1Jahvova archa byla na území Filišťanů sedm měsíců. 2Filišťané se obrátili na kněze a věštce a ptali se: „Co máme s Jahvovou archou dělat? Určete nám, jak ji máme poslat na její místo?“ 3Oni odpověděli: „Chcete-li poslat archu Boha Izraele nazpět, neposílejte ji nazpět s prázdnou, ale zaplaťte mu nějaké odškodné. Pak se uzdravíte a budete vědět, proč se předtím jeho ruka od vás neodvrátila.“ 4Zeptali se: „Jaké má být to odškodné, které mu máme zaplatit?“ Oni odpověděli: „Podle počtu filišťanských knížat: pět zlatých nádorů a pět zlatých myší, neboť vás i vaše knížata postihla táž rána. 5Udělejte obrazy svých nádorů a obrazy svých myší, které pustoší zemi, a vzdejte Bohu Izraele slávu. Snad se jeho ruka nadlehčí nad vámi, vašimi bohy a vaší zemí. 6Proč byste zatvrzovali své srdce, jako je zatvrdili Egypťané a faraon? Cožpak je, když je Bůh přitiskl, nepropustili? 7Nyní vezměte a připravte nový vůz a dvě krávy po otelení, které nenosily jařmo: ty krávy zapřáhnete do toho vozu a jejich telata odvedete nazpět do chléva. 8Vezmete Jahvovu archu a položíte ji na ten vůz. Zlaté předměty, které mu platíte jako odškodné, pak dáte do truhly vedle ní a necháte ji jít svou cestou. 9Potom se dívejte: vydá-li se na cestu ke svému území, k Bet-Šemeši, pak nám to velké zlo způsobil on, pakliže ne, budeme vědět, že nás nepostihla jeho ruka a že se nám to přihodilo náhodou.“ 10Ti muži to tak učinili: vzali dvě krávy po otelení a zapřáhli je do vozu, telata však zadrželi ve chlévě. 11Na vůz položili Jahvovu archu a také truhlu, v níž byly zlaté myši a obrazy jejich nádorů. 12Krávy se daly přímo na cestu k Bet-Šemeši a šly stále touž cestou, při chůzi bučely a neodchylovaly se napravo ani nalevo. Filišťanská knížata za nimi šla až na pomezí Bet-Šemeše. 13Muži z Bet-Šemeše sklízeli na pláni obilí. Když zvedli oči, uviděli archu a vyšli jí s radostí vstříc. 14Když vůz dojel na pole Jozua z Bet-Šemeše, zastavil se tam. Byl tam velký kámen. Rozštípali dřevo vozu a přinesli ty krávy Jahvovi v oběť jako celopal. 15Leviovci sňali Jahvovu archu a truhlu, jež byla vedle ní a v níž byly ty zlaté předměty, a všechno položili na ten velký kámen. Muži z Bet-Šemeše ten den přinesli celopaly a konali oběti Jahvovi. 16Když to viděla filišťanská knížata, vrátila se téhož dne do Ekronu. 17Toto jsou zlaté nádory, které Filišťané zaplatili Jahvovi jako odškodné: jeden za Ašdod, jeden za Gazu, jeden za Aškelon, jeden za Gat, jeden za Ekron. 18A zlatých myší tolik, jako všech měst Filišťanů, měst těch pěti knížat, od opevněných měst až po otevřené vesnice. Svědkem je velký kámen, na který položili Jahvovu archu a který je dosud na poli Jozua z Bet-Šemeše. 19Při pohledu na Jahvovu archu se mezi betšemešskými muži neradovali Jechoniášovi synové, a Jahve z nich sedmdesát mužů pobil. A lid měl smutek, protože jej Jahve tvrdě bil. 20Tu muži z Bet-Šemeše řekli: „Kdo může obstát před Jahvem, Svatým Bohem? Ke komu on půjde, někam daleko od nás?“ 21Vypravili posly k obyvatelům Kirjat-Jearimu s těmito slovy: „Filišťané vrátili Jahvovu archu. Sejděte a vyneste ji k vám.“
Jamieson Fausset Brown Bible Commentary 1 THE PHILISTINES COUNSEL HOW TO SEND BACK THE ARK. (
1Sam 6:1-9)
the ark . . . was in the country of the Philistines seven months--Notwithstanding the calamities which its presence had brought on the country and the people, the Philistine lords were unwilling to relinquish such a prize, and tried every means to retain it with peace and safety, but in vain.
2 the Philistines called for the priests and the diviners--The designed restoration of the ark was not, it seems, universally approved of, and many doubts were expressed whether the prevailing pestilence was really a judgment of Heaven. The priests and diviners united all parties by recommending a course which would enable them easily to discriminate the true character of the calamities, and at the same time to propitiate the incensed Deity for any acts of disrespect which might have been shown to His ark.
