CINXE.COM

<!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 6:1 When the ark of the LORD had been in the land of the Philistines seven months,</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/1_samuel/6-1.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/8/09_1Sa_06_01.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="1 Samuel 6:1 - The Ark Returned to Israel" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="When the ark of the LORD had been in the land of the Philistines seven months," /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/1_samuel/6-1.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/1_samuel/6-1.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/1_samuel/">1 Samuel</a> > <a href="/1_samuel/6.htm">Chapter 6</a> > Verse 1</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad1.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/1_samuel/5-12.htm" title="1 Samuel 5:12">◄</a> 1 Samuel 6:1 <a href="/1_samuel/6-2.htm" title="1 Samuel 6:2">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/1_samuel/6.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/1_samuel/6.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />When the ark of the LORD had been in Philistine territory seven months,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/1_samuel/6.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />The Ark of the LORD remained in Philistine territory seven months in all.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/1_samuel/6.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />The ark of the LORD was in the country of the Philistines seven months.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/1_samuel/6.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />When the ark of the LORD had been in the land of the Philistines seven months,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/1_samuel/6.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />And the ark of the LORD was in the country of the Philistines seven months.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/1_samuel/6.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />Now the ark of the LORD was in the country of the Philistines seven months.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/1_samuel/6.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />Now the ark of the LORD had been in the territory of the Philistines for seven months.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/1_samuel/6.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />Now the ark of the LORD had been in the country of the Philistines seven months.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/1_samuel/6.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />Now the ark of the LORD had been in the country of the Philistines seven months.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/1_samuel/6.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />Now the ark of Yahweh had been in the fields of the Philistines seven months.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/1_samuel/6.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />Now the ark of the LORD had been in the country of the Philistines for seven months.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/1_samuel/6.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />When the ark of the LORD had been in Philistine territory for seven months,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/1_samuel/6.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />When the ark of the LORD had been in the land of the Philistines for seven months, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/1_samuel/6.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />And the ark of Jehovah was in the country of the Philistines seven months.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/1_samuel/6.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />After the sacred chest had been in Philistia for seven months, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/1_samuel/6.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />And the ark of the LORD was in the country of the Philistines seven months.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/1_samuel/6.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />The ark of the LORD had been in Philistine territory seven months<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/1_samuel/6.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />After the LORD's Covenant Box had been in Philistia for seven months, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/1_samuel/6.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />The Ark of the LORD remained in Philistine territory for seven months. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/1_samuel/6.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />When the ark of the LORD had been in the land of the Philistines seven months,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/1_samuel/6.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />When the ark of the LORD had been in the land of the Philistines for seven months,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/1_samuel/6.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />The ark was in the country of the Philistines seven months.<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 ark of the LORD was in the country of the Philistines seven months.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/1_samuel/6.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />Yahweh’s ark was in the country of the Philistines seven months. <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 Ark of YHWH is in the field of the Philistines [for] seven months,<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 ark of Jehovah is in the field of the Philistines seven months,<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 ark of Jehovah will be in the field of Philisteim seven months.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/1_samuel/6.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />Now the ark of God was in the land of the Philistines seven months. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/1_samuel/6.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />Now the ark of the Lord was in the region of the Philistines for seven months.