1Sa 6:19-20 | TNotes | STEP | 6:19 seventy men: Beth-shemesh was a small village. • because they looked into the Ark: Physical contact with the Ark was prohibited (Num 4:15 ; 2 Sam 6:6-8 ), as was looking inside it (Num 4:20 ). Those who were killed lacked reverence for God’s holiness.

bNum 4:15►

c2 Sam 6:6-8►

dNum 4:20►

‏ 1 Samuel 6:19-20

6:19 ^a seventy men: Beth-shemesh was a small village.

• because they looked into the Ark: Physical contact with the Ark was prohibited (Num 4:15 ^b; 2 Sam 6:6-8 ^c), as was looking inside it (Num 4:20 ^d). Those who were killed lacked reverence for God’s holiness.
6:20 ^e 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 ^f).