1 Samuel 5:1-12. Chastisement of the Philistines for the Removal of the Ark 1. _Ashdod_ Ashdod (in Greek _Azotus_, Acts 8:40), one of the five cities of the Philistine league, was situated on an eminence near the sea, about 35 miles W. of Jerusalem. It was a place of great strength, and special impo... [ Continue Reading ]
_When the Philistines_, &c. Better, AND THE PHILISTINES TOOK THE ARK OF GOD AND BROUGHT IT. The repetition is characteristic of the Hebrew historical style. _Dagon_ Dagon (a diminutive of endearment from _dâg_= fish) was the national god of the Philistines, worshipped also at Gaza (Judges 16:21-30),... [ Continue Reading ]
_Dagon was fallen upon his face to the earth_ In the attitude of homage to the ark. Jehovah does not leave the Philistines to fancy that their god has conquered Him. He will shew that He is "the living God." "The idols shall be moved at his presence" (Isaiah 19:1).... [ Continue Reading ]
_cut off upon the threshold_ i.e. cut off and lying upon the doorsill, probably not of the main entrance to the temple, but of the chapel or recess in which the statue stood. In this position they would be liable to the indignity of being trampled upon by the priests and worshippers who entered the... [ Continue Reading ]
_Therefore neither the priests_, &c. As a mark of reverence for the spot where their idol had lain. Zephaniah 1:9 does not appear to contain any reference to this practice, which was peculiar to the temple at Ashdod. _unto this day_ The practice was still observed when the historian wrote.... [ Continue Reading ]
_But the hand of the Lord_ Rather, AND. "The hand of the Lord" = the putting forth of His might. Chastisement now overtook the people as well as the god. _he destroyed them, and smote them with emerods_ A double calamity fell upon them (1) Their land was ravaged by a plague of mice. The present Heb.... [ Continue Reading ]
_is sore_ i.e. _severe_.... [ Continue Reading ]
_all the lords of the Philistines_ A peculiar term _Seren_is used exclusively to denote the five -lords" who ruled in the five cities of the Philistine confederacy. In all probability it preserves their native title. They had all equal rights, for though Achish is called "_king_of Gath" in ch. 1 Sam... [ Continue Reading ]
_with a very great destruction_ Better, WITH AN EXCEEDING GREAT PANIC, causing utter consternation. _both small and great_ i.e. both young and old: all the inhabitants. _and they had emerods in their secret parts_ Better, AND BOILS BROKE OUT UPON THEM.... [ Continue Reading ]
_they sent the ark of God to Ekron_ The most northerly of the five confederate cities, about 11 miles north of Gath. It was allotted to the tribe of Judah (Joshua 15:45-46), and was temporarily occupied (Judges 1:18). Baal-zebub was the local deity (2 Kings 1:2). The site is marked by the modern vil... [ Continue Reading ]
_and gathered together all the lords_ A second council of state was held, but the protest of the Ekronites was not listened to. The league was unwilling to part with the trophy of its victory. _a deadly destruction_ A DEADLY PANIC: dismay caused by the fatal character of the disease.... [ Continue Reading ]
_the cry of the city went up to heaven_ Cp. Exodus 2:13. The word used always denotes a _supplication_, a _cry for help_. Each city was visited with a heavier judgment than the preceding one. "The longer the Philistines resisted and refused to recognise the chastening hand of the living God in the... [ Continue Reading ]