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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 6:20 The men of Beth-shemesh asked, "Who can stand in the presence of the LORD, this holy God? To whom should the ark go up from here?"</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/1_samuel/6-20.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/9/09_1Sa_06_20.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="1 Samuel 6:20 - The Ark Returned to Israel" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="The men of Beth-shemesh asked, Who can stand in the presence of the LORD, this holy God? 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To whom will the ark go up from here?&#8221<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/1_samuel/6.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />“Who is able to stand in the presence of the LORD, this holy God?” they cried out. “Where can we send the Ark from here?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/1_samuel/6.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />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 away from us?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/1_samuel/6.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />The men of Beth-shemesh asked, “Who can stand in the presence of the LORD, this holy God? To whom should the ark go up from here?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/1_samuel/6.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />And the men of Bethshemesh said, Who is able to stand before this holy LORD God? and to whom shall he go up from us?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/1_samuel/6.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />And the men of Beth Shemesh said, “Who is able to stand before this holy LORD God? And to whom shall it go up from us?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/1_samuel/6.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />And the men of Beth-shemesh said, “Who is able to stand before the LORD, this holy God? And to whom will He go up from us?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/1_samuel/6.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />The men of Beth-shemesh said, &#8220Who is able to stand before the LORD, this holy God? And to whom shall He go up from us?&#8221<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/1_samuel/6.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />And 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?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/1_samuel/6.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />And the men of Beth-shemesh said, “Who is able to stand before Yahweh, this holy God? And to whom shall He go up from us?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/1_samuel/6.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />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?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/1_samuel/6.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />The people of Beth-shemesh asked, “Who is able to stand in the presence of the LORD this holy God? To whom should the ark go from here? ”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/1_samuel/6.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />The men of Beth-shemesh asked, &#8220Who is able to stand in the presence of this holy LORD God? Who should the ark go to from here?&#8221 <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/1_samuel/6.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />And the men of Beth-shemesh said, Who is able to stand before Jehovah, this holy God? and to whom shall he go up from us?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/1_samuel/6.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />and they started saying, "No other God is like the LORD! Who can go near him and stay alive? We'll have to send the chest away from here. But where can we send it?" <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/1_samuel/6.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />And 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?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/1_samuel/6.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />The people of Beth Shemesh asked, "Who can stand before the LORD, this holy God? And to which people will he go when he leaves us?"<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/1_samuel/6.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />So the men of Beth Shemesh said, "Who can stand before the LORD, this holy God? Where can we send him to get him away from us?" <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/1_samuel/6.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />The men of Beth-shemesh asked themselves, "Who can stand in the presence of the LORD, this holy God? And to whom will the Ark go from here?" <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/1_samuel/6.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />The men of Beth-shemesh asked, ?Who can stand in the presence of the LORD, this holy God? To whom should the ark go up from here??<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/1_samuel/6.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />The residents of Beth Shemesh asked, "Who is able to stand before the LORD, this holy God? To whom will the ark go up from here?" <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/1_samuel/6.