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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 6:18 The number of gold rats also corresponded to the number of Philistine cities belonging to the five rulers--the fortified cities and their outlying villages. And the large rock on which they placed the ark of the LORD stands to this day in the field of Joshua of Beth-shemesh.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/1_samuel/6-18.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/7/09_1Sa_06_18.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="1 Samuel 6:18 - The Ark Returned to Israel" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="The number of gold rats also corresponded to the number of Philistine cities belonging to the five rulers--the fortified cities and their outlying villages. And the large rock on which they placed the ark of the LORD stands to this day in the field of Joshua of Beth-shemesh." /><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/6-18.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/6-18.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 18</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="/ad18.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/6-17.htm" title="1 Samuel 6:17">◄</a> 1 Samuel 6:18 <a href="/1_samuel/6-19.htm" title="1 Samuel 6:19">►</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">Verse<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"><a href="/niv/1_samuel/6.htm">New International Version</a> And the number of the gold rats was according to the number of Philistine towns belonging to the five rulers—the fortified towns with their country villages. The large rock on which the Levites set the ark of the LORD is a witness to this day in the field of Joshua of Beth Shemesh. <a href="/nlt/1_samuel/6.htm">New Living Translation</a> The five gold rats represented the five Philistine towns and their surrounding villages, which were controlled by the five rulers. The large rock at Beth-shemesh, where they set the Ark of the LORD, still stands in the field of Joshua as a witness to what happened there. <a href="/esv/1_samuel/6.htm">English Standard Version</a> and the golden mice, according to the number of all the cities of the Philistines belonging to the five lords, both fortified cities and unwalled villages. The great stone beside which they set down the ark of the LORD is a witness to this day in the field of Joshua of Beth-shemesh. <a href="/bsb/1_samuel/6.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a> The number of gold rats also corresponded to the number of Philistine cities belonging to the five rulers—the fortified cities and their outlying villages. And the large rock on which they placed the ark of the LORD stands to this day in the field of Joshua of Beth-shemesh. <a href="/kjv/1_samuel/6.htm">King James Bible</a> And the golden mice, according to the number of all the cities of the Philistines belonging to the five lords, both of fenced cities, and of country villages, even unto the great stone of Abel, whereon they set down the ark of the LORD: which stone remaineth unto this day in the field of Joshua, the Bethshemite. <a href="/nkjv/1_samuel/6.htm">New King James Version</a> and the golden rats, according to the number of all the cities of the Philistines belonging to the five lords, both fortified cities and country villages, even as far as the large stone of Abel on which they set the ark of the LORD, which stone remains to this day in the field of Joshua of Beth Shemesh. <a href="/nasb_/1_samuel/6.htm">New American Standard Bible</a> and the gold mice, corresponding to the number of all the cities of the Philistines belonging to the five governors, both of fortified cities and of country villages. The large stone on which they placed the ark of the LORD is a witness to this day in the field of Joshua the Beth-shemite. <a href="/nasb/1_samuel/6.htm">NASB 1995</a> and the golden mice, according to the number of all the cities of the Philistines belonging to the five lords, both of fortified cities and of country villages. The large stone on which they set the ark of the LORD is a witness to this day in the field of Joshua the Beth-shemite. <a href="/nasb77/1_samuel/6.htm">NASB 1977 </a> and the golden mice, according to the number of all the cities of the Philistines belonging to the five lords, both of fortified cities and of country villages. The large stone on which they set the ark of the LORD is a witness to this day in the field of Joshua the Beth-shemite. <a href="/lsb/1_samuel/6.