1 Samuel 6:17-19

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

Matthew Henry

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 6:17

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 6:18

And the golden mice, according to the number of all the cities of the Philistines belonging to the five lords ,.... That is, as many golden mice as there were cities under the jurisdiction of the five lords, which are the same before mentioned: both of fenced cities and of country villages ; walled and unwalled towns; it seems by this, as it was but reasonable it should be, that the several villages adjacent and belonging to the five principal cities contributed their part towards the... 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 6:17

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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 6:18

And the golden mice - The desolation that had been made through the land by these animals had excited a general concern; and it appears from the text, that all the cities of the Philistines, as well fended as without walls, sent a golden mouse as a trespass-offering. Remaineth unto this day - Some think the ark is intended, which continued on the stone of Abel for some considerable time after it was placed there; and that the memoranda from which this book was afterwards... 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 6:17-18

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

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