1 Samuel 6:19

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 6:19-21

Here is, 1. The sin of the men of Beth-shemesh: They looked into the ark of the Lord, 1 Sam. 6:19. Every Israelite had heard great talk of the ark, and had been possessed with a profound veneration for it; but they had been told that it was lodged within a veil, and even the high priest himself might not look upon it but once a year, and then through a cloud of incense. Perhaps this made many say (as we are apt to covet that which is forbidden) what a great deal they would give for a sight of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 6:19

And he smote the men of Bethshemesh ,.... That is, God smote them, though they had received the ark with such expressions of joy, and had offered sacrifices on account of it; yet sinning in one particular after mentioned, which was highly resented, they were smitten by him with a thunderbolt, as Josephus says F26 Antiqu. l. 6. c. 1. sect. 4. : because they had looked into the ark of the Lord ; which was forbidden the Levites, Numbers 4:20 out of curiosity these men opened the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 6:19

He smote of the people fifty thousand and threescore and ten men - The present Hebrew text of this most extraordinary reading stands thus: בית־שמש באנשי ויך - איש אלף חמשים איש שבעים בעם ויך vaiyach beanshey Beith - shemesh - vaiyach baam shibim ish , chamishshim eleph ish ; "And he smote among the men of Beth-shemesh, (because they looked into the ark of Jehovah), and he smote among the people Seventy men, Fifty Thousand men." From the manner in which 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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 6:19

He emote the men of Beth-shemesh, etc. In this verse also the text is undoubtedly corrupt. The Septuagint ascribes the sin not to all the people, but to "the sons of Jeconiah, who were not glad when they saw the ark, and he smote them." But as this reading is not supported by the other versions we may pass it by. The numbers, however, are evidently wrong. Fifty thousand men would imply a population of 250,000 people, whereas Jerusalem itself in its palmiest days never had a population of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 6:19-20

Irreverence. I. THE OFFENCE . The Philistines are not blamed for sending away the ark of God on a wooden car. They did not know, or, if they knew, they had no means of observing, the mode of carriage by Levites which had been prescribed in the Mosaic law. In placing the ark on a new car never before used, and drawn by young cows that had never before worn a yoke, the Philistines meant to show respect. But the men of Beth-shemesh, being Israelites, and having Levites among them, knew,... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Samuel 6:19

Fifty thousand and three score and ten - Read “three” score and “ten”, omitting “fifty thousand”, which appears to have crept into the text from the margin. It is not improbable that in their festive rejoicing priests, Levites, and people may have fallen into intemperance, and hence, into presumptuous irreverence (compare Leviticus 10:1, Leviticus 10:9). God had just vindicated His own honor against the Philistines; it must now be seen that He would be sanctified in them that come near Him... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Samuel 6:19

1 Samuel 6:19. Because they had looked into the ark Which God had forbidden, not only to the common people, but to the sons of Levi also, Numbers 4:20. But the people, having now an opportunity which they had not had before, were moved with a vehement curiosity to see the contents of the ark, forgetting the divine prohibition and their duty. Perhaps they were desirous to see whether the Philistines had taken out the tables of the covenant; or to have a view of such an ancient, sacred... 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

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - 1 Samuel 6:19

fifty thousand and threescore and ten men = 50,070. This number being out of all proportion to the size of Beth-shemesh, has led to various readings. Some codices omit 50,000. The Syriac and Arabic versions read "five" instead of fifty. Josephus reads "seventy". The Hebrew text reads "seventy men two fifties and one thousand " = 70 + 100 + 1; 000 = 1,170. men. Hebrew. 'ish. App-14 . slaughter = smiting, making the Figure of speech Polyptoton. App-6 , read more

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