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Kretzmann's Popular Commentary

1 Samuel 6:4

Then said they, What shall be the trespass-offering which we shalt return to Him? They answered, Five golden emerods and five golden mice, according to the number of the lords of the Philistines, which, in turn, agreed with that of the city-states in the federation; for one plague was on you all and on your lords. In suggesting five golden boils and five golden mice the soothsayers followed the ancient custom by which likenesses of the diseased parts were dedicated to the deity to whom the sickness was ascribed.

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See also 1 Samuel 6:4 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse 1 Samuel 6:4. _FIVE GOLDEN EMERODS, AND FIVE GOLDEN MICE_] _One_ for each satrapy. The _emerods_ had afflicted their bodies; the _mice_ had marred their land. Both, they considered, as sent by G...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    It was a prevalent custom in pagan antiquity to make offerings to the gods expressive of the particular mercy received. Thus, those saved from shipwreck offered pictures of the shipwreck, etc., and th...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    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;...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    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...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    EMERODS. See note on 1 Samuel 5:6,: i.e. models of them in gold; of which, modern "votive offerings "are the lineal descendants. Compare 1 Samuel 6:5. LORDS. See note on Joshua 13:3....

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _emerods_ Or, boils. See note on ch. 1 Samuel 5:6. _according to the number of the lords of the Philistines_ The number of the confederate cities was naturally chosen to represent the whole people....

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    _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...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    _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: FO...

  • Darby's translation notes (1890)

    6:4 them (b-37) Or 'you.'...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    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....

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    ISRAEL’S FIRST KING 1 SAMUEL _HELEN POCOCK_ CHAPTER 6 THE *PHILISTINES RETURN THE *ARK OF GOD TO *ISRAEL V1 The *Philistines had the *ark of the Lord in their country for 7 months. V2 Then they...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    FIVE GOLDEN EMERODS, AND FIVE GOLDEN MICE. — It was a general custom in the nations of antiquity to offer to the deity, to whom sickness or recovery from sickness was ascribed, likenesses of the disea...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    וַ יֹּאמְר֗וּ מָ֣ה הָ אָשָׁם֮ אֲשֶׁ֣ר נָשִׁ֣י

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    CHAPTER VII. _ THE ARK AMONG THE PHILISTINES._ 1 Samuel 5:1; 1 Samuel 6:1 ALTHOUGH the history in Samuel is silent as to the doings of the Philistines immediately after their great victory over Isra...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    RETURNED WITH A TRESPASS-OFFERING 1 Samuel 6:1 There is reason to suppose that when the Philistines got possession of the Ark, they destroyed Shiloh. See Psalms 78:60; Psalms 78:64;...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    The authorities in Philistia now called a council, and sought the advice of their diviners. It is intensely interesting to observe how unanimously they recognized the action of Jehovah. Whatever the l...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    (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 i...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    The first Book of Samuel (or of Kings as with some) brings before us that great change for which the Book of Ruth was a preparation, and in order to which the Spirit of God closed it with the generati...

  • James Nisbet's Church Pulpit Commentary

    _THE TALISMANS_ ‘Five golden emerods, and five golden mice.’ 1 Samuel 6:4 Instead of reading, ‘Ye shall make _ images_ of your emerods and _ images_ of your mice,’ we ought to read, ‘Ye shall make...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    THE FOLLOWING COMMENTARY COVERS CHAPTER S 4, 5, AND 6. In chapter 4 the enemies of God and of His people display their strength; the Philistines put themselves in array against Israel. God, in overrul...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    THEN SAID THEY, WHAT SHALL BE THE TRESPASS OFFERING WHICH WE SHALL RETURN TO HIM?.... They paid a great deference to their priests and diviners, and were willing to be directed in all things by them;...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    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:...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _Five golden emerods_ Figures in gold representing the disease. _Five golden mice_ Images of the mice which had marred their land by destroying its fruits. _According to the number of the lords of the...

  • KJV Original Language Details

    1 After seuen moneths the Philistines take counsell, how to send backe the Arke. 10 They bring it on a new cart with an offering vnto Bethshemesh. 19 The people are smitten for looking into the Arke...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    The seven months during which the Philistines had possessor of the ark was a full time in which to prove the severity of God's hand in solemn displeasure. How could they bear it any longer? There is a...

  • Marginal Notes in the King James Version (1611)

    YOU ALL: _ Heb._ them...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    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 re...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    WHAT SHALL BE THE TRESPASS-OFFERING? they desire particular information, because they were ignorant of the nature and manner of the worship of Israel's God, and they might easily understand that there...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    1 Samuel 6:4 said H559 (H8799) offering H817 return H7725 (H8686) answered H559 (H8799) Five H2568 golden...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    CHAPTER 6. The Ark of God Is Returned to Israel With Due Tributes and Reparations (1 Samuel 6:1). Having determined to return the Ark to Israel the Philistines had a problem. How were they going to...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Ark brought to Joshua. CHARACTERS: God. CONCLUSION: The Word of God in the hands of the world brings them condemnation (1 Samuel 6:2) causing them to seek to get rid of it. By refusing to...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    1 Samuel 6:2. _The ark of the Lord_Hebrews of _Jehovah._ The Philistines knew the name of the Lord; and had heard of his wondrous works in Egypt, 1 Samuel 6:6. They had great light, as indeed all the...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _What shall be the trespass offering?_ OFFERINGS TO THE GODS The idea of presenting offerings to the gods corresponding with the object in connection with which they were presented was often given ef...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    CRITICAL AND EXPOSITORY NOTES— 1 Samuel 6:1. “COUNTRY,” literally the _field_. It probably signifies the _cultivated plain_. 1 Samuel 6:2. “DIVINERS.” “That is, the organs of the Deity, who reveal Hi...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION RESTORATION OF THE ARK TO THE ISRAELITES (1 Samuel 6:1). 1 SAMUEL 6:1,...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    So they called some of their diviners and seers and all, and they said, "What shall we do with this thing? So they said, Well the thing is, send it back to the people of Israel. But don't send it back...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    1 Samuel 5:6; 1 Samuel 5:9; 1 Samuel 6:17; 1 Samuel 6:18; 1 Samuel 6:5;...

  • Wells of Living Water Commentary

    THE ARK IN THE LAND OF THE PHILISTINES 1 Samuel 5:1; 1 Samuel 6:1 INTRODUCTORY WORDS There are several things we think should be emphasized. 1. EBENEZER MEANS "HITHERTO HATH THE LORD HELPED US." Wh...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    Emerods — Figures representing the disease. These they offered not in contempt of God, for they fought to gain his favour hereby; but in testimony of their humiliation, that by leaving this monument o...

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