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />And the men of Beth Shemesh said, "Who is able to stand before this holy thing? And to whom should he go up from here?"<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/1_samuel/6.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />And the men of Beth-shemesh said, Who is able to stand before this holy LORD God? and to whom shall he go up from us?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/1_samuel/6.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />The men of Beth Shemesh said, “Who is able to stand before Yahweh, this holy God? To whom shall he go up from us?” <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/1_samuel/6.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />And the men of Beth-Shemesh say, “Who is able to stand before YHWH, this holy God? And to whom does He go up from us?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/1_samuel/6.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> And the men of Beth-Shemesh say, 'Who is able to stand before Jehovah, this holy God? and unto whom doth He go up from us?'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/1_samuel/6.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And the men of the House of the Sun will say, Who shall be able to stand before Jehovah this holy God? and to whom shall it go up from us?<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/1_samuel/6.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />And the men of Bethsames said: Who shall be able to stand before the Lord this holy God? and to whom shall he go up from us? <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/1_samuel/6.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />And the men of Beth-shemesh said: “Who will be able to stand in the sight of the Lord, this holy God? And who will ascend to him from us?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/1_samuel/6.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />The men of Beth-shemesh asked, “Who can stand in the presence of the LORD, this Holy God? To whom can the ark go so that we are rid of it?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/1_samuel/6.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />Then the people of Beth-shemesh said, “Who is able to stand before the LORD, this holy God? To whom shall he go so that we may be rid of him?”<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/1_samuel/6.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />And the men of Beth-shemesh said, Who is able to stand before this holy LORD God? And who shall carry up from us the ark?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/1_samuel/6.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And the men of Bayth Shemesh said: “Who can stand before this Holy LORD JEHOVAH God, and who will take the Ark up from us?”<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/1_samuel/6.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />And the men of Beth-shemesh said: 'Who is able to stand before the LORD, this holy God? and to whom shall it go up from us?'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/1_samuel/6.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And the men of Baethsamys said, Who shall be able to pass before this holy Lord God? and to whom shall the ark of the Lord go up from us?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/1_samuel/6-20.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/H8oQfYUMRZg?start=1596" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/1_samuel/6.htm">The Ark Returned to Israel</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">19</span>But God struck down some of the people of Beth-shemesh because they looked inside the ark of the LORD. He struck down seventy men, and the people mourned because the LORD had struck them with a great slaughter. <span class="reftext">20</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/582.htm" title="582: ’an·šê (N-mpc) -- Man, mankind. From 'anash; properly, a mortal; hence, a man in general.">The men</a> <a href="/hebrew/1053.htm" title="1053: ḇêṯ- (Prep) -- From bayith and shemesh; house of sun; Beth-Shemesh, a place in Palestine."></a> <a href="/hebrew/1053.htm" title="1053: še·meš (N-proper-fs) -- From bayith and shemesh; house of sun; Beth-Shemesh, a place in Palestine.">of Beth-shemesh</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.">asked,</a> <a href="/hebrew/4310.htm" title="4310: mî (Interrog) -- An interrogative pronoun of persons, as mah is of things, who?; also whoever; often used in oblique construction with prefix or suffix.">“Who</a> <a href="/hebrew/3201.htm" title="3201: yū·ḵal (V-Qal-Imperf-3ms) -- To be able, have power. Or yakowl; a primitive root; to be able, literally or morally.">can</a> <a href="/hebrew/5975.htm" title="5975: la·‘ă·mōḏ (Prep-l:: V-Qal-Inf) -- To take one's stand, stand. A primitive root; to stand, in various relations.">stand</a> <a href="/hebrew/6440.htm" title="6440: lip̄·nê (Prep-l:: N-cpc) -- Face, faces. Plural of an unused noun; the face; used in a great variety of applications; also as a preposition.">in the presence</a> <a href="/hebrew/3068.htm" title="3068: Yah·weh (N-proper-ms) -- The proper name of the God of Israel. From hayah; self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God.">of the LORD,</a> <a href="/hebrew/2088.htm" title="2088: haz·zeh (Art:: Pro-ms) -- This, here. A primitive word; the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that.">this</a> <a href="/hebrew/6918.htm" title="6918: haq·qā·ḏō·wōš (Art:: Adj-ms) -- Sacred, holy. Or qadosh; from qadash; sacred; God, an angel, a saint, a sanctuary.">holy</a> <a href="/hebrew/430.htm" title="430: hā·’ĕ·lō·hîm (Art:: N-mp) -- Plural of 'elowahh; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used of the supreme God">God?