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a> and the golden mice, according to the number of all the cities of the Philistines belonging to the five lords, both of fortified cities and of country villages. The large stone on which they set the ark of Yahweh is a witness to this day in the field of Joshua the Beth-shemite. <a href="/amp/1_samuel/6.htm">Amplified Bible</a> also the golden mice, according to the number of all the cities of the Philistines belonging to the five lords, both fortified cities and [unwalled] country villages. The large stone on which the Levites set the ark of the LORD remains a witness to this day in the field of Joshua of Beth-shemesh. <a href="/csb/1_samuel/6.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a> The number of gold mice also corresponded to the number of Philistine cities of the five rulers, the fortified cities and the outlying villages. The large rock on which the ark of the LORD was placed is still in the field of Joshua of Beth-shemesh today. <a href="/hcsb/1_samuel/6.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a> The number of gold mice also corresponded to the number of Philistine cities of the five rulers, the fortified cities and the outlying villages. The large rock on which the ark of the LORD was placed is in the field of Joshua of Beth-shemesh to this day. <a href="/asv/1_samuel/6.htm">American Standard Version</a> and the golden mice, according to the number of all the cities of the Philistines belonging to the five lords, both of fortified cities and of country villages, even unto the great stone, whereon they set down the ark of Jehovah, which stone remaineth unto this day in the field of Joshua the Beth-shemite. <a href="/cev/1_samuel/6.htm">Contemporary English Version</a> They also sent one gold rat for each walled town and for every village that the five Philistine rulers controlled. The huge stone where the Levites set the chest is still there in Joshua's field as a reminder of what happened. <a href="/erv/1_samuel/6.htm">English Revised Version</a> and the golden mice, according to the number of all the cities of the Philistines belonging to the five lords, both of fenced cities and of country villages: even unto the great stone, whereon they set down the ark of the LORD, which stone remaineth unto this day in the field of Joshua the Beth-shemite. <a href="/gwt/1_samuel/6.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a> And the number of gold mice was the same as the number of Philistine cities belonging to the five rulers, including walled cities and farm villages. The large rock on which they put the ark of the LORD is a witness. It is still there today in the field of Joshua of Beth Shemesh. <a href="/gnt/1_samuel/6.htm">Good News Translation</a> They also sent gold mice, one for each of the cities ruled by the five Philistine kings, both the fortified towns and the villages without walls. The large rock in the field of Joshua of Beth Shemesh, on which they placed the LORD's Covenant Box, is still there as a witness to what happened. <a href="/isv/1_samuel/6.htm">International Standard Version</a> The gold mice represented the number of all the Philistine towns belonging to the five lords, both fortified towns and unwalled villages. The large stone, beside which they put the Ark of the LORD, is a witness to this day in the field of Joshua of Beth-shemesh. <a href="/msb/1_samuel/6.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a> The number of gold rats also corresponded to the number of Philistine cities belonging to the five rulers?the fortified cities and their outlying villages. And the large rock on which they placed the ark of the LORD stands to this day in the field of Joshua of Beth-shemesh. <a href="/net/1_samuel/6.htm">NET Bible</a> The gold mice corresponded in number to all the Philistine cities of the five leaders, from the fortified cities to hamlet villages, to greater Abel, where they positioned the ark of the LORD until this very day in the field of Joshua who was from Beth Shemesh. <a href="/nheb/1_samuel/6.htm">New Heart English Bible</a> and the golden mice, according to the number of all the cities of the Philistines belonging to the five lords, both of fortified cities and of country villages. The large rock on which they set down the ark of the LORD is a witness to this day in the field of Joshua the Bethshemite. <a href="/wbt/1_samuel/6.