1 Samuel 6:17

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 6:17

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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 6:17

These are the golden emerods - Each of these cities, in what may be called its corporate capacity, sent a golden emerod. 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

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

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - 1 Samuel 6:17

THE FIVE CITIES OF THE PHILISTINES AND THE GUILT OFFERING"These are the golden tumors which the Philistines returned as a guilt offering to the Lord: one for Ashdod, one for Gaza, one for Ashkelon, one for Gath, one for Ekron; also the golden mice, according to the number of all the cities belonging to the five lords, both fortified cities and unwalled villages. The great stone beside which they set down the ark of the Lord is a witness to this day in the field of Joshua of Beth-shemesh.""Both... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - 1 Samuel 6:17

17, 18. And these are the golden emerods . . . and the mice—There were five representative images of the emerods, corresponding to the five principal cities of the Philistines. But the number of the golden mice must have been greater, for they were sent from the walled towns as well as the country villages. 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

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 6:1-21

The Philistines return the Ark to Israel2. The diviners] The Philistines appear to have been notorious for their attachment to divination: see on Isaiah 2:6. 3. The trespass offering was always brought to atone for some wrong done to, or some right withheld from, God or man. 5. Aristotle relates that in harvest entire crops were sometimes destroyed in a single night by the ravages of field-mice.7. The new cart and the kine who had worn no yoke were signs of respect. 9. Under ordinary... read more

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