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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>1 Samuel 5:8 So they called together all the rulers of the Philistines and asked, "What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel?" "It must be moved to Gath," they replied. 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So they carried away the ark of the God of Israel. <a href="/kjv/1_samuel/5.htm">King James Bible</a> They sent therefore and gathered all the lords of the Philistines unto them, and said, What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel? And they answered, Let the ark of the God of Israel be carried about unto Gath. And they carried the ark of the God of Israel about thither. <a href="/nkjv/1_samuel/5.htm">New King James Version</a> Therefore they sent and gathered to themselves all the lords of the Philistines, and said, “What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel?” And they answered, “Let the ark of the God of Israel be carried away to Gath.” So they carried the ark of the God of Israel away. <a href="/nasb_/1_samuel/5.htm">New American Standard Bible</a> So they sent word and gathered all the governors of the Philistines to them, and said, “What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel?” And they said, “Have the ark of the God of Israel brought to Gath.” So they took the ark of the God of Israel away. <a href="/nasb/1_samuel/5.htm">NASB 1995</a> So they sent and gathered all the lords of the Philistines to them and said, &#8220What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel?&#8221 And they said, &#8220Let the ark of the God of Israel be brought around to Gath.&#8221 And they brought the ark of the God of Israel around. <a href="/nasb77/1_samuel/5.htm">NASB 1977 </a> So they sent and gathered all the lords of the Philistines to them and said, “What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel?” And they said, “Let the ark of the God of Israel be brought around to Gath.” And they brought the ark of the God of Israel around. <a href="/lsb/1_samuel/5.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a> So they sent and gathered all the lords of the Philistines to them and said, “What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel?” And they said, “Let the ark of the God of Israel be brought around to Gath.” And they brought the ark of the God of Israel around. <a href="/amp/1_samuel/5.htm">Amplified Bible</a> So they sent word and gathered all the lords (governors) of the Philistines to them and said, “What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel?” They answered, “Let the ark of the God of Israel be brought around to Gath.” So they took the ark of the God of Israel there. <a href="/csb/1_samuel/5.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a> So they called all the Philistine rulers together and asked, “What should we do with the ark of Israel’s God? ” “The ark of Israel’s God should be moved to Gath,” they replied. So they moved the ark of Israel’s God. <a href="/hcsb/1_samuel/5.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a> So they called all the Philistine rulers together and asked, &#8220What should we do with the ark of Israel&#8217s God?&#8221 &#8220The ark of Israel&#8217s God should be moved to Gath,&#8221 they replied. So the men of Ashdod moved the ark. <a href="/asv/1_samuel/5.htm">American Standard Version</a> They sent therefore and gathered all the lords of the Philistines unto them, and said, What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel? And they answered, Let the ark of the God of Israel be carried about unto Gath. And they carried the ark of the God of Israel thither. <a href="/cev/1_samuel/5.htm">Contemporary English Version</a> The people of Ashdod invited all the Philistine rulers to come to Ashdod, and they asked them, "What can we do with the sacred chest that belongs to the God of Israel?" "Send it to Gath," the rulers answered. But after they took it there, <a href="/erv/1_samuel/5.htm">English Revised Version</a> They sent therefore and gathered all the lords of the Philistines unto them, and said, What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel? And they answered, Let the ark of the God of Israel be carried about unto Gath. And they carried the ark of the God of Israel about thither. <a href="/gwt/1_samuel/5.