1 Samuel 6:8

_AND TAKE THE ARK OF THE LORD, AND LAY IT UPON THE CART; AND PUT THE JEWELS OF GOLD, WHICH YE RETURN HIM FOR A TRESPASS OFFERING, IN A COFFER BY THE SIDE THEREOF; AND SEND IT AWAY, THAT IT MAY GO._ Take the ark ... and lay it upon the cart. This mode of carrying the sacred symbol was forbidden; but the ignorance of the Philistines made the indignity be overlooked (see the note at 2 Samuel 6:6). PUT THE JEWELS ... IN A COFFER BY THE SIDE THEREOF. The way of securing treasure in the East is still in a chest, chained to the housewall or some solid part of the furniture....

1-9 Seven months the Philistines were punished with the presence of the ark; so long it was a plague to them, because they would not send it home sooner. Sinners lengthen out their own miseries by refusing to part with their sins. The Israelites made no effort to recover the ark. Alas! where shall we find concern for religion prevail above all other matters? In times of public calamity we fear for ourselves, for our families, and for our country; but who cares for the ark of God? We are favoured with the gospel, but it is treated with neglect or contempt. We need not wonder if it should be taken from us; to many persons this, though the heavies of calamities, would occasion no grief. There are multitudes whom any profession would please as well as that of Christianity. But there are those who value the house, the word, and the ministry of God above their richest possessions, who dread t...

Verse 1 Samuel 6:8. _THE JEWELS OF GOLD_] The word קלי _keley_, which our translators so often render _jewels_, signifies _vessels, implements,_ _ornaments_, c. A _jewel of gold_ has an odd sound to those who always attach the idea of a _precious stone_ to the term....

EXPOSITION RESTORATION OF THE ARK TO THE ISRAELITES (1 Samuel 6:1). 1 SAMUEL 6:1, 1 SAMUEL 6:2 THE ARK OF JEHOVAH WAS IN THE COUNTRY—literally, the field, _i.e._ the territory—OF THE PHILISTINES SEVEN MONTHS, during which long time the people wherever the ark was deposited were afflicted in their persons with a most painful malady. The princes determined, therefore, to restore it to Israel, and convened THE PRIESTS AND THE DIVINERS, that they might advise them as to the manner i

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" p; 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 Arabic; in a purse, or bag, as Josephus q; which latter is probable enough: AND SEND IT AWAY, THAT IT MAY GO; that is, set it a going, without any driver or guide; but leave it to take its course of itself to the land of Israel. Josephus r says it was set in a place where three ways met, that it might take which it might; and the taking of the right way must be a strong evidence of its being under the direction of God. p כלי הזהב "vasa aurea", Pagninus, Montanus, Vatablus, c. q Antiqu....

CHAPTER S 6:1-7:2 _ 1. The counsel of the Philistines (1 Samuel 6:1)_ 2. The ark at Beth-shemesh (1 Samuel 6:10) 3. The ark at Kirjath-jearim (1 Samuel 6:21; 1 Samuel 7:1) The ark had remained among the Philistines seven months. For them they were months of suffering and deadly destruction. Now they plot to get rid of the ark and of Him whose hand rested so heavily in judgment upon them. The advice of the heathen priests and diviners is that the ark should be sent away with votive offerings of gold, representing that which had plagued them. This was a heathen custom, which has also been adopted and is pract

1 SAMUEL 6:1 TO 1 SAMUEL 7:1. ARK BROUGHT BACK TO BETH-SHEMESH; PLAGUE BREAKS OUT THERE; ARK HOUSED AT KIRIATH-JEARIM. 1 Samuel 6:1 may not belong to the main story; 2 would be a better continuation of 1 Samuel 5:12. At the end of the verse LXX adds And their land swarmed with mice. This would prepare for the mice in 1 Samuel 6:4 f., 1 Samuel 6:11; 1 Samuel 6:18. Possibly these references t

_jewels of gold Jewel_is here used in a general sense = "any precious or costly object." The Heb. word simply means "articles" or "vessels....

_The Decision to Return the Ark. 1 Samuel 6:1-9_ And the ark of the Lord was in the country of the Philistines seven months. 2 And the Philistines called for the priests and the diviners, saying, What shall we do to the ark of the Lord? tell us wherewith we shall send it to his place. 3 And they said, If ye send away the ark of the God of Israel, send it not empty; but in any wise return him a trespass offering: then ye shall be healed, and it shall be known to you why his hand is not removed from you. 4 Then said they, What _shall be_ the trespass offering which we shall return to him? They answered, Five golden emerods, and five golden mice, _according to_ the number of the lords of the Philistines: for one plague _was_ on you all, and on your lords. 5 Wherefore ye shall make images of your emerods, and images of your mice that mar the land; and ye shal

THE PHILISTINES RETURN THE ARK TO ISRAEL 2. The diviners] The Philistines appear to have been notorious for their attachment to divination: see on Isaiah 2:6....