1 Samuel 6:8-15 ESV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 6:1-9

The first words of the chapter tell us how long the captivity of the ark continued?it was in the country of the Philistines seven months. In the field of the Philistines (so it is in the original), from which some gather that, having tried it in all their cities, and found it a plague to the inhabitants of each, at length they sent it into the open fields, upon which mice sprang up out of the ground in great multitudes, and destroyed the corn which was now nearly ripe and marred the land. With... read more

Matthew Henry

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 6:8

And take the ark of the Lord, and lay it upon the cart ,.... Which was dispensed with in these uncircumcised Philistines, there being no other to do this service: and put the jewels of gold ; or rather "vessels of gold" F16 כלי הזהב "vasa aurea", Pagninus, Montanus, Vatablus, &c.; ; the five golden emerods, and the five golden mice: which ye return him for a trespass offering, in a coffer by the side thereof ; in a basket, as the Syriac version: in a scrip, as the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 6:9

And see if it goeth up by the way of its own coast to Bethshemesh ,.... The nearest city to the land of the Philistines, which lay on their borders, and the borders of the tribe of Judah; see Gill on Joshua 15:10 . Now the lords of the Philistines are directed by their priests to observe, whether these kine, that drew the cart on which the ark was, took the direct road to the borders of the land of Israel, and to Bethshemesh, the nearest city that lay on that coast: if so, they might... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 6:10

And the men did so ,.... Made a new cart, not the lords of the Philistines, but workmen by their orders: and took two milch kine, and tied them to the cart ; with the gear that horses, asses, or oxen, were usually fastened to a carriage they drew: and shut up their calves at home ; or, "in the house" F19 בבית "in domo", Pagninus, Montanus, &c.; ; the cow house or stable where they used to be put; this they did to restrain them from following the cows, which would disturb... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 6:11

And they laid the ark of the Lord upon the cart ,.... Perhaps the same men that made the cart; however they were the Philistines, yet were not punished for touching it, as Uzzah was, though an Israelite, 2 Samuel 6:6 . and the coffer with the mice of gold, and the images of their emerods ; which coffer was placed in a purse or bag hung at the side of the ark, with the golden mice and emerods in it. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 6:12

And the kine took the straight way to the way of Bethshemesh ,.... Though they had none to drive, lead, or guide them, yet they steered their course to the road that led to Bethshemesh, though there were other ways they might have taken; which shows they were under the direction of God himself: and went along the highway ; or, "in one highway", or "post" F20 במסלה אחת "in via elata una", Montanus; "eadem semita", Tigurine version; so Junius & Tremellius, Piscator. ; though... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 6:13

And they of Bethshemesh were reaping their wheat harvest in the valley ,.... Which began at Pentecost, in the month Sivan, about our May; so that there were many people in the fields, who were eyewitnesses of this wonderful event: and they lifted up their eyes, and saw the ark, and rejoiced to see it ; for though the ark while in the tabernacle was only seen by the high priest, when he went into the holy of holies; yet this having been brought out from thence, and exposed in the camp of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 6:14

And the cart came into the field of Joshua, a Bethshemite ,.... In that part of the valley where they were reaping wheat which belonged to him, whom we nowhere else read; whether a priest or Levite, which is not improbable, since this was a city of the Levites, or a common Israelite, is not certain: and stood there where there was a great stone ; afterwards called the great stone of Abel, 1 Samuel 6:18 . By the providence of God it was so ordered, that the kine made a stop just at this... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 6:15

And the Levites took down the ark of the Lord ,.... Or, "had took it down" F24 הורידו "deposuerant", Meudoza; so Pool. ; for this, though here related, was done as soon as the ark came into the field, or quickly after, and before the burnt offering could be made, which was burnt with the wood of the cart; and though the persons that took it down are called Levites, they were priests, who were of the tribe of Levi; for it was the work of the priests to take it down, though the Levites... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 6:1-9

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 6:10-18

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 6:8

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 6:9

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 6:10

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 6:11

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 6:12

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 6:13

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 6:14

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 6:15

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