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a> The people of Ashdod called together all the Philistine rulers. "What should we do with the ark of the God of Israel?" they asked. "The ark of the God of Israel must be taken to Gath," the rulers said. So the people took the ark of the God of Israel there. <a href="/gnt/1_samuel/5.htm">Good News Translation</a> So they sent messengers and called together all five of the Philistine kings and asked them, "What shall we do with the Covenant Box of the God of Israel?" "Take it over to Gath," they answered; so they took it to Gath, another Philistine city. <a href="/isv/1_samuel/5.htm">International Standard Version</a> They sent messengers and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines and asked, "What are we to do with the Ark of the God of Israel?" They said, "Let the Ark of the God of Israel move to Gath." So they moved the Ark of the God of Israel. <a href="/msb/1_samuel/5.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a> So they called together all the rulers of the Philistines and asked, ?What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel?? ?It must be moved to Gath,? they replied. So they carried away the ark of the God of Israel. <a href="/net/1_samuel/5.htm">NET Bible</a> So they assembled all the leaders of the Philistines and asked, "What should we do with the ark of the God of Israel?" They replied, "The ark of the God of Israel should be moved to Gath." So they moved the ark of the God of Israel. <a href="/nheb/1_samuel/5.htm">New Heart English Bible</a> So they sent and gathered all the lords of the Philistines to them, and said, "What shall we do with the ark of God?" Then the Gittites answered, "Let the ark of God be carried over to us. "So they brought the ark of God to Gath. <a href="/wbt/1_samuel/5.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a> They sent therefore, and gathered all the lords of the Philistines to them, and said, What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel? And they answered, Let the ark of the God of Israel be carried about to Gath. And they carried the ark of the God of Israel thither. <a href="/web/1_samuel/5.htm">World English Bible</a> They sent therefore and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines, and said, “What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel?” They answered, “Let the ark of the God of Israel be carried over to Gath.” They carried the ark of the God of Israel there. <div class="vheading2">Literal Translations</div><a href="/lsv/1_samuel/5.htm">Literal Standard Version</a> And they send and gather all the princes of the Philistines to them, and say, “What do we do to the Ark of the God of Israel?” And they say, “Let the Ark of the God of Israel be brought around to Gath”; and they bring around the Ark of the God of Israel; <a href="/ylt/1_samuel/5.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a> And they send and gather all the princes of the Philistines unto them, and say, 'What do we do to the ark of the God of Israel?' and they say, 'To Gath let the ark of the God of Israel be brought round;' and they bring round the ark of the God of Israel; <a href="/slt/1_samuel/5.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a> And they will send and gather all the princes of Philisteim to them, and they will say, What shall we do to the ark of the God of Israel? And they will say, To Gath shall the ark of the God of Israel be turned about: and they will turn the ark of the God of Israel about.<div class="vheading2">Catholic Translations</div><a href="/drb/1_samuel/5.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a> And sending, they gathered together all the lords of the Philistines to them, and said: What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel? And the Gethrites answered: Let the ark of the God of Israel be carried about. And they carried the ark of the God of Israel about. <a href="/cpdv/1_samuel/5.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a> And sending, they gathered together all the princes of the Philistines to them, and they said, “What shall we do about the ark of the God of Israel?” And the Gathites responded, “Let the ark of the God of Israel be led around.” And they led the ark of the God of Israel around. <a href="/nabre/1_samuel/5.htm">New American Bible</a> So they summoned all the Philistine leaders and inquired of them, “What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel?” The people of Gath replied, “Let them move the ark of the God of Israel to us.” So they moved the ark of the God of Israel to Gath. <a href="/nrsvce/1_samuel/5.