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/1_samuel/6.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />The ark of the LORD had been in the land of the Philistines seven months<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/1_samuel/6.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />The ark of the LORD was in the country of the Philistines seven months.<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 ark of the LORD was in the country of the Philistines seven months.<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 Ark of LORD JEHOVAH was in a field of the Philistines seven months<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 ark of the LORD was in the country of the Philistines seven months.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/1_samuel/6.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And the ark was seven months in the country of the Philistines, and their land brought forth swarms of mice.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/1_samuel/6-1.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=1358" 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">1</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/727.htm" title="727: ’ă·rō·wn- (N-csc) -- A chest, ark. Or laron; from 'arah; a box.">When the ark</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/1961.htm" title="1961: way·hî (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To fall out, come to pass, become, be. A primitive root; to exist, i.e. Be or become, come to pass.">had been</a> <a href="/hebrew/7704.htm" title="7704: biś·ḏêh (Prep-b:: N-msc) -- Field, land. Or saday; from an unused root meaning to spread out; a field.">in the land</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/7651.htm" title="7651: šiḇ·‘āh (Number-ms) -- Or shibrah; from shaba'; a primitive cardinal number; seven; also seven times; by implication, a week; by extension, an indefinite number.">seven</a> <a href="/hebrew/2320.htm" title="2320: ḥo·ḏā·šîm (N-mp) -- New moon, a month. From chadash; the new moon; by implication, a month.">months,</a> </span><span class="reftext">2</span>the Philistines summoned the priests and diviners, saying, “What shall we do with the ark of the LORD? Tell us how to send it back to its place.”…<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="/exodus/7-25.htm">Exodus 7:25</a></span><br />And seven full days passed after the LORD had struck the Nile.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/12-31.htm">Exodus 12:31-33</a></span><br />Then Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron by night and said, “Get up, leave my people, both you and the Israelites! Go, worship the LORD as you have requested. / Take your flocks and herds as well, just as you have said, and depart! And bless me also.” / And in order to send them out of the land quickly, the Egyptians urged the people on. “For otherwise,” they said, “we are all going to die!”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/12-40.htm">Exodus 12:40-41</a></span><br />Now the duration of the Israelites’ stay in Egypt was 430 years. / At the end of the 430 years, to the very day, all the LORD’s divisions went out of the land of Egypt.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/numbers/33-3.htm">Numbers 33:3-4</a></span><br />On the fifteenth day of the first month, on the day after the Passover, the Israelites set out from Rameses. They marched out defiantly in full view of all the Egyptians, / who were burying all their firstborn, whom the LORD had struck down among them; for the LORD had executed judgment against their gods.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/joshua/3-10.htm">Joshua 3:10-11</a></span><br />He continued, “This is how you will know that the living God is among you and that He will surely drive out before you the Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites, and Jebusites. / Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth will go ahead of you into the Jordan.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/5-1.htm">1 Samuel 5:1-12</a></span><br />After the Philistines had captured the ark of God, they took it from Ebenezer to Ashdod, / carried it into the temple of Dagon, and set it beside his statue. / When the people of Ashdod got up early the next morning, there was Dagon, fallen on his face before the ark of the LORD. So they took Dagon and returned him to his place. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/7-1.htm">1 Samuel 7:1-2</a></span><br />Then the men of Kiriath-jearim came for the ark of the LORD and took it into Abinadab’s house on the hill. And they consecrated his son Eleazar to guard the ark of the LORD. / And from that day a long time passed, twenty years in all, as the ark remained at Kiriath-jearim. And all the house of Israel mournfully sought the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_samuel/6-2.htm">2 Samuel 6:2-3</a></span><br />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,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_kings/19-35.htm">2 Kings 19:35</a></span><br />And that very night the angel of the LORD went out and struck down 185,000 men in the camp of the Assyrians. When the people got up the next morning, there were all the dead bodies!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_chronicles/13-5.htm">1 Chronicles 13:5-7</a></span><br />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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/78-60.htm">Psalm 78:60-61</a></span><br />He abandoned the tabernacle of Shiloh, the tent He had pitched among men. / He delivered His strength to captivity, and His splendor to the hand of the adversary.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/37-36.htm">Isaiah 37:36</a></span><br />Then the angel of the LORD went out and struck down 185,000 men in the camp of the Assyrians. When the people got up the next morning, there were all the dead bodies!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/7-12.htm">Jeremiah 7:12-14</a></span><br />But go now to the place in Shiloh where I first made a dwelling for My Name, and see what I did to it because of the wickedness of My people Israel. / And now, because you have done all these things, declares the LORD, and because I have spoken to you again and again but you would not listen, and I have called to you but you would not answer, / therefore what I did to Shiloh I will now do to the house that bears My Name, the house in which you trust, the place that I gave to you and your fathers.