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a> And the golden mice, according to the number of all the cities of the Philistines belonging to the five lords, both of fortified cities, and of country villages, even to the great stone of Abel, on which they set down the ark of the LORD: which stone remaineth to this day in the field of Joshua the Beth-shemite. <a href="/web/1_samuel/6.htm">World English Bible</a> and the golden mice, according to the number of all the cities of the Philistines belonging to the five lords, both of fortified cities and of country villages, even to the great stone on which they set down Yahweh’s ark. That stone remains to this day in the field of Joshua of Beth Shemesh. <div class="vheading2">Literal Translations</div><a href="/lsv/1_samuel/6.htm">Literal Standard Version</a> and the golden muroids—the number of all the cities of the Philistines, for the five princes, from the fortified city even to a village of the open place, and to the great stone [[or great meadow]] on which they placed the Ark of YHWH—[are] in the field of Joshua the Beth-Shemeshite to this day. <a href="/ylt/1_samuel/6.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a> and the golden mice -- the number of all the cities of the Philistines -- for the five princes, from the fenced city even unto the hamlet of the villages, even unto the great meadow on which they placed the ark of Jehovah -- are unto this day in the field of Joshua the Beth-Shemeshite. <a href="/slt/1_samuel/6.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a> And the mice of gold, the number of all the cities of Philisteim, to the five princes from the fortified city, even to the village of the countryman, and even to the great meadow which they put upon it the ark of Jehovah, even to this day in the field of Joshua of the House of the Sun.<div class="vheading2">Catholic Translations</div><a href="/drb/1_samuel/6.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a> And the golden mice according to the number of the cities of the Philistines, of the five provinces, from the fenced city to the village that was without wall, and to the great Abel (the stone) whereon they set down the ark of the Lord, which was till that day in the field of Josue the Bethsamite. <a href="/cpdv/1_samuel/6.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a> And there were gold mice, according to the number of the cities of the Philistines, of the five provinces, from the fortified city to the village that was without a wall, and even to the great stone upon which they placed the ark of the Lord, which was, at last in that day, in the field of Joshua, the Beth-shemeshite. <a href="/nabre/1_samuel/6.htm">New American Bible</a> The golden mice, however, corresponded to the number of all the cities of the Philistines belonging to the five leaders, including fortified cities and open villages. The large stone on which the ark of the LORD was placed is still in the field of Joshua the Beth-shemite at the present time. <a href="/nrsvce/1_samuel/6.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a> also the gold mice, according to the number of all the cities of the Philistines belonging to the five lords, both fortified cities and unwalled villages. The great stone, beside which they set down the ark of the LORD, is a witness to this day in the field of Joshua of Beth-shemesh.<div class="vheading2">Translations from Aramaic</div><a href="/lamsa/1_samuel/6.htm">Lamsa Bible</a> And the golden mice, according to the number of all the cities of the Philistines, belonging to the five lords, both of the five fortified cities and of the country villages of the Perrizites, and as far as the great stone of Abel, whereon they set down the ark of the LORD, which to this day is in the field of Joshua, the Beth-shemeshite. <a href="/hpbt/1_samuel/6.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a> And each one, a mouse of gold; the number of all the towns of the Philistines and the five Tyrants of the fortress cities, and unto the villages of the Parizites, and unto great Abal, and they placed upon it the Ark of LORD JEHOVAH until today, in the field of Yeshua who was from Bayth Shemesh<div class="vheading2">OT Translations</div><a href="/jps/1_samuel/6.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a> and the golden mice, according to the number of all the cities of the Philistines belonging to the five lords, both of fortified cities and of country villages, even unto Abel by the great stone, whereon they set down the ark of the LORD, which stone remaineth unto this day in the field of Joshua the Beth-shemite. <a href="/sep/1_samuel/6.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a> And the golden mice according to the number of all the cities of the Philistines, belonging to the five lords, from the fenced city to the village of the Pherezite, and to the great stone, on which they placed the ark of the covenant of the Lord, that was in the field of Osee the Baethsamysite. <a href="/parallel/1_samuel/6-18.