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a> So they sent and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines, and said, “What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel?” The inhabitants of Gath replied, “Let the ark of God be moved on to us.” So they moved the ark of the God of Israel to Gath.<div class="vheading2">Translations from Aramaic</div><a href="/lamsa/1_samuel/5.htm">Lamsa Bible</a> They sent therefore and gathered all the lords of the Philistines to them, and said, What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel? And they answered, Let the ark of the God of Israel be returned to Gath. So they took back the ark of the God of Israel there. <a href="/hpbt/1_samuel/5.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a> And they sent and they gathered all the Tyrants of the Philistines to themselves and they said: “What shall we do with the Ark of LORD JEHOVAH God of Israel?” And they said: “You will return the Ark of LORD JEHOVAH God of Israel to Gath”, and they returned the Ark of LORD JEHOVAH, the God of Israel<div class="vheading2">OT Translations</div><a href="/jps/1_samuel/5.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a> They sent therefore and gathered all the lords of the Philistines unto them, and said: 'What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel?' And they answered: 'Let the ark of the God of Israel be carried about unto Gath.' And they carried the ark of the God of Israel about thither. <a href="/sep/1_samuel/5.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a> And they send and gather the lords of the Philistines to them, and say, What shall we do to the ark of the God of Israel? and the Gittites say, Let the ark of God come over to us; and the ark of the God of Israel came to Geth. <a href="/parallel/1_samuel/5-8.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv">Audio Bible</div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/H8oQfYUMRZg?start=1286" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="vheadingv">Context</div><a href="/bsb/1_samuel/5.htm">The Ark Afflicts the Philistines</a> …7And when the men of Ashdod saw what was happening, they said, “The ark of the God of Israel must not stay here with us, because His hand is heavy upon us and upon our god Dagon.” 8<a href="/hebrew/7971.htm" title="7971: way·yiš·lə·ḥū (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3mp) -- To send. A primitive root; to send away, for, or out."></a> <a href="/hebrew/622.htm" title="622: way·ya·’as·p̄ū (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3mp) -- To gather, remove. A primitive root; to gather for any purpose; hence, to receive, take away, i.e. Remove.">So they called together</a> <a href="/hebrew/3605.htm" title="3605: kāl- (N-msc) -- The whole, all. Or kowl; from kalal; properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every.">all</a> <a href="/hebrew/413.htm" title="413: ’ă·lê·hem (Prep:: 3mp) -- To, into, towards. "></a> <a href="/hebrew/5633.htm" title="5633: sar·nê (N-mpc) -- An axle, a peer. From an unused root of uncertain meaning; an axle; figuratively, a peer.">the rulers</a> <a href="/hebrew/6430.htm" title="6430: p̄ə·liš·tîm (N-proper-mp) -- Inhab. of Philistia. Patrial from Plesheth; a Pelishtite or inhabitant of Pelesheth.">of the Philistines</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’eṯ- (DirObjM) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/559.htm" title="559: way·yō·mə·rū (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3mp) -- To utter, say. A primitive root; to say.">and asked,</a> <a href="/hebrew/4100.htm" title="4100: mah- (Interrog) -- What? how? anything. ">“What</a> <a href="/hebrew/6213.htm" title="6213: na·‘ă·śeh (V-Qal-Imperf-1cp) -- To do, make. A primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application.">shall we do</a> <a href="/hebrew/727.htm" title="727: la·’ă·rō·wn (Prep-l:: N-csc) -- A chest, ark. Or laron; from 'arah; a box.">with the ark</a> <a href="/hebrew/430.htm" title="430: ’ĕ·lō·hê (N-mpc) -- Plural of 'elowahh; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used of the supreme God">of the God of</a> <a href="/hebrew/3478.htm" title="3478: yiś·rā·’êl (N-proper-ms) -- From sarah and 'el; he will rule as God; Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also of his posterity.">Israel?”</a> <a href="/hebrew/727.htm" title="727: ’ă·rō·wn (N-csc) -- A chest, ark. Or laron; from 'arah; a box.">“It</a> <a href="/hebrew/430.htm" title="430: ’ĕ·lō·hê (N-mpc) -- Plural of 'elowahh; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used of the supreme God"></a> <a href="/hebrew/3478.htm" title="3478: yiś·rā·’êl (N-proper-ms) -- From sarah and 'el; he will rule as God; Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also of his posterity."