</a> <a href="/hebrew/413.htm" title="413: wə·’el- (Conj-w:: Prep) -- To, into, towards. ">To</a> <a href="/hebrew/4310.htm" title="4310: mî (Interrog) -- An interrogative pronoun of persons, as mah is of things, who?; also whoever; often used in oblique construction with prefix or suffix.">whom</a> <a href="/hebrew/5927.htm" title="5927: ya·‘ă·leh (V-Qal-Imperf-3ms) -- A primitive root; to ascend, intransitively or actively; used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative.">should the ark go up</a> <a href="/hebrew/5921.htm" title="5921: mê·‘ā·lê·nū (Prep-m:: 1cp) -- Properly, the same as al used as a preposition; above, over, upon, or against in a great variety of applications.">from here?”</a> </span><span class="reftext">21</span>So they sent messengers to the people of Kiriath-jearim, saying, “The Philistines have returned the ark of the LORD. Come down and take it up with you.”…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_samuel/6-9.htm">2 Samuel 6:9</a></span><br />That day David feared the LORD and asked, “How can the ark of the LORD ever come to me?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/numbers/4-15.htm">Numbers 4:15</a></span><br />When Aaron and his sons have finished covering the holy objects and all their equipment, as soon as the camp is ready to move, the Kohathites shall come and do the carrying. But they must not touch the holy objects, or they will die. These are the transportation duties of the Kohathites regarding the Tent of Meeting.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/leviticus/10-1.htm">Leviticus 10:1-3</a></span><br />Now Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and added incense, and offered unauthorized fire before the LORD, contrary to His command. / So fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed them, and they died in the presence of the LORD. / Then Moses said to Aaron, “This is what the LORD meant when He said: ‘To those who come near Me I will show My holiness, and in the sight of all the people I will reveal My glory.’” But Aaron remained silent.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/19-21.htm">Exodus 19:21-22</a></span><br />and the LORD said to him, “Go down and warn the people not to break through to see the LORD, lest many of them perish. / Even the priests who approach the LORD must consecrate themselves, or the LORD will break out against them.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_chronicles/13-11.htm">1 Chronicles 13:11-12</a></span><br />Then David became angry because the LORD had burst forth against Uzzah. So he named that place Perez-uzzah, as it is called to this day. / That day David feared God and asked, “How can I ever bring the ark of God to me?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/numbers/4-20.htm">Numbers 4:20</a></span><br />But the Kohathites are not to go in and look at the holy objects, even for a moment, or they will die.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/6-5.htm">Isaiah 6:5</a></span><br />Then I said: “Woe is me, for I am ruined, because I am a man of unclean lips dwelling among a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of Hosts.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/judges/13-22.htm">Judges 13:22</a></span><br />“We are going to die,” he said to his wife, “for we have seen God!”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_kings/8-11.htm">1 Kings 8:11</a></span><br />so that the priests could not stand there to minister because of the cloud. For the glory of the LORD filled the house of the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_chronicles/15-13.htm">1 Chronicles 15:13</a></span><br />It was because you Levites were not with us the first time that the LORD our God burst forth in anger against us. For we did not consult Him about the proper order.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hebrews/12-29.htm">Hebrews 12:29</a></span><br />“For our God is a consuming fire.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/revelation/15-4.htm">Revelation 15:4</a></span><br />Who will not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before You, for Your righteous acts have been revealed.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/5-8.htm">Luke 5:8</a></span><br />When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees. “Go away from me, Lord,” he said, “for I am a sinful man.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/5-11.htm">Acts 5:11-13</a></span><br />And great fear came over the whole church and all who heard about these events. / The apostles performed many signs and wonders among the people, and with one accord the believers gathered together in Solomon’s Colonnade. / Although the people regarded them highly, no one else dared to join them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/8-29.htm">Matthew 8:29</a></span><br />“What do You want with us, Son of God?” they shouted. “Have You come here to torture us before the appointed time?”</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">And the men of Bethshemesh said, Who is able to stand before this holy LORD God? and to whom shall he go up from us?