1 Samuel 6:18 NIV

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 6:18

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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 6:18

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 6:17-18

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 6:17-21

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

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Samuel 6:18

The great stone of Abel ... - Probably so called from the “lamentation” described in 1 Samuel 6:19. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Samuel 6:18

1 Samuel 6:18. Both of fenced cities and country villages This is added, either to show, that under the name of the five cities were comprehended all the villages and territories belonging to them, in whose name, and at whose charge, these presents were made; or to express the difference between this and the former present, the emerods being only five, according to the five cities mentioned 1 Samuel 6:17; the cities, perhaps, being chiefly afflicted with that disorder; and the mice being... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 6:1-21

The ark returns (5:1-7:1)Although God used the Philistines to judge Israel, he would not allow them to dishonour him. He showed that the capture of the ark did not mean that he was inferior to the Philistine god Dagon (5:1-5). Wherever the ark went it brought trouble to the Philistine people. A plague of mice seems to have spread a painful and deadly disease throughout the country, bringing widespread suffering and death (6-12; cf. 6:5).The Philistines felt fairly certain that the ark was the... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - 1 Samuel 6:18

18. unto the great stone of Abel—Abel, or Aben, means "stone," so that without resorting to italics, the reading should be, "the great stone." read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 1 Samuel 6:10-18

2. The return of the ark to Bethshemesh 6:10-18Bethshemesh was the closest Israelite town to Ekron. It stood about 12 miles east-southeast of Ekron. To get there the cows walked east up the Sorek Valley, Samson’s home area. Evidently the Israelites, who were reaping their wheat harvest (in June) when the ark appeared, remembered that only Levites were to handle the ark (Numbers 4:15-20; 1 Samuel 6:15). Bethshemesh was a Levitical town (Joshua 21:13-16; 1 Chronicles 6:57-59), so Levites were... read more