And when the five lords of the Philistines had seen it ,.... Observed all that was done, how the kine performed their journey, drew the cart in which the ark was straight to Bethshemesh, stopped in a field near it, where it was received joyfully by the people, and sacrifices offered on account of it: they returned to Ekron the same day ; as they might very well, since it was but twelve miles from Bethshemesh. read more
And these are the golden emerods, which the Philistines returned for a trespass offering unto the Lord ,.... Along with the ark: for Ashdod one, for Gaza one, for Ashkelon, one, for Gath one, for Ekron one ; which were the five principalities of the Philistines that belonged to the five lords before mentioned; and each of these were at the expense of a golden emerod, and sent it along with the ark to make atonement for the offence they had been guilty of in taking and detaining it. read more
And the golden mice, according to the number of all the cities of the Philistines belonging to the five lords ,.... That is, as many golden mice as there were cities under the jurisdiction of the five lords, which are the same before mentioned: both of fenced cities and of country villages ; walled and unwalled towns; it seems by this, as it was but reasonable it should be, that the several villages adjacent and belonging to the five principal cities contributed their part towards the... read more
These are the golden emerods - Each of these cities, in what may be called its corporate capacity, sent a golden emerod. read more
And the golden mice - The desolation that had been made through the land by these animals had excited a general concern; and it appears from the text, that all the cities of the Philistines, as well fended as without walls, sent a golden mouse as a trespass-offering. Remaineth unto this day - Some think the ark is intended, which continued on the stone of Abel for some considerable time after it was placed there; and that the memoranda from which this book was afterwards... read more
They returned to Ekron the same day. The lords of the Philistines would of course take no part in this rejoicing, but, having seen the ark restored, and the people busied in making preparations for the sacrifice, returned immediately home. read more
The golden emerods. We have here and in 1 Samuel 6:18 an enumeration of the gifts differing from, without being at variance with, that in 1 Samuel 6:4 . They are still five golden emerods, for which the name here is not ophalim , but tehorim, the word always read in the synagogue (see 1 Samuel 5:6 ). From its use in the cognate languages it is pretty certain that it is rightly translated in our version. But besides these there were golden mice, according to the number of all the... read more
Trophies and chastisement. The facts are— 1 . An enumeration by the Israelites of the golden images sent with the ark. 2 . A terrible chastisement on the men of Beth-shemesh for their profane curiosity. 3 . An effort to send the ark away, consequent on the terror created. These closing incidents of the restoration introduce for consideration— I. The TROPHIES WON IN THE CONFLICT WITH foes of the Church of God. The golden emerods and mice were expressions of pagan... read more
The great stone of Abel ... - Probably so called from the “lamentation” described in 1 Samuel 6:19. read more
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Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 6:10-18
We are here told, I. How the Philistines dismissed the ark, 1 Sam. 6:10, 11. They were made as glad to part with it as ever they had been to take it. As God had fetched Israel out of the house of bondage, so now he fetched the ark out of its captivity, in such a manner as that Egypt was glad when they departed, Ps. 105:38. 1. They received no money or price for the ransom of it, as they hoped to do, even beyond a king's ransom. Thus it is prophesied of Cyrus (Isa. 45:13), He shall let go my... read more