></a> <a href="/hebrew/5437.htm" title="5437: yis·sōḇ (V-Qal-Imperf-3ms) -- A primitive root; to revolve, surround, or border; used in various applications, literally and figuratively.">must be moved</a> <a href="/hebrew/1661.htm" title="1661: gaṯ (N-proper-fs) -- Wine press, a Philistine city. The same as gath; Gath, a Philistine city.">to Gath,”</a> <a href="/hebrew/559.htm" title="559: way·yō·mə·rū (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3mp) -- To utter, say. A primitive root; to say.">they replied.</a> <a href="/hebrew/5437.htm" title="5437: way·yas·sêb·bū (Conj-w:: V-Hifil-ConsecImperf-3mp) -- A primitive root; to revolve, surround, or border; used in various applications, literally and figuratively.">So they carried away</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’eṯ- (DirObjM) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/727.htm" title="727: ’ă·rō·wn (N-csc) -- A chest, ark. Or laron; from 'arah; a box.">the ark</a> <a href="/hebrew/430.htm" title="430: ’ĕ·lō·hê (N-mpc) -- Plural of 'elowahh; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used of the supreme God">of the God</a> <a href="/hebrew/3478.htm" title="3478: yiś·rā·’êl (N-proper-ms) -- From sarah and 'el; he will rule as God; Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also of his posterity.">of Israel.</a> 9But after they had moved the ark to Gath, the LORD’s hand was also against that city, throwing it into great confusion and afflicting the men of the city, both young and old, with an outbreak of tumors.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div> <a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><a href="/exodus/12-12.htm">Exodus 12:12</a> On that night I will pass through the land of Egypt and strike down every firstborn male, both man and beast, and I will execute judgment against all the gods of Egypt. I am the LORD. <a href="/2_samuel/6-2.htm">2 Samuel 6:2-12</a> And he and all his troops set out for Baale of Judah to bring up from there the ark of God, which is called by the Name—the name of the LORD of Hosts, who is enthroned between the cherubim that are on it. / They set the ark of God on a new cart and brought it from the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill. Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, were guiding the new cart, / bringing with it the ark of God. And Ahio was walking in front of the ark. ... <a href="/1_chronicles/13-5.htm">1 Chronicles 13:5-14</a> So David assembled all Israel, from the River Shihor in Egypt to Lebo-hamath, to bring the ark of God from Kiriath-jearim. / David and all Israel went up to Baalah of Judah (that is, Kiriath-jearim) to bring up from there the ark of God the LORD, who is enthroned between the cherubim—the ark that is called by the Name. / So they carried the ark of God from the house of Abinadab on a new cart, with Uzzah and Ahio guiding the cart. ... <a href="/1_chronicles/15-25.htm">1 Chronicles 15:25-29</a> So David, the elders of Israel, and the commanders of thousands went with rejoicing to bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD from the house of Obed-edom. / And because God helped the Levites who were carrying the ark of the covenant of the LORD, they sacrificed seven bulls and seven rams. / Now David was dressed in a robe of fine linen, as were all the Levites who were carrying the ark, as well as the singers and Chenaniah, the director of music for the singers. David also wore a linen ephod. ... <a href="/1_chronicles/16-1.htm">1 Chronicles 16:1-6</a> So they brought the ark of God and placed it inside the tent that David had pitched for it. And they presented burnt offerings and peace offerings before God. / When David had finished sacrificing the burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD. / Then he distributed to every man and woman of Israel a loaf of bread, a date cake, and a raisin cake. ... <a href="/2_kings/19-37.htm">2 Kings 19:37</a> One day, while he was worshiping in the temple of his god Nisroch, his sons Adrammelech and Sharezer put him to the sword and escaped to the land of Ararat. And his son Esar-haddon reigned in his place. <a href="/isaiah/37-38.htm">Isaiah 37:38</a> One day, while he was worshiping in the temple of his god Nisroch, his sons Adrammelech and Sharezer put him to the sword and