John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 6:20
And the men of Bethshemesh said, who is able to stand before this holy Lord God ?.... The Targum is,"before the ark of this holy Lord God;'which is said either by way of complaint of the severity of God, and the strictness of his justice; or in reverence of his holiness, acknowledging their imperfection, sin, and guilt, by reason of which they could not stand before him; nor can any, but on account of the mercy seat over the ark, or through Christ, his blood, righteousness, and sacrifice: ... read more
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