A. How will the Philistines get rid of the Ark of the Covenant?
1. (1 Sam 6:1-6) The Philistine priests suggest a way to relieve themselves of the burden of the Ark of the Covenant.
Now the ark of the LORD had been in the country of the Philistines seven months. And the Philistines called for the priests and the diviners, saying, "What shall we do with the ark of the LORD? Tell us how we shall send it to its place." They said, "If you send away the ark of the God of Israel, do not send it empty; but you shall surely return to Him a guilt offering. They you will be healed and it will be known to you why His hand is not removed from you." Then they said, "What shall be the guilt offering which we shall return to Him?" And they said, "Five golden tumors and five golden mice according to the number of the lords of the Philistines, for one plague was on all of you and on your lords. So you shall make likenesses of your tumors and likenesses of your mice that ravage the land, and you shall give glory to the God of Israel; perhaps He will ease His hand from you, your gods and your land. Why then do you harden your heart as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened their hearts? When He had severely dealt with them, did they not allow the people to go, and they departed?
The ark of the LORD had been in the country of the Philistines seven months: The Ark was kept a very long time in the land of the Philistines. Most likely, the Philistines were very reluctant to give up such a trophy of victory and were willing to try many things in order to keep it in their land. The Septuagint version of this verse adds, "And their land swarmed with mice." This probably was added as an explanation to the mice mentioned in 1 Samuel 6:4.
Diviners: There are three modes of divination described in the Bible--by arrows, by teraphim (aka, household idols) and by the liver of beasts. ("For the king of Babylon stands at the parting of the way, at the head of the two ways, to use divination; he shakes the arrows, he consults the household idols, he looks at the liver" Ezekiel 21:21.)
What shall we do with the ark of the LORD: When the Philistines first captured the Ark of God, they thought it was a great victory. They put it in the temple of their god, Dagon, with the message their god was greater than the LORD. However, God used this opportunity to glorify Himself by striking down Dagon twice and ultimately cutting Dagon into pieces. God continued His glory by striking the Philistines with plagues. When the Philistines moved the Ark, the plagues moved with it. Suddenly, this glorious victory trophy became a worrisome burden.
The Philistines fell victim to viewing the Ark of the Covenant as capturing God. Like the Israelites, who thought carrying the Ark into battle would assure them victory, the Philistines assumed displaying the Ark of God in their cities would guarantee them possession of the God of Israel. However, no one possessed God. Instead, God had them; He was in control. And now He was showing His power while the Philistines had to fight for their lives.
Do not send it empty: It is interesting to note that it was common practice to make offerings to pagan gods. The Philistines in an attempt to appease the God of Israel felt it is necessary to offer gifts and offerings to find favor in His eyes.
Guilt offering: The offering that was to be made when the offense had been unintentional. ("If a person acts unfaithfully and sins unintentionally against the LORD'S holy things, then he shall bring his guilt offering to the LORD: a ram without defect from the flock, according to your valuation in silver by shekels, in terms of the shekel of the sanctuary, for a guilt offering" Leviticus 5:15.)
It will be known to you why His hand is not removed from you: This is a euphemism for "why your punishment continues to be so severe, without sign of abatement." If the removal of the plague followed after restoring the Ark back to Israel with the appropriate offerings, then they would know for certain that the continual cause of their misfortunes--plagues, mice and mutilation of Dagon. It seems as though they were not yet convinced that all their recent calamities were more than chance.
Five golden tumors and five golden mice: It was a general custom in ancient times to offer to the deity, to whom sickness or recovery from sickness was ascribed, likenesses of the diseased parts. Slaves and gladiators would offer their arms to Hercules. Captives would dedicate their chains to a deity. This practice has continued even to modern times. In the fifth century, Christians would often offer in their churches gold or silver hands, feet or eyes as thank-offerings for cures delivered through prayer. Similar thank offering are still made in many Roman Catholic nations.
These golden tumor and mice were being offered not in contempt of God, but rather to seek His favor. It was a testimony of their humiliation. Leaving these items as a memorial to their shame and misery, they hoped to obtain pity from God.
Likenesses of your mice that ravaged the land: This is the first mention in the Hebrew text about a plague of mice. (The Greek Septuagint mentions the mice in additional text in 1 Samuel 5:6 and 1 Samuel 6:1, which is not found in the Hebrew text.) In the warm countries surrounding the Mediterranean Sea, it was common from time to time to have large outbreaks of mice, which devoured the crops. The mice would live long enough to destroy the crops, and they would die off and disappear. There can be a similar parallel drawn here with Egypt's plague of frogs. Frogs were common in the Nile River and from time to time, an outbreak of frogs would occur. The frogs would quickly decimate the land and then die off. Perhaps the Philistines recognized their plague of mice being similar to Egypt's frog plague and thus make reference to Pharaoh and Egypt in verse 6.
Give glory to the God of Israel: After repeatedly denying God and His Almighty power, the Philistines are forced to submit to Him. They finally must admit the God of Israel is more powerful than their pagan idols.
Your gods: The Hebrew is unclear. The phrase could mean that there were other gods (in addition to Dagon) which were affected and thrown down before the Ark of the Covenant. However, it is also common to use a plural number in place of using the singular. In that case, only Dagon may have been affected.
Why then do you harden your heart as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened their hearts: Again, the Philistines seem to be very familiar with Israel's Exodus story (The Philistines' first reference to Egypt is in 1 Samuel 4:8.). The Philistines are very wise in knowing you do not harden your heart against the LORD. Throughout Exodus, we are told that Pharaoh hardens his heart. ("But when Pharaoh saw that there was relief, he hardened his heart and did not listen to them, as the LORD had said" Exodus 8:15.) Furthermore, we are told that God also harden Pharaoh's heart ("I will harden Pharaoh's heart" Exodus 7:3.). Both Pharaoh and God harden Pharaoh's heart, which lead to disastrous consequences for Pharaoh and his nation. The Philistines, after having a small taste of God's power through the plague, know not to anger God.