4 Five golden emerods--Votive or thank offerings were commonly made by the heathen in prayer for, or gratitude after, deliverance from lingering or dangerous disorders, in the form of metallic (generally silver) models or images of the diseased parts of the body. This is common still in Roman Catholic countries, as well as in the temples of the Hindus and other modern heathen.
five golden mice--This animal is supposed by some to be the jerboa or jumping mouse of Syria and Egypt [BOCHART]; by others, to be the short-tailed field mouse, which often swarms in prodigious numbers and commits great ravages in the cultivated fields of Palestine.
5 give glory unto the God of Israel--By these propitiatory presents, the Philistines would acknowledge His power and make reparation for the injury done to His ark.
lighten his hand . . . from off your gods--Elohim for god.
6 Wherefore then do ye harden your hearts, as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened their hearts?--The memory of the appalling judgments that had been inflicted on Egypt was not yet obliterated. Whether preserved in written records, or in floating tradition, they were still fresh in the minds of men, and being extensively spread, were doubtless the means of diffusing the knowledge and fear of the true God.
7 make a new cart--Their object in making a new one for the purpose seems to have been not only for cleanliness and neatness, but from an impression that there would have been an impropriety in using one that had been applied to meaner or more common services. It appears to have been a covered wagon (see on
2Sam 6:3).
two milch kine--Such untrained heifers, wanton and vagrant, would pursue no certain and regular path, like those accustomed to the yoke, and therefore were most unlikely of their own spontaneous motion to prosecute the direct road to the land of Israel.
bring their calves home from them--The strong natural affection of the dams might be supposed to stimulate their return homewards, rather than direct their steps in a foreign country.
8 take the ark of the Lord, and lay it upon the cart--This mode of carrying the sacred symbol was forbidden; but the ignorance of the Philistines made the indignity excusable (see on
2Sam 6:6).
put the jewels . . . in a coffer by the side thereof--The way of securing treasure in the East is still in a chest, chained to the house wall or some solid part of the furniture.
9 Beth-shemesh--that is, "house of the sun," now Ain Shems [ROBINSON], a city of priests in Judah, in the southeast border of Dan, lying in a beautiful and extensive valley. JOSEPHUS says they were set a-going near a place where the road divided into two--the one leading back to Ekron, where were their calves, and the other to Beth-shemesh. Their frequent lowings attested their ardent longing for their young, and at the same time the supernatural influence that controlled their movements in a contrary direction.
12 the lords of the Philistines went after them--to give their tribute of homage, to prevent imposture, and to obtain the most reliable evidence of the truth. The result of this journey tended to their own deeper humiliation, and the greater illustration of God's glory.
14 and they clave--that is, the Beth-shemites, in an irrepressible outburst of joy.
offered the kine--Though contrary to the requirements of the law (
Lev 1:3;
Lev 22:19), these animals might properly be offered, as consecrated by God Himself; and though not beside the tabernacle, there were many instances of sacrifices offered by prophets and holy men on extraordinary occasions in other places.
17 And these are the golden emerods . . . and the mice--There were five representative images of the emerods, corresponding to the five principal cities of the Philistines. But the number of the golden mice must have been greater, for they were sent from the walled towns as well as the country villages.
18 unto the great stone of Abel--Abel, or Aben, means "stone," so that without resorting to italics, the reading should be, "the great stone."
19 he smote the men of Beth-shemesh, because they had looked into the ark--In the ecstasy of delight at seeing the return of the ark, the Beth-shemesh reapers pried into it beneath the wagon cover; and instead of covering it up again, as a sacred utensil, they let it remain exposed to common inspection, wishing it to be seen, in order that all might enjoy the triumph of seeing the votive offerings presented to it, and gratify curiosity with the sight of the sacred shrine. This was the offense of those Israelites (Levites, as well as common people), who had treated the ark with less reverence than the Philistines themselves.
he smote of the people fifty thousand and threescore and ten men--Beth-shemesh being only a village, this translation must be erroneous, and should be, "he smote fifty out of a thousand," being only fourteen hundred in all who indulged this curiosity. God, instead of decimating, according to an ancient usage, slew only a twentieth part; that is, according to JOSEPHUS, seventy out of fourteen hundred (see
Num 4:18-
Num 4:22).
21 Kirjath-jearim--"the city of woods," also called Kirjath-baal (
Josh 15:60;
Josh 18:14;
1Chr 13:6-7). This was the nearest town to Beth-shemesh; and being a place of strength, it was a more fitting place for the residence of the ark. Beth-shemesh being in a low plain, and Kirjath-jearim on a hill, explains the message, "Come ye down, and fetch it up to you."