19 And he smote H5221 the men H376 of Bethshemesh, H1053 because they had looked H7200 into the ark H727 of the LORD, H3068 even he smote H5221 of the people H5971 fifty H2572 thousand H505 and threescore and ten H7657 men: H582 and the people H5971 lamented, H56 because the LORD H3068 had smitten H5221 many of the people H5971 with a great H1419 slaughter. H4347
20 And the men H582 of Bethshemesh H1053 said, H559 Who is able H3201 to stand H5975 before H6440 this holy H6918 LORD H3068 God? H430 and to whom shall he go up H5927 from us?
21 And they sent H7971 messengers H4397 to the inhabitants H3427 of Kirjathjearim, H7157 saying, H559 The Philistines H6430 have brought again H7725 the ark H727 of the LORD; H3068 come ye down, H3381 and fetch it up H5927 to you.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on 1 Samuel 6
Commentary on 1 Samuel 6 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 6
In this chapter we have the return of the ark to the land of Israel, whither we are now gladly to attend it, and observe,
1Sa 6:1-9
The first words of the chapter tell us how long the captivity of the ark continued-it was in the country of the Philistines seven months. In the field of the Philistines (so it is in the original), from which some gather that, having tried it in all their cities, and found it a plague to the inhabitants of each, at length they sent it into the open fields, upon which mice sprang up out of the ground in great multitudes, and destroyed the corn which was now nearly ripe and marred the land. With that judgment they were plagued (v. 5), and yet it is not mentioned in the foregoing chapter; so God let them know that wherever they carried the ark, so long as they carried it captive, they should find it a curse to them. Cursed shalt thou be in the city, and cursed in the field, Deu. 28:16. But, most take it to signify, as we render it, The country of the Philistines. Now,
1Sa 6:10-18
We are here told,
1Sa 6:19-21
Here is,