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=1562" 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/6.htm">The Ark Returned to Israel</a> …17As a guilt offering to the LORD, the Philistines had sent back one gold tumor for each city: Ashdod, Gaza, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron. 18<a href="/hebrew/2091.htm" title="2091: haz·zā·hāḇ (Art:: N-ms) -- Gold. From an unused root meaning to shimmer; gold, figuratively, something gold-colored, as oil, a clear sky.">The number of gold</a> <a href="/hebrew/5909.htm" title="5909: wə·‘aḵ·bə·rê (Conj-w:: N-mpc) -- A mouse. Probably from the same as akkabiysh in the secondary sense of attacking; a mouse.">rats</a> <a href="/hebrew/4557.htm" title="4557: mis·par (N-msc) -- Number, tally. From caphar; a number, definite or indefinite; also narration.">also corresponded to the number</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."></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 Philistine</a> <a href="/hebrew/5892.htm" title="5892: ‘ā·rê (N-fpc) -- Excitement. Or par; or ayar; from uwr a city in the widest sense.">cities</a> <a href="/hebrew/2568.htm" title="2568: la·ḥă·mê·šeṯ (Prep-l, Art:: Number-msc) -- Five. Masculine chamishshah; a primitive numeral; five.">belonging to the five</a> <a href="/hebrew/5633.htm" title="5633: has·sə·rā·nîm (Art:: N-mp) -- An axle, a peer. From an unused root of uncertain meaning; an axle; figuratively, a peer.">rulers—</a> <a href="/hebrew/4013.htm" title="4013: miḇ·ṣār (N-ms) -- Fortification. Also feminine mibtsarah; from batsar; a fortification, castle, or fortified city; figuratively, a defender.">the fortified</a> <a href="/hebrew/5892.htm" title="5892: mê·‘îr (Prep-m:: N-fsc) -- Excitement. Or par; or ayar; from uwr a city in the widest sense.">cities</a> <a href="/hebrew/5704.htm" title="5704: wə·‘aḏ (Conj-w:: Prep) -- As far as, even to, up to, until, while. Properly, the same as ad; as far as, whether of space or time or degree.">and</a> <a href="/hebrew/6521.htm" title="6521: hap·pə·rā·zî (Art:: N-ms) -- Hamlet dweller. Or prowziy; from prazah; a rustic.">their outlying</a> <a href="/hebrew/5704.htm" title="5704: wə·‘aḏ (Conj-w:: Prep) -- As far as, even to, up to, until, while. Properly, the same as ad; as far as, whether of space or time or degree."></a> <a href="/hebrew/3724.htm" title="3724: kō·p̄er (N-msc) -- From kaphar; properly, a cover, i.e. a village; bitumen, and the henna plant; figuratively, a redemption-price.">villages.</a> <a href="/hebrew/1419.htm" title="1419: hag·gə·ḏō·w·lāh (Art:: Adj-fs) -- Great. Or gadol; from gadal; great; hence, older; also insolent.">And the large</a> <a href="/hebrew/59.htm" title="59: ’ā·ḇêl (N-proper-fs) -- Meadow, two places in Pal. From 'abel; a meadow; Abel, the name of two places in Palestine.">rock</a> <a href="/hebrew/5921.htm" title="5921: ‘ā·le·hā (Prep:: 3fs) -- Properly, the same as al used as a preposition; above, over, upon, or against in a great variety of applications.">on</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’êṯ (DirObjM) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/834.htm" title="834: ’ă·šer (Pro-r) -- Who, which, that. A primitive relative pronoun; who, which, what, that; also when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.">which</a> <a href="/hebrew/5117.htm" title="5117: hin·nî·ḥū (V-Hifil-Perf-3cp) -- To rest, i.e. settle down">they placed</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/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/5704.htm" title="5704: ‘aḏ (Prep) -- As far as, even to, up to, until, while. Properly, the same as ad; as far as, whether of space or time or degree.">stands to</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/3117.htm" title="3117: hay·yō·wm (Art:: N-ms) -- Day. From an unused root meaning to be hot; a day, whether literal, or figurative.">day</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 field</a> <a href="/hebrew/3091.htm" title="3091: yə·hō·wō·šu·a‘ (N-proper-ms) -- Or Yhowshua; from Yhovah and yasha'; Jehovah-saved; Jehoshua, the Jewish leader.">of Joshua</a> <a href="/hebrew/1030.htm" title="1030: bêṯ- (Prep) -- An inhab. of Bethshemesh. Patrial from Beyth Shemesh with the article inserted; a Beth-shimshite, or inhabitant of Bethshemesh."></a> <a href="/hebrew/1030.htm" title="1030: haš·šim·šî (N-proper-fs) -- An inhab. of Bethshemesh. Patrial from Beyth Shemesh with the article inserted; a Beth-shimshite, or inhabitant of Bethshemesh.">of Beth-shemesh.</a> 19But 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.…<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="/joshua/4-5.htm">Joshua 4:5-9</a> and said to them, “Cross over before the ark of the LORD your God into the middle of the Jordan. Each of you is to take a stone upon his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of Israel, / to serve as a sign among you. In the future, when your children ask, ‘What do these stones mean to you?’ / you are to tell them, ‘The waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD. When it crossed the Jordan, the waters were cut off.’ Therefore these stones will be a memorial to the Israelites forever.” ... <a href="/exodus/12-29.htm">Exodus 12:29-30</a> Now at midnight the LORD struck down every firstborn male in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh, who sat on his throne, to the firstborn of the prisoner in the dungeon, as well as all the firstborn among the livestock. / During the night Pharaoh got up—he and all his officials and all the Egyptians—and there was loud wailing in Egypt; for there was no house without someone dead. <a href="/numbers/33-52.htm">Numbers 33:52</a> you must drive out before you all the inhabitants of the land, destroy all their carved images and cast idols, and demolish all their high places. <a href="/deuteronomy/7-5.htm">Deuteronomy 7:5</a> Instead, this is what you are to do to them: tear down their altars, smash their sacred pillars, cut down their Asherah poles, and burn their idols in the fire. <a href="/judges/6-25.htm">Judges 6:25-26</a> On that very night the LORD said to Gideon, “Take your father’s young bull and a second bull seven years old, tear down your father’s altar to Baal, and cut down the Asherah pole beside it. / Then build a proper altar to the LORD your God on the top of this stronghold. And with the wood of the Asherah pole you cut down, take the second bull and offer it as a burnt offering.” <a href="/1_kings/18-30.htm">1 Kings 18:30-32</a> Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come near to me.” So all the people approached him, and he repaired the altar of the LORD that had been torn down. / And Elijah took twelve stones, one for each tribe of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the LORD had come and said, “Israel shall be your name.” / And with the stones, Elijah built an altar in the name of the LORD. Then he dug a trench around the altar large enough to hold two seahs of seed. <a href="/2_kings/17-9.htm">2 Kings 17:9-11</a> The Israelites secretly did things against the LORD their God that were not right. From watchtower to fortified city, they built high places in all their cities. / They set up for themselves sacred pillars and Asherah poles on every high hill and under every green tree. / They burned incense on all the high places like the nations that the LORD had driven out before them. They did wicked things, provoking the LORD to anger. <a href="/2_chronicles/14-3.htm">2 Chronicles 14:3-5</a> He removed the foreign altars and high places, shattered the sacred pillars, and chopped down the Asherah poles. / He commanded the people of Judah to seek the LORD, the God of their fathers, and to observe the law and the commandments. / He also removed the high places and incense altars from all the cities of Judah, and under him the kingdom was at peace. <a href="/isaiah/17-8.htm">Isaiah 17:8</a> They will not look to the altars they have fashioned with their hands or to the Asherahs and incense altars they have made with their fingers. <a href="/jeremiah/19-5.htm">Jeremiah 19:5</a> They have built high places to Baal on which to burn their children in the fire as offerings to Baal—something I never commanded or mentioned, nor did it even enter My mind. <a href="/ezekiel/6-3.htm">Ezekiel 6:3-6</a> You are to say: ‘O mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord GOD! This is what the Lord GOD says to the mountains and hills, to the ravines and valleys: I am about to bring a sword against you, and I will destroy your high places. / Your altars will be demolished and your incense altars will be smashed; and I will cast down your slain before your idols. / I will lay the corpses of the Israelites before their idols and scatter your bones around your altars. ... <a href="/hosea/10-1.htm">Hosea 10:1-2</a> Israel was a luxuriant vine, yielding fruit for himself. The more his fruit increased, the more he increased the altars. The better his land produced, the better he made the sacred pillars. / Their hearts are devious; now they must bear their guilt. The LORD will break down their altars and demolish their sacred pillars. <a href="/matthew/23-16.htm">Matthew 23:16-19</a> Woe to you, blind guides! You say, ‘If anyone swears by the temple, it means nothing; but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.’ / You blind fools! Which is greater: the gold, or the temple that makes it sacred? / And you say, ‘If anyone swears by the altar, it means nothing; but if anyone swears by the gift on it, he is bound by his oath.’ ... <a href="/mark/11-15.htm">Mark 11:15-17</a> When they arrived in Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple courts and began to drive out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those selling doves. / And He would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. / Then Jesus began to teach them, and He declared, “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all the nations’? But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’” <a href="/luke/19-45.htm">Luke 19:45-46</a> Then Jesus entered the temple courts and began to drive out those who were selling there. / He declared to them, “It is written: ‘My house will be a house of prayer.’ But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’”</div> <a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div>And the golden mice, according to the number of all the cities of the Philistines belonging to the five lords, both of fenced cities, and of country villages, even to the great stone of Abel, where on they set down the ark of the LORD: which stone remains to this day in the field of Joshua, the Bethshemite.the five lords<a href="/1_samuel/6-16.htm">1 Samuel 6:16</a> And when the five lords of the Philistines had seen it, they returned to Ekron the same day.<a href="/joshua/13-3.htm">Joshua 13:3</a> From Sihor, which is before Egypt, even unto the borders of Ekron northward, which is counted to the Canaanite: five lords of the Philistines; the Gazathites, and the Ashdothites, the Eshkalonites, the Gittites, and the Ekronites; also the Avites:great stone of.<div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/1_samuel/6-15.htm">Ark</a> <a href="/ruth/2-3.htm">Belonging</a> <a href="/1_samuel/6-15.htm">Beth</a> <a href="/judges/21-23.htm">Cities</a> <a href="/1_samuel/6-5.htm">Country</a> <a href="/1_samuel/6-14.htm">Joshua</a> <a href="/1_samuel/6-16.htm">Lords</a> <a href="/1_samuel/6-11.htm">Mice</a> <a href="/1_samuel/6-17.htm">Philistines</a> <a href="/1_samuel/6-15.htm">Stone</a> <a href="/judges/11-26.htm">Villages</a> <a href="/joshua/24-13.htm">Whereon</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/1_samuel/6-19.htm">Ark</a> <a href="/1_samuel/9-3.htm">Belonging</a> <a href="/1_samuel/6-19.htm">Beth</a> <a href="/1_samuel/7-14.htm">Cities</a> <a href="/1_samuel/7-13.htm">Country</a> <a href="/1_kings/16-34.htm">Joshua</a> <a href="/1_samuel/7-7.htm">Lords</a> <a href="/1_samuel/6-4.htm">Mice</a> <a href="/1_samuel/6-21.htm">Philistines</a> <a href="/1_samuel/7-12.htm">Stone</a> <a href="/1_kings/4-13.htm">Villages</a> <a href="/1_samuel/9-6.htm">Whereon</a><div class="vheading2">1 Samuel 6</div>1. <a href="/1_samuel/6-1.htm">After seven months the Philistines take counsel how to send back the ark</a> 10. <a href="/1_samuel/6-10.htm">They bring it on a new cart with an offering unto Beth Shemesh</a> 19. <a href="/1_samuel/6-19.htm">The people are smitten for looking into the ark</a> 21. <a href="/1_samuel/6-21.htm">They send to them of Kiriath Jearim to fetch it</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/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>The number of gold rats also corresponded to the number of Philistine cities The Philistines, having captured the Ark of the Covenant, experienced plagues and sought to appease the God of Israel by returning the Ark with offerings. The gold rats were part of these offerings, symbolizing the plague that had afflicted them. The number of gold rats matched the number of Philistine cities, indicating a comprehensive acknowledgment of the impact across their territory. This reflects the Philistines' recognition of the power of the God of Israel and their attempt to make restitution.belonging to the five rulers The Philistines were organized into a pentapolis, a group of five city-states, each ruled by a lord. These cities were Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron. The mention of the five rulers underscores the political structure of the Philistines and highlights the widespread nature of the affliction they faced. This structure is also seen in other ancient Near Eastern cultures, where city-states were common.the fortified cities and their outlying villages The fortified cities refer to the main urban centers of the Philistine pentapolis, which were well-defended and significant in terms of military and economic power. The outlying villages would have been smaller settlements that supported these cities. This distinction emphasizes the extent of the Philistine territory and the reach of the plague, affecting both major cities and rural areas.And the large rock on which they placed the ark of the LORD The large rock served as a makeshift altar or resting place for the Ark when it was returned to Israelite territory. This rock became a significant landmark, symbolizing the return of God's presence to His people. It also serves as a tangible reminder of God's power and the consequences of disrespecting the sacred.stands to this day in the field of Joshua of Beth-shemesh Beth-shemesh was a Levitical city in the territory of Judah, strategically located near the border with Philistine lands. The mention of the rock standing "to this day" suggests the enduring memory of this event in Israelite history. The field of Joshua indicates a specific location, grounding the narrative in a real geographical context. This phrase underscores the historical reliability of the account and the lasting impact of the Ark's return on the community.