1 Samuel 6:1-14
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).
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