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1 Samuel 6 Saul's Disobedience and Rejection

1 The Ark Returned to Israel
When the ark of the Lord had been in Philistine territory seven months,

2 the Philistines called for the priests and the diviners and said, “What shall we do with the ark of the Lord? Tell us how we should send it back to its place.”

3 They answered, “If you return the ark of the god of Israel, do not send it away empty, but by all means send a guilt offering to him. Then you will be healed, and you will know why his hand has not been lifted from you.”

4 The Philistines asked, “What guilt offering should we send to him?”
They replied, “Five gold tumors and five gold rats, according to the number of the Philistine rulers, because the same plague has struck both you and your rulers.

5 Make models of the tumors and of the rats that are destroying the country, and pay honor to Israel’s god. Perhaps he will lift his hand from you and your gods and your land.

6 Why do you harden your hearts as the Egyptians and Pharaoh did? When he treated them harshly, did they not send the Israelites out so they could go on their way?

7 “Now then, get a new cart ready, with two cows that have calved and have never been yoked. Hitch the cows to the cart, but take their calves away and pen them up.

8 Take the ark of the Lord and put it on the cart, and in a chest beside it put the gold objects you are sending back to him as a guilt offering. Send it on its way,

9 but keep watching it. If it goes up to its own territory, toward Beth Shemesh, then the Lord has brought this great disaster on us. But if it does not, then we will know that it was not his hand that struck us and that it happened to us by chance.”

10 So they did this. They took two such cows and hitched them to the cart and penned up their calves.

11 They placed the ark of the Lord on the cart and along with it the chest containing the gold rats and the models of the tumors.

12 Then the cows went straight up toward Beth Shemesh, keeping on the road and lowing all the way; they did not turn to the right or to the left. The rulers of the Philistines followed them as far as the border of Beth Shemesh.

13 Now the people of Beth Shemesh were harvesting their wheat in the valley, and when they looked up and saw the ark, they rejoiced at the sight.

14 The cart came to the field of Joshua of Beth Shemesh, and there it stopped beside a large rock. The people chopped up the wood of the cart and sacrificed the cows as a burnt offering to the Lord.

15 The Levites took down the ark of the Lord, together with the chest containing the gold objects, and placed them on the large rock. On that day the people of Beth Shemesh offered burnt offerings and made sacrifices to the Lord.

16 The five rulers of the Philistines saw all this and then returned that same day to Ekron.

17 These are the gold tumors the Philistines sent as a guilt offering to the Lord—one each for Ashdod, Gaza, Ashkelon, Gath and Ekron.

18 And the number of the gold rats was according to the number of Philistine towns belonging to the five rulers—the fortified towns with their country villages. The large rock, on which they set the ark of the Lord, is a witness to this day in the field of Joshua of Beth Shemesh.

19 But God struck down some of the men of Beth Shemesh, putting seventy of them to death because they had looked into the ark of the Lord. The people mourned because of the heavy blow the Lord had dealt them,

20 and the men of Beth Shemesh asked, “Who can stand in the presence of the Lord, this holy God? To whom will the ark go up from here?”

21 Then they sent messengers to the people of Kiriath Jearim, saying, “The Philistines have returned the ark of the Lord. Come down and take it up to your place.”

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Analysis of 1 Samuel Chapter 6

The sixth chapter of the First Book of Samuel presents a pivotal narrative in the account of the Ark of the Covenant. This chapter describes the return of the Ark to Israel by the Philistines, who had captured it in battle but were subsequently afflicted by severe consequences. Through this analysis, we will explore the theological, historical, and symbolic implications of the events in this chapter.

Verses 1-2: The Philistines Consult Their Priests and Diviners

The chapter begins with the Ark of the Lord having been in Philistine territory for seven months. The prolonged suffering had compelled the Philistines to seek a solution to their predicament. They call upon their priests and diviners, asking, “What shall we do with the Ark of the Lord? Tell us how we should send it back to its place.”

This verse reveals the desperation and acknowledgment of a power greater than their gods. Despite their initial triumph in capturing the Ark, the Philistines faced detrimental consequences, demonstrating a fundamental biblical principle: God cannot be controlled or contained, even by victorious enemies. This serves as a humbling reminder of God’s sovereignty and the limitations of human power.

Verses 3-6: The Trespass Offering

The diviners advise the Philistines to return the Ark with a trespass offering, emphasizing that they should not return it empty. They suggest making images of the tumors and rats that had ravaged their land as a way to acknowledge their affliction and seek appeasement. The Philistines were instructed to give glory to the God of Israel, in hopes that His hand would be lifted from them.

  • The Trespass Offering: The trespass offering symbolizes the Philistines’ recognition of their guilt. By making images of the afflictions, they physically manifest their acknowledgment of God’s power and their plea for mercy. This act also shows their attempt to understand and respect the religious customs of Israel to appease the Hebrew God.
  • Parallels with Egyptian Plagues: The diviners recall the plagues of Egypt (verse 6) and Pharaoh’s hardened heart, suggesting a potential historical consciousness among the Philistines. Their advice reflects a lesson from history: to not harden their hearts as the Egyptians did, referring to a common understanding of God’s past judgments.