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <a href="/topical/p/philistines.htm">Philistines</a> A group of people who were adversaries of Israel and had captured the Ark of the Covenant. 2. <a href="/topical/f/five_rulers.htm">Five Rulers</a> The leaders of the five principal cities of the Philistines—Ashdod, Gaza, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron. 3. <a href="/topical/b/beth-shemesh.htm">Beth-shemesh</a> A town in Israel where the Ark of the Covenant was returned by the Philistines. 4. <a href="/topical/a/ark_of_the_lord.htm">Ark of the LORD</a> The sacred chest that held the tablets of the Ten Commandments, representing God's presence with Israel. 5. <a href="/topical/j/joshua_of_beth-shemesh.htm">Joshua of Beth-shemesh</a> The field where the Ark was placed upon its return, marked by a large rock.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><a href="/topical/t/the_sovereignty_of_god.htm">The Sovereignty of God</a> The return of the Ark demonstrates God's control over all nations, including Israel's enemies. Despite the Philistines' power, they could not withstand God's will. <a href="/topical/t/the_importance_of_obedience.htm">The Importance of Obedience</a> The Israelites' initial loss of the Ark was due to disobedience. This event serves as a reminder of the need for faithfulness to God's commands. <a href="/topical/g/god's_witness_in_our_lives.htm">God's Witness in Our Lives</a> Just as the rock in Beth-shemesh served as a witness, our lives should be a testimony to God's work and presence. <a href="/topical/r/repentance_and_restoration.htm">Repentance and Restoration</a> The Philistines' decision to return the Ark symbolizes a form of repentance. It highlights the importance of acknowledging wrongs and seeking to make things right. <a href="/topical/t/the_role_of_remembrance.htm">The Role of Remembrance</a> Physical reminders, like the rock, help us remember God's past faithfulness and encourage us to trust Him in the present.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_1_samuel_6.htm">Top 10 Lessons from 1 Samuel 6</a> <a href="/q/1_sam_5_6__scientific_basis_for_tumors.htm">1 Samuel 5:6 - Is there any scientific or medical basis for the tumors supposedly afflicting the Philistines?</a> <a href="/q/is_david's_foreskin_story_plausible.htm">1 Samuel 18:17-27: Is the story of David collecting Philistine foreskins historically plausible, and what does it imply about the reliability of the text?</a> <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 href="/q/how_did_david_visit_the_'lord's_house'.htm">Psalm 122:1: How could David have gone to the 'house of the LORD' if the temple was built later under Solomon?</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>(18)And the golden mice.--We have here a far greater number of "golden mice" mentioned as being offered in expiation than appear specified in the directions of the priests and diviners (<a href="/1_samuel/6-4.htm" title="Then said they, What shall be the trespass offering which we shall return to him? They answered, Five golden tumors, and five golden mice, according to the number of the lords of the Philistines: for one plague was on you all, and on your lords.">1Samuel 6:4</a>). The truth was that whilst the human sickness was confined to the five cities, the plague of field mice no doubt extended over the whole country. The inhabitants of all the villages were anxious to do their part to propitiate the insulted Hebrew God, and to get rid of the plague which was devastating their fields and vineyards; hence this large offering, so much in excess of what was suggested by the diviners.The great stone of Abel.