1 Samuel 6: Philistines Return the Ark with Trespass Offering

Short answer: After seven months of plagues, the Philistines send the ark back to Israel with a trespass offering of golden tumors and mice. The cows pull the cart straight to Beth Shemesh, where some men are struck down for looking into the ark, and the ark is then sent to Kiriath Jearim.

What 1 Samuel 6 says

The chapter opens with the ark still in Philistine territory after seven months. The Philistines consult their priests and diviners about how to send it back. They are told not to send it empty but to include a trespass offering, specifically five golden tumors and five golden mice, matching the number of Philistine lords. The purpose is to give glory to the God of Israel, in hope that his hand will be lifted from them, their gods, and their land. The advisors warn them not to harden their hearts as the Egyptians and Pharaoh did, recalling how God dealt with Egypt when they refused to let Israel go. This sets the stage for a test to determine whether the plagues were truly from Yahweh or merely a coincidence.

The Philistines follow the advice and construct a new cart, yoking two milk cows that have never been yoked. They shut up their calves at home and place the ark on the cart along with the box containing the golden objects. The cows head straight for Beth Shemesh, lowing as they go, without turning aside. The Philistine lords follow them to the border. This journey serves as a test: if the cows go to Beth Shemesh, it is Yahweh who has caused the plagues; if not, it was chance. The cows' direct path confirms that the hand of God is upon them. The Philistines witness this and return to Ekron, while the people of Beth Shemesh are reaping wheat and rejoice at the sight of the ark.

The cart arrives at the field of Joshua of Beth Shemesh and stops by a great stone. The people split the wood of the cart and offer the cows as a burnt offering to Yahweh. The Levites take down the ark and the box of golden objects and place them on the great stone. The men of Beth Shemesh offer burnt offerings and sacrifices that day. The five Philistine lords observe this and return to Ekron. The golden tumors and mice are listed as a trespass offering for the five Philistine cities. However, the joy turns to mourning when Yahweh strikes some men of Beth Shemesh for looking into the ark. The number struck is fifty thousand and seventy men. The people mourn because of the great slaughter.

In response to the striking, the men of Beth Shemesh ask who is able to stand before Yahweh, this holy God, and to whom he shall go up from them. They send messengers to Kiriath Jearim, asking them to come and take the ark. This concludes the chapter with the ark leaving Beth Shemesh and being transferred to Kiriath Jearim. The chapter highlights the holiness of God and the danger of treating the ark irreverently, even among his own people. It also shows the Philistines' attempt to appease God and the partial success of their offering, as the plagues apparently ceased, but the chapter does not explicitly state that the plagues ended. The focus remains on the ark's journey and the reactions of those who encounter it.

Verses that carry the chapter

• “They said, “If you send away the ark of the God of Israel, don’t send it empty; but by all means return a trespass offering to him. Then you will be healed, and it will be known to you why his hand is not removed from you.” (1 Samuel 6:3)” (1 Samuel 6:3) — This verse introduces the trespass offering, showing that the Philistines recognized their guilt and sought to make restitution to Yahweh. It sets up the detailed instructions for the golden tumors and mice.
• “Why then do you harden your hearts as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened their hearts? When he had worked wonderfully among them, didn’t they let the people go, and they departed?” (1 Samuel 6:6) — The warning against hardening hearts recalls Egypt's resistance to God, emphasizing the danger of ignoring God's discipline. It serves as a lesson for the Philistines and for Israel.
• “Behold, if it goes up by the way of its own border to Beth Shemesh, then he has done us this great evil; but if not, then we shall know that it is not his hand that struck us. It was a chance that happened to us.”” (1 Samuel 6:9) — This verse states the test to determine whether the plagues were from Yahweh or chance. The cows' direct path to Beth Shemesh provides the answer, confirming God's hand.
• “He struck of the men of Beth Shemesh, because they had looked into Yahweh’s ark, he struck fifty thousand seventy of the men. Then the people mourned, because Yahweh had struck the people with a great slaughter.” (1 Samuel 6:19) — This verse records the striking down of men for looking into the ark, underscoring God's holiness and the seriousness of irreverence. It marks a turning point from joy to mourning.

Gospel connection

The chapter points forward to the greater ark, Jesus Christ, who is the true meeting place between God and humanity. In the Old Testament, the ark represented God's presence, and approaching it carelessly brought death, as seen in Beth Shemesh. This underscores the holiness of God and the need for a mediator. Jesus became the mediator, bearing the penalty for sin and providing access to God. The Philistines' trespass offering, though imperfect, foreshadows the perfect sacrifice of Christ, who reconciles us to God. The chapter also shows that God's power is not confined to Israel; even the Philistines recognized his hand. Yet the gospel reveals that God's ultimate purpose is to bring salvation to all nations through Jesus, who invites us to come boldly before the throne of grace.

Application

This chapter invites us to examine our own reverence for God. The men of Beth Shemesh treated the ark casually and paid with their lives. We may not have an ark, but we have God's Word and the Holy Spirit. Do we approach God with awe, or do we treat him as a common thing? The Philistines' story also challenges us to consider how we respond to God's discipline. They sought to appease God with offerings, but their hearts were not fully turned. We are called to repent and trust in Christ, not merely to escape consequences. Additionally, the joy of Beth Shemesh turned to mourning because of sin among God's people. This reminds us that holiness matters in the church. We should strive to honor God in our worship and daily lives, knowing that he is a consuming fire but also a loving Father who provides a way through Jesus.

Biblical fidelity check

The chapter does not claim that the Philistines converted to faith in Yahweh; their actions were driven by fear and a desire to end the plagues. It does not state that the plagues ceased after the ark was returned, though it implies they may have. The text does not explain why the men of Beth Shemesh looked into the ark or whether they were believers. It also does not specify the exact number of men struck, as some translations differ, but the World English Bible says fifty thousand and seventy. The chapter does not mention Samuel or any prophet during these events. It does not describe the reaction of the Philistine lords beyond their return to Ekron. The text is silent on the fate of the golden objects after they were placed on the stone. It also does not tell us how long the ark remained in Kiriath Jearim.

Questions for study

1. Why did the Philistines include a trespass offering with the ark, and what does this reveal about their understanding of God?
2. What was the purpose of the test with the cows, and what did the result prove to the Philistines?
3. Why were the men of Beth Shemesh struck down for looking into the ark, and what does this teach us about God's holiness?
4. How did the people of Beth Shemesh respond after the slaughter, and what does their question about who can stand before God indicate?
5. What can we learn from the Philistines' warning not to harden our hearts, as the Egyptians did?

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Related studies: 1 Samuel 1 Bible Study, 1 Samuel 10 Bible Study, 1 Samuel 11 Bible Study, 1 Samuel 12 Bible Study.

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FAQ

Why did the Philistines make golden tumors and mice?

They made them as a trespass offering to Yahweh, matching the number of their lords and cities, to give glory to the God of Israel and hopefully end the plagues.

What was the test with the cows supposed to show?

If the cows went straight to Beth Shemesh, it would prove that Yahweh had caused the plagues; if not, it was just a coincidence.

Why did God strike the men of Beth Shemesh?

They looked into the ark, which was forbidden, and God struck them down to show that he is holy and must be revered.