escaped to the land of Ararat. And his son Esar-haddon reigned in his place. <a href="/jeremiah/10-10.htm">Jeremiah 10:10-11</a> But the LORD is the true God; He is the living God and eternal King. The earth quakes at His wrath, and the nations cannot endure His indignation. / Thus you are to tell them: “These gods, who have made neither the heavens nor the earth, will perish from this earth and from under these heavens.” <a href="/daniel/5-1.htm">Daniel 5:1-4</a> Later, King Belshazzar held a great feast for a thousand of his nobles, and he drank wine with them. / Under the influence of the wine, Belshazzar gave orders to bring in the gold and silver vessels that Nebuchadnezzar his father had taken from the temple in Jerusalem, so that the king could drink from them, along with his nobles, his wives, and his concubines. / Thus they brought in the gold vessels that had been taken from the temple, the house of God in Jerusalem, and the king drank from them, along with his nobles, his wives, and his concubines. ... <a href="/daniel/5-22.htm">Daniel 5:22-23</a> But you his son, O Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, even though you knew all this. / Instead, you have exalted yourself against the Lord of heaven. The vessels from His house were brought to you, and as you drank wine from them with your nobles, wives, and concubines, you praised your gods of silver and gold, bronze and iron, wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or understand. But you have failed to glorify the God who holds in His hand your very breath and all your ways. <a href="/acts/17-29.htm">Acts 17:29-31</a> Therefore, being offspring of God, we should not think that the Divine Being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by man’s skill and imagination. / Although God overlooked the ignorance of earlier times, He now commands all people everywhere to repent. / For He has set a day when He will judge the world with justice by the Man He has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising Him from the dead.” <a href="/acts/19-23.htm">Acts 19:23-27</a> About that time there arose a great disturbance about the Way. / It began with a silversmith named Demetrius who made silver shrines of Artemis, bringing much business to the craftsmen. / Demetrius assembled the craftsmen, along with the workmen in related trades. “Men,” he said, “you know that this business is our source of prosperity. ... <a href="/romans/1-21.htm">Romans 1:21-23</a> For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking and darkened in their foolish hearts. / Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools, / and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images of mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles. <a href="/1_corinthians/8-4.htm">1 Corinthians 8:4-6</a> So about eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that an idol is nothing at all in the world, and that there is no God but one. / For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many so-called gods and lords), / yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we exist. And there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we exist. <a href="/1_corinthians/10-19.htm">1 Corinthians 10:19-22</a> Am I suggesting, then, that food sacrificed to an idol is anything, or that an idol is anything? / No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God. And I do not want you to be participants with demons. / You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot partake in the table of the Lord and the table of demons too. ...</div> <a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div>They sent therefore and gathered all the lords of the Philistines to them, and said, What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel? And they answered, Let the ark of the God of Israel be carried about to Gath. And they carried the ark of the God of Israel about thither.What shall<a href="/zechariah/12-3.htm">Zechariah 12:3</a> And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it.Gath<a href="/1_samuel/17-4.htm">1 Samuel 17:4</a> And there went out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span.<a href="/amos/6-2.htm">Amos 6:2</a> Pass ye unto Calneh, and see; and from thence go ye to Hamath the great: then go down to Gath of the Philistines: be they better than these kingdoms? or their border greater than your border?