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1 Samuel 6

KJ3 Literal Translation — Chapter 6 of 31

1 And the ark of Jehovah was in the field of the Philistines seven months.

2 And the Philistines called for priests and for those divining, saying, What shall we do to the ark of Jehovah? Let us know with what we shall send it to its place.

3 And they said, If you send away the ark of the God of Israel, you shall not send it away empty. For turning back you shall return a guilt offering back to Him. Then you shall be healed, and it shall be known to you why His hand has not turned away from you.

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Chapter Summary

The Philistines take advice on how to send back the ark. They bring it on a new cart to Beth-shemesh. The people are killed for looking into the ark.

Key Hebrew Words

אֲרוֹן ark H727 · TWOT 166a
אָשָׁם guilt offering H817 · TWOT 180b
טְחֹר tumors H2914 · TWOT 803a
עֲגָלָה cart H5699 · TWOT 1560d
זָהָב gold H2091 · TWOT 529a
קָדוֹשׁ holy H6918 · TWOT 1990b

People & Context

Joshua of Beth-shemesh

Beth-shemesh man in whose field the cart bearing the ark came to rest by the great stone

Timeline

Philistines Consult Priests and Diviners

After the Ark is in their land for seven months, the Philistines consult diviners who advise sending the Ark back with a guilt offering.

1 Samuel 6:1-6
Preparing the Cart and Offering

The Philistines prepare a new cart, attach two suckling cows, shut their calves at home, and load the Ark with five golden hemorrhoids and five golden mice.

1 Samuel 6:7-12
The Ark Returns to Beth-shemesh

The cows pull the cart straight to Beth-shemesh. The Israelites rejoice, chop up the cart, and sacrifice the cows as a burnt offering to Jehovah.

1 Samuel 6:13-16

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