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/7-44.htm">Acts 7:44-46</a></span><br />Our fathers had the tabernacle of the Testimony with them in the wilderness. It was constructed exactly as God had directed Moses, according to the pattern he had seen. / And our fathers who received it brought it in with Joshua when they dispossessed the nations God drove out before them. It remained until the time of David, / who found favor in the sight of God and asked to provide a dwelling place for the God of Jacob.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/13-19.htm">Acts 13:19-20</a></span><br />And having vanquished seven nations in Canaan, He gave their land to His people as an inheritance. / All this took about 450 years. After this, God gave them judges until the time of Samuel the prophet.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">And the ark of the LORD was in the country of the Philistines seven months.</p><p class="hdg">A.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/1_samuel/5-1.htm">1 Samuel 5:1,3,10,11</a></b></br> And the Philistines took the ark of God, and brought it from Ebenezer unto Ashdod… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/78-61.htm">Psalm 78:61</a></b></br> And delivered his strength into captivity, and his glory into the enemy's hand.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/1_samuel/5-11.htm">Ark</a> <a href="/1_samuel/5-6.htm">Country</a> <a href="/judges/20-47.htm">Months</a> <a href="/judges/14-2.htm">Philistine</a> <a href="/1_samuel/5-11.htm">Philistines</a> <a href="/1_samuel/2-5.htm">Seven</a> <a href="/1_samuel/5-6.htm">Territory</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/1_samuel/6-2.htm">Ark</a> <a href="/1_samuel/6-5.htm">Country</a> <a href="/1_samuel/27-7.htm">Months</a> <a href="/1_samuel/6-4.htm">Philistine</a> <a href="/1_samuel/6-2.htm">Philistines</a> <a href="/1_samuel/10-8.htm">Seven</a> <a href="/1_samuel/6-9.htm">Territory</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>When the ark of the LORD</b><br>The ark of the LORD, also known as the Ark of the Covenant, was a sacred chest that held the tablets of the Ten Commandments, Aaron's rod, and a pot of manna. It symbolized God's presence and covenant with Israel. The ark was central to Israelite worship and was kept in the Holy of Holies within the tabernacle. Its capture by the Philistines was a significant event, indicating a period of spiritual decline for Israel. The ark's presence among the Philistines demonstrated God's sovereignty and power, even outside Israel.<p><b>had been in the land of the Philistines</b><br>The Philistines were a confederation of sea peoples who settled along the coastal regions of Canaan. They were often in conflict with the Israelites. The capture of the ark by the Philistines occurred after the Israelites were defeated in battle at Ebenezer (1 Samuel 4). The ark was taken to several Philistine cities, including Ashdod, Gath, and Ekron, causing plagues and distress wherever it went. This movement of the ark among the Philistine cities highlights the futility of their attempts to control or benefit from the ark, as it brought calamity rather than blessing.<p><b>seven months</b><br>The duration of seven months signifies a complete period of time, often associated with divine intervention or judgment in biblical literature. During these months, the Philistines experienced severe afflictions, including tumors and a plague of mice, as a direct consequence of possessing the ark. This period of suffering led the Philistines to recognize the power of the God of Israel and seek a way to return the ark to its rightful place. The number seven frequently appears in the Bible, symbolizing completeness or perfection, and in this context, it underscores the totality of the Philistines' experience with the ark.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_ark_of_the_lord.htm">The Ark of the LORD</a></b><br>The sacred chest that held the tablets of the Ten Commandments, representing God's presence and covenant with Israel.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_philistines.htm">The Philistines</a></b><br>A group of people who were enemies of Israel and had captured the Ark during a battle.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_land_of_the_philistines.htm">The Land of the Philistines</a></b><br>The territory where the Philistines lived, which included five major cities: Ashdod, Gaza, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/s/seven_months.htm">Seven Months</a></b><br>The duration for which the Ark remained with the Philistines, during which they experienced plagues and misfortune.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_lord.htm">The LORD (Yahweh)</a></b><br>The God of Israel, whose presence was symbolized by the Ark and who demonstrated His power over the Philistines.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/t/the_sovereignty_of_god.htm">The Sovereignty of God</a></b><br>The Ark's presence in Philistine territory demonstrates God's sovereignty over all nations. Despite being captured, God used the situation to reveal His power and authority.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_consequences_of_disobedience.htm">The Consequences of Disobedience</a></b><br>The Philistines' experience with the Ark serves as a reminder of the consequences of opposing God's will. It highlights the importance of reverence and obedience to God.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_presence_and_holiness.htm">God's Presence and Holiness</a></b><br>The Ark symbolizes God's holy presence. Believers are called to approach God with reverence and purity, recognizing His holiness in their lives.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_importance_of_repentance.htm">The Importance of Repentance</a></b><br>The Philistines eventually sought to return the Ark, acknowledging their inability to withstand God's judgment. This underscores the need for repentance and turning back to God.