2. (1 Sam 6:16-18) Description of the trespass offering from the Philistines along with the return of the ark.
When the five lords of the Philistines saw it, they returned to Ekron that day. There are the golden tumors which the Philistines returned for a guilt offering to the LORD: one for Ashdod, one for Gaza, one for Askelon, one for Gath, one for Ekron; and the golden mice, according to the number of all the cities of the Philistines belonging to the five lords, both of the fortified cities and of the country villages. The large stone on which they set the ark of the LORD is a witness to this day in the field of Joshua the Beth-shemite.
When the five lords of the Philistines saw it: After setting up an elaborate test for God, the Ark of the Covenant goes on a straight course to the land of Israel. The reactions of the Philistines are not recorded, but we can assume by their hasty departure, they were probably convinced that the God of the Israel has indeed orchestrated the path of the cows along with the plagues which afflicted the Philistines.
The golden tumors: the offering of the golden tumors, one for each of the five capital cities. In the preceding chapter, only Ashdod, Gath and Ekron are mentioned as places in which the Ark dwelt. However, in the seven months in which the Ark remained with the Philistines, it is very likely the that Ark was passed from chief city to chief city, like a hot potato.
And the golden mice: Here there is mentioned a far greater number of golden mice being offered that specified in the directions of the priests and diviners (See 1 Samuel 6:4). While the plagues which struck the Philistines was confined to the five cities, the plague of the filed mice no doubt extended over the whole country. The inhabitants of all the villages were anxious to do their part to make atonement to the God of Israel, and to get rid of the plague which was devastating their fields and vineyards.
Both of the fortified cities and of the country villages: In ancient times, large cities built walls which encircled the the city limits. These cities had gates which were locked up and night and would not re-open until the morning. These walls protected the city from an enemy attack. Smaller communities, which often consisted of homes mixed with farm fields and vineyards, did not have any fortifications. This phrase gives clarification that all of the Philistine territory--both large cities and tiny clusters of homes--was afflicted with the plague of mice.
The large stone...is a witness to this day: When important events happen in the Bible, there is almost always a mention of a witness to the events. In Jacob's covenant with Laban, we read "Laban said to Jacob, 'Behold this heap and behold the pillar which I have set up between you and me. This heap is a witness, an they pillar is a witness, that I will not pass by this heap to you for harm, and you will not pass bu this heap and pillar for me, for harm'" (Genesis 31:51-52). When Joshua warns the Israelites about serving God when they are about to enter the promised land, we read this: "Then Joshua said to the people, 'You will not be able to serve the LORD, for He is a holy God. He is a jealous God; He will not forgive your transgression or your sins. If you forsake the LORD and serve foreign gods, then He will turn and do you harm and consume you after He has done good to you.' The people said to Joshua, 'No, but we will serve the LORD.' Joshua said to the people, 'You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen for yourselves the LORD, to serve Him.' And they said, 'We are witnesses.' 'Now therefore, put away the foreign gods, which are in your midst, and incline your hearts to the LORD, the God of Israel.' The people said to Joshua, 'We will serve the LORD our God and we will obey His voice.' So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day, and made for them a statue and an ordinance in Shechem. And Joshua wrote these words in the book of the law of God; and he took a large stone and set it up there under the oak that was by the sanctuary of the LORD. Joshua said to all the people, 'Behold, this stone shall be for a witness against us, for it has heard all the words of the LORD which He spoke to us; thus it shall be a witness against you, so that you do not deny your God'" (Joshua 24:19-27).
3. (1 Sam 6:19) The men of Beth-shemesh profane God's holiness.
He struck down some of the men of Beth-shemesh because they had looked into the ark of the LORD. He struck down of all the people, 50,070 men, and the people mourned because the LORD had struck the people with a great slaughter.
Because they had looked into the ark of the LORD: It seems probable that the chief men of the city, most of whom were priests and Levites, after the great celebrations which accompanied the joyful return of the Ark, lost all sense of reverence. Intoxicated with too much fermented beverage, the chief men used this opportunity to gaze into the Ark of the Covenant. However, the men had forgotten God's commandments: "Then the LORD spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying, 'Do not let the tribe of the families of the Kohathites be cut off from among the Levites. But do this to them that they may live and not die when they approach the most holy objects: Aaron and his sons shall go in and assign each of them to his work and to his load: but they shall not go in to see the holy objects even for a moment, or they will die'" (Numbers 4:17-20). The Levites were forbidden to look upon the furniture of the Holy of Holies or they shall be subject to death; but instead of hastening to cover the Ark with reverence, they left it exposed to public view, which lead to severe punishment.