Verses 7-9: The Test of Divine Intervention

To ensure that their plan was divinely directed, the Philistines devised a test. They prepared a new cart and used two milch cows that had never been yoked, separating them from their calves. If the cows went straight to Beth Shemesh, it would confirm that the Lord had brought the disaster upon them. If not, they would interpret the events as mere chance.

This test introduces several notable elements:

  1. Unyoked Cows: Using unyoked cows, which had never been trained to pull a cart, adds to the credibility of the test. Natural instincts would typically lead the cows to their calves, not directly to Beth Shemesh.
  2. Seeking Divine Confirmation: This act signifies the Philistines’ recognition of the need for divine clarification. It underscores the theme of seeking divine will and the importance of discerning God’s direction in times of uncertainty.

Verses 10-12: The Journey to Beth Shemesh

The cows head straight for Beth Shemesh, thereby confirming divine intervention. The lords of the Philistines follow them to the border of Beth Shemesh, witnessing the validation of their experiment.

This passage demonstrates God’s control over nature and beings, affirming that the afflictions were indeed of divine origin. The outcome underscores the testament to God’s power and His active role in the world, reflecting a significant theological claim about God’s omnipotence.

Verses 13-15: The Ark at Beth Shemesh

The inhabitants of Beth Shemesh were harvesting wheat when they saw the Ark and rejoiced. The cart was broken up, and the cows were offered as a burnt offering to the Lord. The Levites then took down the Ark and the golden trespass offerings, placing them on a large stone.

Key elements to consider include:

  • Immediate Worship and Thanksgiving: The response of the people of Beth Shemesh is immediate worship, reflecting a profound sense of gratitude and reverence for the returned Ark. The breaking up of the cart and the offering of the cows signify recognition of God’s providence and the necessity for sacrificial thanksgiving.
  • Role of the Levites: The Levites’ involvement in handling the Ark affirms the adherence to the Levitical laws regarding the sanctity and specific regulations concerning the Ark’s transport and custodianship. This reinforces the distinct and sacred role of the Levitical priesthood in Israelite society.

Verses 16-18: The Philistine Lords Return

The five Philistine rulers witness the events and then return to Ekron. The text enumerates the golden tumors and rats corresponding to the Philistine cities, acknowledging the widespread affliction that validated their suffering as divinely originated.

This passage encapsulates a moment of recognition and finality for the Philistines. Their departure signifies the closure of their trial with the Ark and emphasizes the significance of understanding and respecting divine power.

Verses 19-21: The Consequence at Beth Shemesh

The chapter concludes with a somber note. Despite the initial joy, some men of Beth Shemesh look inside the Ark, an act of blatant disrespect for its sanctity. As a result, seventy men are struck down by the Lord. The people mourn, and the men of Beth Shemesh subsequently decide to send the Ark to Kiriath Jearim.

  • Violated Sanctity: The striking down of seventy men for irreverence towards the Ark reaffirms the unapproachable holiness of God and the severe consequences of transgressing His commands. This incident underscores the necessity for reverent obedience and the dire repercussions of failing to respect divine holiness.
  • Human Frailty and Sin: This narrative highlights human frailty and the tendency to disregard sacred boundaries. It draws a clear line between joy in God’s presence and the responsibilities that come with it. The people’s mourning signifies a collective recognition of their fault and the gravitas of their actions.
  • Transference of Responsibility: The decision to send the Ark to Kiriath Jearim underscores the continuous need for lawful and respectful handling of sacred objects. It emphasizes the communal aspect of faith, wherein the community must collectively navigate their relationship with the divine with reverence.

Theological and Symbolic Implications

The chapter is rich in theological and symbolic lessons:

  • Divine Sovereignty: God’s control over the Ark’s journey, despite human actions, affirms His ultimate sovereignty. The trajectory from Philistine captivity to Beth Shemesh and then Kiriath Jearim underscores that God’s plans cannot be thwarted by human hands.
  • Holiness and Respect: The dual response to the Ark—both in Philistine territory and among the Israelites—highlights the profound sanctity associated with divine objects and the critical importance of reverence. The judgment on the men of Beth Shemesh serves as a stern reminder of the consequences of flippant or disrespectful attitudes towards God’s commands.
  • Interplay of Joy and Judgement: The initial joy upon the Ark’s return contrasts sharply with the subsequent judgment, encapsulating the balance between divine grace and the necessity of adherence to divine law.
  • Historical Continuity: References to Egyptian plagues and the role of the Levites create a cohesive narrative thread, situating the events within a broader theological and historical context that reinforces God’s consistent nature and expectations.

1 Samuel Chapter 6 offers a poignant narrative rich with lessons on reverence, divine power, and the critical nature of obedience in a relationship with God. It serves as a testament to the enduring principles that underpin the Judeo-Christian understanding of holiness and divine-human interaction.