</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/1_samuel/5-8.htm">1 Samuel 5:8-12</a></b></br> 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 <i>thither</i>… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/numbers/17-12.htm">Numbers 17:12,13</a></b></br> And the children of Israel spake unto Moses, saying, Behold, we die, we perish, we all perish… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/2_samuel/6-7.htm">2 Samuel 6:7,9</a></b></br> And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there for <i>his</i> error; and there he died by the ark of God… </p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/1_samuel/4-15.htm">Able</a> <a href="/1_samuel/6-19.htm">Ark</a> <a href="/1_samuel/6-19.htm">Beth</a> <a href="/1_samuel/6-19.htm">Bethshemesh</a> <a href="/1_samuel/6-19.htm">Beth-Shemesh</a> <a href="/1_samuel/6-19.htm">Beth-She'mesh</a> <a href="/1_samuel/2-10.htm">Holy</a> <a href="/1_samuel/2-21.htm">Presence</a> <a href="/1_samuel/6-19.htm">Shemesh</a> <a href="/judges/20-2.htm">Stand</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/1_samuel/17-9.htm">Able</a> <a href="/1_samuel/6-21.htm">Ark</a> <a href="/1_samuel/7-11.htm">Beth</a> <a href="/1_kings/4-9.htm">Bethshemesh</a> <a href="/1_kings/4-9.htm">Beth-Shemesh</a> <a href="/1_chronicles/6-59.htm">Beth-She'mesh</a> <a href="/1_samuel/7-1.htm">Holy</a> <a href="/1_samuel/7-7.htm">Presence</a> <a href="/1_kings/4-9.htm">Shemesh</a> <a href="/1_samuel/9-27.htm">Stand</a><div class="vheading2">1 Samuel 6</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/1_samuel/6-1.htm">After seven months the Philistines take counsel how to send back the ark</a></span><br><span class="reftext">10. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/1_samuel/6-10.htm">They bring it on a new cart with an offering unto Beth Shemesh</a></span><br><span class="reftext">19. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/1_samuel/6-19.htm">The people are smitten for looking into the ark</a></span><br><span class="reftext">21. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/1_samuel/6-21.htm">They send to them of Kiriath Jearim to fetch it</a></span><br></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><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <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> <br /><br /> </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/6.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/6.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>The men of Beth-shemesh asked</b><br>Beth-shemesh was a Levitical city located in the territory of Judah, near the border with the Philistines. The men of this city were likely familiar with the religious practices and the significance of the Ark of the Covenant. Their question arises after witnessing the consequences of mishandling the Ark, which had returned from Philistine captivity. This reflects a moment of fear and reverence, acknowledging the power and holiness of God.<p><b>“Who can stand in the presence of the LORD, this holy God?</b><br>This rhetorical question underscores the holiness and majesty of God, emphasizing His separateness from sin and imperfection. The phrase echoes sentiments found in other parts of Scripture, such as <a href="/psalms/24-3.htm">Psalm 24:3</a>, which asks, "Who may ascend the mountain of the LORD? Who may stand in his holy place?" It highlights the need for purity and reverence when approaching God, a theme consistent throughout the Bible. The holiness of God is a central attribute, and His presence demands respect and awe.<p><b>To whom should the ark go up from here?”</b><br>The Ark of the Covenant was the physical representation of God's presence among His people. The question reflects the community's recognition of their unworthiness and their desire to find a suitable place for the Ark. This moment foreshadows the eventual movement of the Ark to Jerusalem under King David, as recorded in <a href="/2_samuel/6.htm">2 Samuel 6</a>. It also points to the broader biblical narrative of God's presence moving among His people, ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ, who is described as the true temple and the embodiment of God's presence (<a href="/john/1-14.htm">John 1:14</a>, <a href="/colossians/2-9.htm">Colossians 2:9</a>).<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/m/men_of_beth-shemesh.htm">Men of Beth-shemesh</a></b><br>Residents of a Levitical city in the territory of Judah, who were involved in the handling of the Ark of the Covenant after it was returned by the Philistines.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/b/beth-shemesh.htm">Beth-shemesh</a></b><br>A city allocated to the Levites, located in the Shephelah region of Judah, significant for its role in the return of the Ark.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_ark_of_the_covenant.htm">The Ark of the Covenant</a></b><br>A sacred chest that held the tablets of the Ten Commandments, representing God's presence and covenant with Israel.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_philistines.htm">The Philistines</a></b><br>A neighboring people who captured the Ark in battle but returned it due to the calamities it brought upon them.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_lord.htm">The LORD (Yahweh)</a></b><br>The God of Israel, whose holiness and presence are central to the events surrounding the Ark.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/r/reverence_for_god's_holiness.htm">Reverence for God's Holiness</a></b><br>God's holiness demands reverence and respect. The men of Beth-shemesh recognized their unworthiness to stand before the Lord, reminding us to approach God with humility and awe.