We again have an example of God dealing with the Israelites most strictly than He dealt with the Philistines, who broke one of God's commands when they transported the Ark by a cart. (The Ark was to be carried only by the tribe of Levi. "At that time the LORD set apart the tribe of Levi to carry the ark of the covenant of the LORD, to stand before the LORD to serve Him and to bless in His name until this day" (Deuteronomy 10:8). God does this because the Israelites, who had His law, should have known better. It is sad to consider that the Philistines showed more honor to the holiness of God than the Israelites.
He struck down of all the people, 50,070 men: It is very probable that the Hebrew text used here is corrupt. In Hebrew, numbers are written as letters. Here the arrangement of the letters which express this large number is quite unusual. The text is written as "70 men 50,000 men". The absence of the conjunction "and" implies the text is probably corrupt.
The number of stricken ones (50,070) is quite inconceivable. Beth-shemesh was never a large city or a place of great importance. In general, there were no large cities in Israel. Instead, most of the people lived scattered in the land, living mostly on farms. According to some historians, the population of Jerusalem in the height of its glory days was less than 70,000 people. In various versions such as the Septuagint and Chaldee, the text simply reads the number of smitten individuals as 70. Such a probable error as this, to which the text of any ancient book is liable in the process of transmission, does not affect the historical trustworthiness of the narrative. Moreover, acknowledging the possible error in the text in no way precludes a full belief in the Inspiration of Scripture.
The LORD had struck the people with a great slaughter: Assuming that Beth-shemesh was a small village of 100-300 people and that the number of people killed was 70, this indeed was a great slaughter. The Israelites, knowing God's commandments, were judged severely for their transgression. "Know therefore that the LORD your God, He is God, the faithful God, who keeps His covenant and His lovingkindness to a thousandth generation with those who love Him and keep His commandments; but repays those who hate Him to their faces, to destroy them; He will not delay with him who hates Him, He will repay him to his face. Therefore, you shall keep the commandment and the statues and the judgments which I am commanding you today, to do them" (Deuteronomy 7:9-11).
4. (1 Sam 6:20-21) The men of Beth-shemesh appeal to the men of Kiriath-jearim to take the Ark from them.
Then the men of Beth-shemesh said, "Who is able to stand before the LORD, this holy God? And to whom shall He go up from us?" So they sent messengers to the inhabitants of Kiriath-jearim, saying, "The Philistines have brought back the ark of the LORD; come down and take it up to you."
Who is able to stand before the LORD: By asking this question, the men of Beth-shemesh make God seem too harsh, instead of acknowledging themselves to be disobedient. The Israelites knew that God had forbidden anyone one to look into the Ark, except the sons of Aaron. Yet, they still desired to throw the blame on God, making Him out to be hard to please.
In their disrespect for God, the men of Beth-shemesh had offended the holiness of the LORD. Now, they know that the LORD is holy, but it does not make them want to be closer to God. Instead, it makes them want to distance themselves from Him. The primary idea behind holiness is the be set apart. That is, God is to be revered and seen as set apart from His creation. When men encounter the holiness of God, they often are filled with fear. When Isaiah is called to be a prophet, he is overcome with anxiety: "Then I said, 'Woe is me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts'" (Isaiah 6:5). When Peter saw the abundant power of Jesus, he said, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord" (Luke 5:8).
Whom shall go up from us: The holiness of God was a problem for the men of Beth-shemesh, a problem which could only be solved by putting distance between themselves and God. Instead of seeking a way to be made right with God, the men of Beth-shemesh sought to unburden themselves with God's holiness.
They sent messengers to the inhabitants of Kiriath-jearim: We do not know why the men of Beth-shemesh picked this village. Perhaps, the two places had a good relationship, and the men of Beth-shemesh thought the people of Kiriath-jearim would take good care of the Ark. Perhaps, the two places has a bad relationship, and the men of Beth-shemesh wanted the LORD to curse the people of Kiriath-jearim. Perhaps it was all due to location. Kiriath-jearim was located farther from the Philistines. Therefore, it was more likely to be better preserved from any future attacks by the Philistines. Being farther from the Philistines, the Ark in Kiriath-jearim would be better attended by the Isrealites, who would be more likely to come to visit the Ark than having the Ark remain in Beth-shemesh, which is located on the border of the Philistines' land. Whatever the reason, the village of Kiriath-jearim will receive the Ark and keep it for over 70 years until King David brings it to Jerusalem (see 2 Samuel 6).
No comments:
Post a Comment