<div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/1_samuel/5-7.htm">Ark</a> <a href="/1_samuel/5-2.htm">Carried</a> <a href="/1_samuel/5-7.htm">Israel</a> <a href="/judges/16-30.htm">Lords</a> <a href="/1_samuel/5-2.htm">Philistines</a> <a href="/1_samuel/2-14.htm">Thither</a> <a href="/1_samuel/4-1.htm">Together</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/1_samuel/5-10.htm">Ark</a> <a href="/1_samuel/5-9.htm">Carried</a> <a href="/1_samuel/5-10.htm">Israel</a> <a href="/1_samuel/5-11.htm">Lords</a> <a href="/1_samuel/5-11.htm">Philistines</a> <a href="/1_samuel/5-9.htm">Thither</a> <a href="/1_samuel/5-11.htm">Together</a><div class="vheading2">1 Samuel 5</div>1. <a href="/1_samuel/5-1.htm">The Philistines having brought the ark into Ashdod, set it in the house Dagon</a> 3. <a href="/1_samuel/5-3.htm">Dagon is smitten down and cut and cut in pieces, </a> 5. <a href="/1_samuel/5-5.htm">and they of Ashdod smitten with tumors</a> 8. <a href="/1_samuel/5-8.htm">So God deals with them of Gath, when it was brought thither</a> 10. <a href="/1_samuel/5-10.htm">and so with them of Ekron, when it was brought thither</a> </div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/1_samuel/5.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/1_samuel/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/1_samuel/5.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div>So they called together all the rulers of the Philistines and asked The Philistines were a confederation of city-states, each ruled by its own leader or "seren." These rulers were responsible for making decisions that affected the entire Philistine territory. The calling together of these rulers indicates the seriousness of the situation. The Philistines had captured the Ark of the Covenant, a significant religious artifact for the Israelites, and were experiencing calamities as a result. This gathering reflects a common ancient Near Eastern practice of consulting leaders or diviners in times of crisis.“What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel?” The Ark of the Covenant was central to Israelite worship, symbolizing God's presence among His people. Its capture was initially seen as a victory for the Philistines, but the subsequent plagues and afflictions led them to question its presence. The Philistines recognized the power associated with the Ark, even if they did not fully understand it. This question highlights their desperation and fear, as they sought a solution to the divine retribution they were experiencing.“It must be moved to Gath,” they replied. Gath was one of the five major Philistine cities, along with Ashdod, Ashkelon, Ekron, and Gaza. The decision to move the Ark to Gath suggests an attempt to distribute the burden or test if the calamities would follow the Ark. Gath's selection might have been due to its strategic importance or the belief that its gods or defenses could withstand the Ark's power. This decision reflects a lack of understanding of the true nature of the God of Israel, treating the Ark as a mere object rather than the dwelling place of the divine.So they carried away the ark of the God of Israel. The act of moving the Ark demonstrates the Philistines' continued misunderstanding and underestimation of its significance. This movement sets the stage for further divine intervention, as the Ark's presence in Philistine territory continues to bring about God's judgment. The narrative underscores the theme of God's sovereignty and power, which cannot be contained or manipulated by human hands. This event foreshadows the eventual return of the Ark to Israel, symbolizing God's enduring covenant with His people.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <a href="/topical/p/philistines.htm">Philistines</a> A group of people who were enemies of Israel and had captured the Ark of the Covenant. 2. <a href="/topical/r/rulers_of_the_philistines.htm">Rulers of the Philistines</a> Leaders who were responsible for making decisions regarding the Ark. 3. <a href="/topical/a/ark_of_the_god_of_israel.htm">Ark of the God of Israel</a> The sacred chest that held the Ten Commandments, representing God's presence and covenant with Israel. 4. <a href="/topical/g/gath.htm">Gath</a> One of the five major cities of the Philistines, to which the Ark was moved. 5. <a href="/topical/i/israel.htm">Israel</a> The nation chosen by God, whose Ark had been captured by the Philistines.