1 Samuel 6:1-5

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

John Gill

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

And the ark of the Lord was in the country of the Philistines seven months. Or "in the field" F3 בשדה εν αγρω , Sept. "in agro", Pagninus, Montanus. of the Philistines; hence Procopius Gazaeus observes, that none of the cities daring to receive the ark, they left it without under the open air, so thinking they should be delivered from their calamity. But the word is often used for country, and is generally so understood here; the Targum is,"in the cities of the Philistines;'in one... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 6:2

And the Philistines called for the priests and for the diviners ,.... The one were skilled in the rites and ceremonies of religion, not only of their own, but of other nations, particularly of Israel; and that they were not strangers to the history and affairs of that people is plain from 1 Samuel 6:6 and the other were skilled in judicial astrology, and knowledge of future events, at least as they pretended to; and therefore were both thought fit persons to advise with on the occasion of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 6:3

And they said, if ye send away the ark of the God of Israel, send it not empty ,.... As they perceived they had either resolved upon, or at least were inclined to do; and which they also thought advisable and therefore would have them by no means send it away as it was, but with some presents along with it; for the meaning of this word "empty" is not that they should take care that all that were in it when taken should go with it, and nothing be taken out of it, or it be stripped of its... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 6:4

Then said they, what shall be the trespass offering which we shall return to him ?.... They paid a great deference to their priests and diviners, and were willing to be directed in all things by them; being ignorant of what was most proper in this case, and might be acceptable to the God of Israel: they answered, five golden emerods, and five golden mice ; images of these made of gold, as appears from the next verse; the reason of the former is easy, from the above account of the disease... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 6:5

Wherefore ye shall make images of your emerods ,.... Which some take to be images of the five cities; others of a man at large with the disease in his back parts; others of that part of the body of a man only, in a circular form, in which the disease was, and expressing that; but the text is plain for the disease only, as high large tumours: though Maimonides F6 Moreh Nevochim, par. 1. c. 1. says of these images, that the word is attributed to them, not because of their external form,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 6:2

The diviners - קסמים kosemim , from קסם kasam , to presage or prognosticate. See Deuteronomy 18:10 . In what their pretended art consisted, we know not. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 6:3

Send it not empty - As it appears ye have trespassed against him, send him an offering for this trespass. Why his hand is not removed - The sense is, If you send him a trespass-offering, and ye be cured, then ye shall know why his judgments have not been taken away from you previously to this offering. It is a common opinion, says Calmet, among all people, that although the Supreme Being needs nothing of his creatures, yet he requires that they should consecrate to him... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 6:4

Five golden emerods , and five golden mice - One for each satrapy. The emerods had afflicted their bodies; the mice had marred their land. Both, they considered, as sent by God; and, making an image of each, and sending them as a trespass-offering, they acknowledged this. See at the end. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 6:5

He will lighten his hand from off you - The whole land was afflicted; the ground was marred by the mice; the common people and the lords afflicted by the haemorrhoids, and their gods broken in pieces. read more

Grupo de marcas