk. See: Cattle; Kine. Figurative Amos 4:1.

  • HEIFER

    [smith] (1 Samuel 6:7-12; Job 21:10; Isaiah 7:21) The heifer or young cow was not commonly used for ploughing, but only for treading out the corn. (Hosea 10:11) but see Judg 14:18 When it ran about without any headstall, (26:4) he...

  • SACRIFICE, IN THE OLD TESTAMENT, 2

    [isbe] SACRIFICE, IN THE OLD TESTAMENT, 2 - V. The Mosaic Sacrificial System. 1. The Covenant Sacrifice: The fundamental function of Moses' work was to establish the covenant between Israel and God. This important transaction took ...

  • Tumor

    [isbe] TUMOR - tu'-mer, tu'-mor (`ophel): the Revised Version (British and American) substitutes this word for "emerods" in 1 Sam 5:12; 6:4; Dt 28:27 margin. See EMERODS.
    [nave] TUMOR, a morbid swelling, 1 Sam. 5:6, 9, 12; 6:4, 5, 11, 17. See: Boil; Hemorrhoids.

  • Gath

    [ebd] a wine-vat, one of the five royal cities of the Philistines (Josh. 13:3) on which the ark brought calamity (1 Sam. 5:8, 9; 6:17). It was famous also as being the birthplace or residence of Goliath (1 Sam. 17:4). David fled f...
    [isbe] GATH - gath (gath; Septuagint Geth, "winepress"): One of the five chief cities of the Philistines (Josh 13:3; 1 Sam 6:17). It was a walled town (2 Ch 26:6) and was not taken by Joshua, and, although many conflicts took place...
    [smith] (a wine press), one of the five royal cities of the Philistines; (Joshua 13:3; 1 Samuel 6:17) and the native place of the giant Goliath. (1 Samuel 17:4,23) It probably stood upon the conspicuous hill now called Tell-es-...
    [nave] GATH One of the five chief cities of the Philistines, Josh. 13:3; 1 Sam. 6:17; Amos 6:2; Mic. 1:10. Anakim, a race of giants, inhabitants of, Josh. 11:22. Goliath dwelt in, 1 Sam. 17:4; 1 Chr. 20:5-8. Obed-edom belonged t...
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Arts

Questions

  • The Ark of the Covenant was definitely real and was a part of the tabernacle, being placed in the Holy of Holies behind the curtain. I will include articles below from three Bible Dictionaries that will give you some informat...

Resources/Books

Expository Notes on the Bible (Constable)

  • Statements in the Book of Samuel imply that someone who had witnessed at least some of the events recorded wrote it. However the original writer must have written most of it after Samuel's death (i.e., -1 Sam. 25-2 Sam. 24) a...
  • I. Eli and Samuel chs. 1-3A. The change from barrenness to fertility 1:1-2:101. Hannah's condition 1:1-82. Hannah's vow 1:9-183. Hannah's obedience 1:19-284. Hannah's song 2:1-10B. The contrast between Samuel and Eli's sons 2...
  • These verses provide some insight into the godly character of Samuel's mother and her personal relationship with Yahweh. That she would offer her son to God's service for life was similar to asking that God would lead your ch...
  • Most serious students of 1 Samuel have noted the writer's emphasis on the ark of the covenant beginning here in the text. Critical scholars have long argued that 4:1b-7:1 and 2 Samuel 6 are the only remaining fragments of an ...
  • A new subject comes to the forefront in this section and continues to be a significant motif throughout the rest of Samuel. It is the ark of the covenant. The writer drew attention to the ark in this chapter by mentioning it ...
  • The Philistines, as we have already seen in Judges, were Israel's primary enemy to the west at this time. Samson, too, fought the Philistines (Judg. 13-16).52There are about 150 references to the Philistines in 1 and 2 Samuel...
  • The primary purpose of this chapter, I believe, is to demonstrate the superiority of Yahweh over Dagon, the fertility god of the Philistines.655:1-5 Having captured the ark the Philistines brought it from Ebenezer to their ma...
  • The Philistines acknowledged Yahweh's superiority over Dagon, but they believed they could manipulate Him (v. 3). Guilt offerings were common in ancient Near Eastern religions."Ancient religious protocol mandated that the wor...
  • Not all the people who later assembled to see the ark were as careful as those from Bethshemesh, however. The Mosaic Law specified that no one was to look into the ark or that person would die (Num. 4:5, 20; cf. 2 Sam. 6:6-7)...
  • God used a humble weapon to give His people a great victory in response to one person's faith. This is another instance of God bringing blessing to and through a person who committed himself to simply believing and obeying Go...
  • Ackroyd, Peter R. The First Book of Samuel. Cambridge Bible Commentary on the New English Bible series. Cambridge, Eng.: University Press, 1971._____. "The Verb Love--'Aheb in the David-Jonathan Narratives--A Footnote."Vetus ...
  • Baale-judah (v. 2) may have been the later name of Kiriath-jearim (cf. Josh. 15:9-10).76This was where the ark had evidently rested since the Israelites had moved it from Bethshemesh in Samuel's days (1 Sam. 6; cf. Ps. 132:6-...
  • Second Kings begins with Ahaziah's reign that fell during the 33-year period of Israel and Judah's alliance (874-841 B.C.; -1 Kings 16:29-2 Kings 9:29). This period in turn fits within the larger context of the divided kingdo...
  • Luke did not record Jesus' actual entrance into the city of Jerusalem. He stressed Jesus' approach to Jerusalem and His lamentation over it (vv. 41-44). This presentation has the effect of eliminating the triumphant spirit of...
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