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><a href="/topical/r/reverence_for_god's_presence.htm">Reverence for God's Presence</a> The Ark symbolized God's presence, and the Philistines' mishandling of it led to dire consequences. We must approach God with reverence and respect. <a href="/topical/c/consequences_of_disobedience.htm">Consequences of Disobedience</a> The capture of the Ark was a result of Israel's disobedience. This serves as a reminder that turning away from God can lead to spiritual defeat. <a href="/topical/g/god's_sovereignty.htm">God's Sovereignty</a> Despite the Philistines' attempts to control the Ark, God's power and sovereignty were evident. We can trust in God's ultimate authority over all circumstances. <a href="/topical/s/seeking_godly_wisdom.htm">Seeking Godly Wisdom</a> The Philistines sought counsel from their rulers, but lacked divine wisdom. In our decisions, we should seek guidance from God and His Word. <a href="/topical/t/the_importance_of_repentance.htm">The Importance of Repentance</a> The eventual return of the Ark to Israel underscores the need for repentance and restoration in our relationship with God.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_1_samuel_5.htm">Top 10 Lessons from 1 Samuel 5</a> <a href="/q/1_samuel_5__how_reconcile_ark_outcomes.htm">1 Samuel 5 - How do we reconcile this account with other biblical passages that attribute different outcomes to the Ark's captivity?</a> <a href="/q/evidence_of_philistines_capturing_ark.htm">Is there any archaeological evidence to support the Philistines' capture of the Ark in 1 Samuel 4?</a> <a href="/q/what_does_it_mean_to_be_full_of_hope.htm">What is Ashdod's biblical significance?</a> <a href="/q/do_amos_6_2_cities_conflict_with_history.htm">Does the mention of Calneh, Hamath, and Gath in Amos 6:2 conflict with known historical records of these cities? </a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/1_samuel/5.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(8) Gathered all the lords of the Philistines unto them.--The Philistine federation seems to have been a very powerful one, and owing to the disinclination of the Israelites to maritime pursuits and foreign commerce--[the foreign commercial expeditions of King Solomon were apparently quite exceptional]--held in their hands a large proportion of the Mediterranean trade--the Mediterranean being the great highway between Eastern and Western nations; hence, no doubt, the worship of Dagon, the fish-god. It seems to have been something more than mere "Nature worship," the devotion of the Ph?nician settlers on the sea-board of Syria and Canaan to a marine deity. The constitution of Philistia was oligarchical: that is, the government was in the hands of a College of Princes, whose decision no individual could oppose. The princes (seranim) are the heads of the several city districts, which formed a confederation, each one of the five chief cities holding a number of places, country cities, or "daughter" cities, as its special district. (See Erdmann in Lange's Commentary.) Dr. Payne Smith (Dean of Canterbury) has an ingenious and scholarly derivation for the titular designation of these lords (Hebrew, seranim), in which, rejecting the usual root sar, a prince, he connects the word with seren, a hinge; "just," he says, "as the cardinals of the Church of Rome take their name from cardo, which has the same meaning."<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/1_samuel/5.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div>Verse 8. - The lords of the Philistines. Philistia was governed by a council of five princes, but whether they were elective or hereditary in the several towns is by no means clear. They are called "seranim," from seren, "a hinge," just as the cardinals of the Church of Rome take their name from the Latin word cardo, which has the same meaning. There is no ground for connecting the word with sar, "a prince." When Ewald did so he probably forgot that the two words begin with different letters - seren with samech, and sar with shin. Seranim is the word constantly used of the lords of the Philistines (<a href="/joshua/13-3.htm">Joshua 13:3</a>; <a href="/judges/3-3.htm">Judges 3:3</a>; <a href="/judges/16-5.htm">Judges 16:5, 8</a>, etc.; <a href="/1_chronicles/12-9.htm">1 Chronicles 12:9</a>), though after being correctly so styled in <a href="/1_samuel/29-2.htm">1 Samuel 29:2</a>, they are popularly called in vers. 3, 4, 9, sarim, "princes." Let the ark of the God of Israel be carried about unto Gath. Unwilling to part with so signal a proof of their victory, the lords of the Philistines determine to remove the ark to another locality, but thereby only made the miraculous nature of what was taking place more evident to all. Of Gath but little is known; but Jerome describes it as still a large village in his days, and as situated near the border of Judaea, on the road from Eleutheropolis to Gaza. <a href="/commentaries/1_samuel/5-8.