Hardness of heart is a bad place to be for any Christian. The pagan Philistines had the sense to ask "Why then do you harden your heart as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened their hearts?" Do Christians today ask themselves this same question? We have hard hearts which need to be softened and broken up; we need to turn away from our sin and seek the LORD. "Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek the LORD, till He comes and rains righteousness on you" (Hosea 10:12). The Philistines were able to cure their hard hearts by acknowledging their sin, recognizing God's righteousness and giving offerings to make it right before God.
What shall we do with the ark of the LORD: When the Philistines first captured the Ark of God, they thought it was a great victory. They put it in the temple of their god, Dagon, with the message their god was greater than the LORD. However, God used this opportunity to glorify Himself by striking down Dagon twice and ultimately cutting Dagon into pieces. God continued His glory by striking the Philistines with plagues. When the Philistines moved the Ark, the plagues moved with it. Suddenly, this glorious victory trophy became a worrisome burden.
The Philistines fell victim to viewing the Ark of the Covenant as capturing God. Like the Israelites, who thought carrying the Ark into battle would assure them victory, the Philistines assumed displaying the Ark of God in their cities would guarantee them possession of the God of Israel. However, no one possessed God. Instead, God had them; He was in control. And now He was showing His power while the Philistines had to fight for their lives.
Do not send it empty: It is interesting to note that it was common practice to make offerings to pagan gods. The Philistines in an attempt to appease the God of Israel felt it is necessary to offer gifts and offerings to find favor in His eyes.
Guilt offering: The offering that was to be made when the offense had been unintentional. ("If a person acts unfaithfully and sins unintentionally against the LORD'S holy things, then he shall bring his guilt offering to the LORD: a ram without defect from the flock, according to your valuation in silver by shekels, in terms of the shekel of the sanctuary, for a guilt offering" Leviticus 5:15.)
It will be known to you why His hand is not removed from you: This is a euphemism for "why your punishment continues to be so severe, without sign of abatement." If the removal of the plague followed after restoring the Ark back to Israel with the appropriate offerings, then they would know for certain that the continual cause of their misfortunes--plagues, mice and mutilation of Dagon. It seems as though they were not yet convinced that all their recent calamities were more than chance.
Five golden tumors and five golden mice: It was a general custom in ancient times to offer to the deity, to whom sickness or recovery from sickness was ascribed, likenesses of the diseased parts. Slaves and gladiators would offer their arms to Hercules. Captives would dedicate their chains to a deity. This practice has continued even to modern times. In the fifth century, Christians would often offer in their churches gold or silver hands, feet or eyes as thank-offerings for cures delivered through prayer. Similar thank offering are still made in many Roman Catholic nations.
These golden tumor and mice were being offered not in contempt of God, but rather to seek His favor. It was a testimony of their humiliation. Leaving these items as a memorial to their shame and misery, they hoped to obtain pity from God.
Likenesses of your mice that ravaged the land: This is the first mention in the Hebrew text about a plague of mice. (The Greek Septuagint mentions the mice in additional text in 1 Samuel 5:6 and 1 Samuel 6:1, which is not found in the Hebrew text.) In the warm countries surrounding the Mediterranean Sea, it was common from time to time to have large outbreaks of mice, which devoured the crops. The mice would live long enough to destroy the crops, and they would die off and disappear. There can be a similar parallel drawn here with Egypt's plague of frogs. Frogs were common in the Nile River and from time to time, an outbreak of frogs would occur. The frogs would quickly decimate the land and then die off. Perhaps the Philistines recognized their plague of mice being similar to Egypt's frog plague and thus make reference to Pharaoh and Egypt in verse 6.
Give glory to the God of Israel: After repeatedly denying God and His Almighty power, the Philistines are forced to submit to Him. They finally must admit the God of Israel is more powerful than their pagan idols.
Your gods: The Hebrew is unclear. The phrase could mean that there were other gods (in addition to Dagon) which were affected and thrown down before the Ark of the Covenant. However, it is also common to use a plural number in place of using the singular. In that case, only Dagon may have been affected.
Why then do you harden your heart as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened their hearts: Again, the Philistines seem to be very familiar with Israel's Exodus story (The Philistines' first reference to Egypt is in 1 Samuel 4:8.). The Philistines are very wise in knowing you do not harden your heart against the LORD. Throughout Exodus, we are told that Pharaoh hardens his heart. ("But when Pharaoh saw that there was relief, he hardened his heart and did not listen to them, as the LORD had said" Exodus 8:15.) Furthermore, we are told that God also harden Pharaoh's heart ("I will harden Pharaoh's heart" Exodus 7:3.). Both Pharaoh and God harden Pharaoh's heart, which lead to disastrous consequences for Pharaoh and his nation. The Philistines, after having a small taste of God's power through the plague, know not to anger God.
Hardness of heart is a bad place to be for any Christian. The pagan Philistines had the sense to ask "Why then do you harden your heart as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened their hearts?" Do Christians today ask themselves this same question? We have hard hearts which need to be softened and broken up; we need to turn away from our sin and seek the LORD. "Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek the LORD, till He comes and rains righteousness on you" (Hosea 10:12). The Philistines were able to cure their hard hearts by acknowledging their sin, recognizing God's righteousness and giving offerings to make it right before God.
No comments:
Post a Comment