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_faithfulness_to_his_covenant.htm">God's Faithfulness to His Covenant</a></b><br>Despite Israel's failures, God remained faithful to His covenant, as symbolized by the Ark. Believers can trust in God's faithfulness even when they fall short.<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/what_are_emerods_in_the_bible.htm">What are emerods in the Bible?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_does_god_kill_for_looking_in_the_ark.htm">Why does a just and loving God kill people merely for looking into the Ark in 1 Samuel 6:19?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_are_golden_tumors_rats_valid_offerings.htm">In 1 Samuel 6:4, why are golden tumors and rats treated as valid offerings for atonement?</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><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/1_samuel/6.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verses 1, 2.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">The ark of Jehovah was in the country</span> - literally, the field, <span class="accented">i.e.</span> the territory - <span class="cmt_word">of the Philistines seven months,</span> during which long time the people wherever the ark was deposited were afflicted in their persons with a most painful malady. The princes determined, therefore, to restore it to Israel, and convened <span class="cmt_word">the priests and the diviners,</span> that they might advise them as to the manner in which this purpose should be best carried out, lest some error or want of due reverence might only serve to increase their sufferings. It would be the duty of the priests to see that the proper ceremonial was observed in moving the ark, while the diviners would decide what day and hour and special method would be lucky. The importance of the diviner, <span class="accented">qosem</span>, is shown by his being mentioned in <a href="/isaiah/3-2.htm">Isaiah 3:2</a> in an enumeration of the leading orders in the state. He is placed there between the prophet and the elder or senator; but the A.V., displeased perhaps at finding one who practised a forbidden art nevertheless described as practically so valued, translates the word <span class="accented">prudent.</span> Literally it means a <span class="accented">divider</span> or <span class="accented">partitioner</span>, because it was his office to separate things into the two classes of lucky and unlucky. <span class="cmt_word">Tell us wherewith,</span> etc, Though this translation is tenable, the right rendering is probably <span class="accented">how</span>. The princes did not assume that gifts must accompany the ark, but inquired generally as to the best method of restoring it. So the answer of the priests and diviners is not merely that expiatory offerings are to be made, but that the ark is to be sent back in such a way as to give proof that Jehovah had intervened, or the contrary (vers. 7, 8, 9). <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/1_samuel/6-1.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">When the ark</span><br /><span class="heb">אֲרוֹן־</span> <span class="translit">(’ă·rō·wn-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - common singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_727.htm">Strong's 727: </a> </span><span class="str2">A chest, ark</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of the LORD</span><br /><span class="heb">יְהוָ֛ה</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">had been</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיְהִ֧י</span> <span class="translit">(way·hî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1961.htm">Strong's 1961: </a> </span><span class="str2">To fall out, come to pass, become, be</span><br /><br /><span class="word">in the land</span><br /><span class="heb">בִּשְׂדֵ֥ה</span> <span class="translit">(biś·ḏêh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7704.htm">Strong's 7704: </a> </span><span class="str2">Field, land</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of the Philistines</span><br /><span class="heb">פְלִשְׁתִּ֖ים</span> <span class="translit">(p̄ə·liš·tîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6430.htm">Strong's 6430: </a> </span><span class="str2">Philistines -- inhabitants of Philistia</span><br /><br /><span class="word">for seven</span><br /><span class="heb">שִׁבְעָ֥ה</span> <span class="translit">(šiḇ·‘āh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Number - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7651.htm">Strong's 7651: </a> </span><span class="str2">Seven, seven times, a week, an indefinite number</span><br /><br /><span class="word">months,</span><br /><span class="heb">חֳדָשִֽׁים׃</span> <span class="translit">(ḥo·ḏā·šîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2320.htm">Strong's 2320: </a> </span><span class="str2">The new moon, a month</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/1_samuel/6-1.htm">1 Samuel 6:1 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/1_samuel/6-1.htm">1 Samuel 6:1 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/1_samuel/6-1.htm">1 Samuel 6:1 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/1_samuel/6-1.htm">1 Samuel 6:1 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/1_samuel/6-1.htm">1 Samuel 6:1 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/1_samuel/6-1.htm">1 Samuel 6:1 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/1_samuel/6-1.htm">1 Samuel 6:1 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/1_samuel/6-1.htm">1 Samuel 6:1 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/1_samuel/6-1.htm">1 Samuel 6:1 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/1_samuel/6-1.htm">1 Samuel 6:1 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/1_samuel/6-1.htm">OT History: 1 Samuel 6:1 The ark of Yahweh was (1Sa iSam 1 Sam i sa) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/1_samuel/5-12.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="1 Samuel 5:12"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="1 Samuel 5:12" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/1_samuel/6-2.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="1 Samuel 6:2"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="1 Samuel 6:2" /></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>