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a> <a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div>So they called together וַיַּאַסְפוּ֩ (way·ya·’as·p̄ū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_622.htm">Strong's 622: </a> To gather for, any purpose, to receive, take away, remove all כָּל־ (kāl-) Noun - masculine singular construct <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3605.htm">Strong's 3605: </a> The whole, all, any, every the rulers סַרְנֵ֨י (sar·nê) Noun - masculine plural construct <a href="/hebrew/strongs_5633.htm">Strong's 5633: </a> An axle, a peer of the Philistines פְלִשְׁתִּ֜ים (p̄ə·liš·tîm) Noun - proper - masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_6430.htm">Strong's 6430: </a> Philistines -- inhabitants of Philistia and asked, וַיֹּֽאמְרוּ֙ (way·yō·mə·rū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_559.htm">Strong's 559: </a> To utter, say “What מַֽה־ (mah-) Interrogative <a href="/hebrew/strongs_4100.htm">Strong's 4100: </a> What?, what!, indefinitely what shall we do נַּעֲשֶׂ֗ה (na·‘ă·śeh) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_6213.htm">Strong's 6213: </a> To do, make with the ark לַֽאֲרוֹן֙ (la·’ă·rō·wn) Preposition-l | Noun - common singular construct <a href="/hebrew/strongs_727.htm">Strong's 727: </a> A chest, ark of the God of אֱלֹהֵ֣י (’ĕ·lō·hê) Noun - masculine plural construct <a href="/hebrew/strongs_430.htm">Strong's 430: </a> gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative Israel?” יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (yiś·rā·’êl) Noun - proper - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3478.htm">Strong's 3478: </a> Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc “[It] אֲר֖וֹן (’ă·rō·wn) Noun - common singular construct <a href="/hebrew/strongs_727.htm">Strong's 727: </a> A chest, ark must be moved יִסֹּ֔ב (yis·sōḇ) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_5437.htm">Strong's 5437: </a> To turn about, go around, surround to Gath,” גַּ֣ת (gaṯ) Noun - proper - feminine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_1661.htm">Strong's 1661: </a> Gath -- 'wine press', a Philistine city they replied. וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ (way·yō·mə·rū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_559.htm">Strong's 559: </a> To utter, say So they carried away וַיַּסֵּ֕בּוּ (way·yas·sêb·bū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_5437.htm">Strong's 5437: </a> To turn about, go around, surround the ark אֲר֖וֹן (’ă·rō·wn) Noun - common singular construct <a href="/hebrew/strongs_727.htm">Strong's 727: </a> A chest, ark of the God אֱלֹהֵ֥י (’ĕ·lō·hê) Noun - masculine plural construct <a href="/hebrew/strongs_430.htm">Strong's 430: </a> gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative of Israel. יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ (yiś·rā·’êl) Noun - proper - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3478.htm">Strong's 3478: </a> Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc <div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/1_samuel/5-8.htm">1 Samuel 5:8 NIV</a> <a href="/nlt/1_samuel/5-8.htm">1 Samuel 5:8 NLT</a> <a href="/esv/1_samuel/5-8.htm">1 Samuel 5:8 ESV</a> <a href="/nasb/1_samuel/5-8.htm">1 Samuel 5:8 NASB</a> <a href="/kjv/1_samuel/5-8.htm">1 Samuel 5:8 KJV</a> <a href="//bibleapps.com/1_samuel/5-8.htm">1 Samuel 5:8 BibleApps.com</a> <a href="//bibliaparalela.com/1_samuel/5-8.htm">1 Samuel 5:8 Biblia Paralela</a> <a href="//holybible.com.cn/1_samuel/5-8.htm">1 Samuel 5:8 Chinese Bible</a> <a href="//saintebible.com/1_samuel/5-8.htm">1 Samuel 5:8 French Bible</a> <a href="/catholic/1_samuel/5-8.htm">1 Samuel 5:8 Catholic Bible</a> <a href="/1_samuel/5-8.htm">OT History: 1 Samuel 5:8 They sent therefore and gathered all (1Sa iSam 1 Sam i sa) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/1_samuel/5-7.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="1 Samuel 5:7"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="1 Samuel 5:7" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/1_samuel/5-9.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="1 Samuel 5:9"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="1 Samuel 5:9" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>