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_consequences_of_irreverence.htm">The Consequences of Irreverence</a></b><br>Mishandling the sacred, as seen in the deaths of those who looked into the Ark, serves as a warning against treating holy things casually.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_presence_among_his_people.htm">God's Presence Among His People</a></b><br>The Ark symbolizes God's presence. We must consider how we honor God's presence in our lives today, through worship, prayer, and obedience.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/s/seeking_god's_guidance.htm">Seeking God's Guidance</a></b><br>The question, "To whom should the ark go up from here?" reflects a need for divine guidance. In our lives, we should seek God's direction in all decisions.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_fear_of_the_lord.htm">The Fear of the Lord</a></b><br>The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Recognizing God's holiness should lead us to live in a way that honors Him.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_1_samuel_6.htm">Top 10 Lessons from 1 Samuel 6</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_did_untrained_cows_go_straight.htm">How could untrained cows in 1 Samuel 6:7–12 pull the Ark straight to Beth Shemesh without wandering? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/any_external_proof_of_ark's_divine_sign.htm">In 1 Samuel 6:9, what evidence outside the text confirms the supposed divine sign for the Ark's journey?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/reconcile_1_sam_6_19_death_toll,_proof.htm">How do we reconcile the differing accounts of the death toll (70 vs. 50,070) in 1 Samuel 6:19, and is there archaeological proof of such an event?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/does_michal's_view_of_david_differ_in_2_samuel.htm">In 1 Chronicles 15:29, Michal criticizes David's dance--does this episode conflict with the portrayal of Michal in 2 Samuel, creating an inconsistency in her character and motives?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/1_samuel/6.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(20) <span class= "bld">Who is able to stand?</span>--There is some superstition involved in this exclamation, "Whither shall we send this awful visitant?" The men of the priestly city of Beth-shemesh strangely connected their invisible King with that golden Ark, which, sacred though it was, was but a lifeless chest of wood and gold.<p>Yet through their superstition we can discern a deep consciousness of sin and shortcoming, which argued well for the future reformation of the religious life of the people--a grand work, which we shall soon sec Samuel the prophet labouring so faithfully and so successfully to bring about. These poor sinners, discerning the cause of the fatal stroke which had fallen upon their brethren, felt too surely that they were none of them any better really than those who had fallen victims to their impiety, and were fully sensible that sinners could not dwell in the presence of God. Carried away by this feeling of awe before the purity of the invisible King, they cried, "To whom shall He go up from us?"<p>These poor Hebrews felt the same fear as John was sensible of centuries later, when at the feet of the glorified Son of Man he fell as dead; but they, less blessed than John and the children of the kingdom, had no Redeemer there to raise them up with the loving whisper: "Fear not; I (whom thou dreadest) am He that liveth and was dead." (Sec <a href="/context/revelation/1-17.htm" title="And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand on me, saying to me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:">Revelation 1:17-18</a>.)<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/1_samuel/6.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verses 20, 21.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">Who is able,</span> etc. Literally, "Who is able to stand before Jehovah, this holy God?" A punishment so severe following upon their unhallowed temerity made the inhabitants of this city of priests eager to pass the ark on to others. They therefore <span class="cmt_word">sent messengers to the inhabitants of Kirjath-jearim to request them to fetch it away. Kiryath-yarim</span> - for so it ought to be pronounced - means <span class="accented">the city of forests</span> - Woodtown, softened among us into Wooton. It was chosen apparently simply because it was the nearest town of any importance, and was therefore identified in early Christian times with the modern Kuriet-el-'anab, <span class="accented">grapetown</span>, the woods having given way to vines, and which is about ten miles off, on the road to Mizpah. Conder, however, doubts the correctness of this view, and places Kirjath-jearim at Soba (see 'Tent Work,' 1:18 22). <p> <p> <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/1_samuel/6-20.