1Sa 6 | TNotes

6:2 ^a priests and diviners: Divination was a part of Philistine religion (cp. 28:7 ^b; Deut 18:10-14 ^c).
6:3 ^d It is unlikely the Philistines were aware of Israelite worship regulations. A Philistine guilt offering would have been a payment to the deity in an attempt to avert his wrath (contrast the notion of atonement from Lev 16 ^e).
6:4 ^f rats: See study note on 5:6.
6:6 ^g The Philistines had thought they could overcome the Lord by fighting harder (4:9 ^h). They had defeated the Israelites, but they now realized that they could not defeat Israel’s God.
6:7 ⁱ shut their calves away: If the cows went against their maternal nature and left their calves to take the Ark to Israel, it would prove that the plague was from Israel’s God (6:9 ^j).
6:9 ^k Beth-shemesh was the closest Israelite town to Ekron (5:10 ^l).
6:13 ^m Harvesting wheat was usually done in May or June.
6:14 ⁿ This burnt offering could have been for forgiveness of sin (see 7:9-10 ^o; Lev 1:3-17 ^p), but it was more likely a freewill expression of love or thanksgiving (see Lev 22:18-22 ^q).
6:15 ^r Providentially, the Ark had arrived in Beth-shemesh (6:13 ^s), which was a Levite city (Josh 21:13-16 ^t). The men of the tribe of Levi who lived there could safely move the Ark (see Num 4:15 ^u).
6:17 ^v guilt offering: See study note on 6:3.

• Ashdod, Gaza, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron: These five major Philistine cities were located on or near the Great Trunk Road. This major ancient trade route connected Egypt with Mesopotamia via the coastal plain of Canaan. Each city was governed by a king-like ruler (6:16 ^w).
6:19 ^x seventy men: Beth-shemesh was a small village.

• because they looked into the Ark: Physical contact with the Ark was prohibited (Num 4:15 ^y; 2 Sam 6:6-8 ^z), as was looking inside it (Num 4:20 ^aa). Those who were killed lacked reverence for God’s holiness.
6:20 ^ab Who is able to stand? Even God’s people were not immune to his wrath when his holiness was violated.

• Where can we send the Ark? When faced with God’s holiness, the Israelites echoed the distress of the pagan Philistines (6:2 ^ac).
6:21 ^ad Kiriath-jearim was nearby, about ten miles northeast of Beth-shemesh.