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">The men</span><br /><span class="heb">אַנְשֵׁ֣י</span> <span class="translit">(’an·šê)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine plural construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_376.htm">Strong's 376: </a> </span><span class="str2">A man as an individual, a male person</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of Beth-shemesh</span><br /><span class="heb">שֶׁ֔מֶשׁ</span> <span class="translit">(še·meš)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1053.htm">Strong's 1053: </a> </span><span class="str2">Beth-shemesh -- 'sun temple', three places in Palestine, also a place in Egypt</span><br /><br /><span class="word">asked,</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיֹּֽאמְרוּ֙</span> <span class="translit">(way·yō·mə·rū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_559.htm">Strong's 559: </a> </span><span class="str2">To utter, say</span><br /><br /><span class="word">“Who</span><br /><span class="heb">מִ֚י</span> <span class="translit">(mî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Interrogative<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4310.htm">Strong's 4310: </a> </span><span class="str2">Who?, whoever, in oblique construction with prefix, suffix</span><br /><br /><span class="word">can</span><br /><span class="heb">יוּכַ֣ל</span> <span class="translit">(yū·ḵal)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3201.htm">Strong's 3201: </a> </span><span class="str2">To be able, have power</span><br /><br /><span class="word">stand</span><br /><span class="heb">לַעֲמֹ֔ד</span> <span class="translit">(la·‘ă·mōḏ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5975.htm">Strong's 5975: </a> </span><span class="str2">To stand, in various relations</span><br /><br /><span class="word">in the presence</span><br /><span class="heb">לִפְנֵ֨י</span> <span class="translit">(lip̄·nê)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6440.htm">Strong's 6440: </a> </span><span class="str2">The face</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of the LORD,</span><br /><span class="heb">יְהוָ֧ה</span> <span class="translit">(Yah·weh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3068.htm">Strong's 3068: </a> </span><span class="str2">LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel</span><br /><br /><span class="word">this</span><br /><span class="heb">הַזֶּ֑ה</span> <span class="translit">(haz·zeh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Pronoun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2088.htm">Strong's 2088: </a> </span><span class="str2">This, that</span><br /><br /><span class="word">holy</span><br /><span class="heb">הַקָּד֖וֹשׁ</span> <span class="translit">(haq·qā·ḏō·wōš)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Adjective - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6918.htm">Strong's 6918: </a> </span><span class="str2">Sacred, God, an angel, a saint, a sanctuary</span><br /><br /><span class="word">God?</span><br /><span class="heb">הָאֱלֹהִ֛ים</span> <span class="translit">(hā·’ĕ·lō·hîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_430.htm">Strong's 430: </a> </span><span class="str2">gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative</span><br /><br /><span class="word">To</span><br /><span class="heb">וְאֶל־</span> <span class="translit">(wə·’el-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Preposition<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_413.htm">Strong's 413: </a> </span><span class="str2">Near, with, among, to</span><br /><br /><span class="word">whom</span><br /><span class="heb">מִ֖י</span> <span class="translit">(mî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Interrogative<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4310.htm">Strong's 4310: </a> </span><span class="str2">Who?, whoever, in oblique construction with prefix, suffix</span><br /><br /><span class="word">should the ark go up</span><br /><span class="heb">יַעֲלֶ֥ה</span> <span class="translit">(ya·‘ă·leh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5927.htm">Strong's 5927: </a> </span><span class="str2">To ascend, in, actively</span><br /><br /><span class="word">from here?”</span><br /><span class="heb">מֵעָלֵֽינוּ׃</span> <span class="translit">(mê·‘ā·lê·nū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-m | first person common plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5921.htm">Strong's 5921: </a> </span><span class="str2">Above, over, upon, against</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/1_samuel/6-20.htm">1 Samuel 6:20 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/1_samuel/6-20.htm">1 Samuel 6:20 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/1_samuel/6-20.htm">1 Samuel 6:20 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/1_samuel/6-20.htm">1 Samuel 6:20 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/1_samuel/6-20.htm">1 Samuel 6:20 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/1_samuel/6-20.htm">1 Samuel 6:20 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/1_samuel/6-20.htm">1 Samuel 6:20 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/1_samuel/6-20.htm">1 Samuel 6:20 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/1_samuel/6-20.htm">1 Samuel 6:20 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/1_samuel/6-20.htm">1 Samuel 6:20 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/1_samuel/6-20.htm">OT History: 1 Samuel 6:20 The men of Beth Shemesh said Who (1Sa iSam 1 Sam i sa) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/1_samuel/6-19.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="1 Samuel 6:19"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="1 Samuel 6:19" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/1_samuel/6-21.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="1 Samuel 6:21"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="1 Samuel 6:21" /></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>