--The LXX. Version reads here, "And this great stone on which they placed the Ark of Jehovah, which is in the field of Joshua the Beth-shemite, is a witness unto this day." With this reading the Chaldee Targum substantially agrees. The Hebrew text here is hopelessly corrupt; the copies which the Greek translators and the Chaldee Targumist apparently had before them, instead of the word "Avel" (Abel), which signifies mourning, read the word ?ven, a stone, and the punctuation of v'ad, "and unto," in the last clause was evidently (v'ed), "and a witness." If the reading Avel be the true one ("even unto the great Avel"), then the conjecture of R. D. Kimchi is probably right, that this stone was known as the Great Avel (or Abel), "the great mourning," owing to the terrible judicial calamity, related in the next three verses (<a href="/context/1_samuel/6-19.htm" title="And he smote the men of Bethshemesh, because they had looked into the ark of the LORD, even he smote of the people fifty thousand and three score and ten men: and the people lamented, because the LORD had smitten many of the people with a great slaughter.">1Samuel 6:19-21</a>), which happened there. With this slight change a very good sense is obtained. <a href="/commentaries/1_samuel/6-18.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a> <a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div>The number of gold הַזָּהָ֗ב (haz·zā·hāḇ) Article | Noun - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_2091.htm">Strong's 2091: </a> Gold, something gold-colored, as oil, a clear sky rats וְעַכְבְּרֵ֣י (wə·‘aḵ·bə·rê) Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct <a href="/hebrew/strongs_5909.htm">Strong's 5909: </a> A mouse also corresponded to the number מִסְפַּ֞ר (mis·par) Noun - masculine singular construct <a href="/hebrew/strongs_4557.htm">Strong's 4557: </a> A number, definite, indefinite, narration of Philistine פְלִשְׁתִּים֙ (p̄ə·liš·tîm) Noun - proper - masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_6430.htm">Strong's 6430: </a> Philistines -- inhabitants of Philistia cities עָרֵ֤י (‘ā·rê) Noun - feminine plural construct <a href="/hebrew/strongs_5892.htm">Strong's 5892: </a> Excitement [belonging] to the five לַחֲמֵ֣שֶׁת (la·ḥă·mê·šeṯ) Preposition-l, Article | Number - masculine singular construct <a href="/hebrew/strongs_2568.htm">Strong's 2568: </a> Five rulers— הַסְּרָנִ֔ים (has·sə·rā·nîm) Article | Noun - masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_5633.htm">Strong's 5633: </a> An axle, a peer the fortified מִבְצָ֔ר (miḇ·ṣār) Noun - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_4013.htm">Strong's 4013: </a> A fortification, castle, fortified city, a defender cities מֵעִ֣יר (mê·‘îr) Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular construct <a href="/hebrew/strongs_5892.htm">Strong's 5892: </a> Excitement and their outlying הַפְּרָזִ֑י (hap·pə·rā·zî) Article | Noun - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_6521.htm">Strong's 6521: </a> Hamlet dweller villages. כֹּ֣פֶר (kō·p̄er) Noun - masculine singular construct <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3724.htm">Strong's 3724: </a> A cover, a village, bitumen, the henna plant, a redemption-price And וְעַ֖ד (wə·‘aḏ) Conjunctive waw | Preposition <a href="/hebrew/strongs_5704.htm">Strong's 5704: </a> As far as, even to, up to, until, while to this הַזֶּ֔ה (haz·zeh) Article | Pronoun - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_2088.htm">Strong's 2088: </a> This, that day הַיּ֣וֹם (hay·yō·wm) Article | Noun - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3117.htm">Strong's 3117: </a> A day the large הַגְּדוֹלָ֗ה (hag·gə·ḏō·w·lāh) Article | Adjective - feminine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_1419.htm">Strong's 1419: </a> Great, older, insolent rock אָבֵ֣ל (’ā·ḇêl) Noun - proper - feminine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_59.htm">Strong's 59: </a> Abel -- 'meadow', two places in Palestine on עָלֶ֙יהָ֙ (‘ā·le·hā) Preposition | third person feminine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_5921.htm">Strong's 5921: </a> Above, over, upon, against which אֲשֶׁ֨ר (’ă·šer) Pronoun - relative <a href="/hebrew/strongs_834.htm">Strong's 834: </a> Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that they placed הִנִּ֤יחוּ (hin·nî·ḥū) Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person common plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3240.htm">Strong's 3240: </a> Bestow, cast down, lay down, up, leave off, let alone remain, pacify, place, the ark אֲר֣וֹן (’ă·rō·wn) Noun - common singular construct <a href="/hebrew/strongs_727.htm">Strong's 727: </a> A chest, ark of the LORD יְהוָ֔ה (Yah·weh) Noun - proper - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3068.htm">Strong's 3068: </a> LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel is in the field בִּשְׂדֵ֥ה (biś·ḏêh) Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct <a href="/hebrew/strongs_7704.htm">Strong's 7704: </a> Field, land of Joshua יְהוֹשֻׁ֖עַ (yə·hō·wō·šu·a‘) Noun - proper - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3091.htm">Strong's 3091: </a> Joshua -- 'the LORD is salvation', Moses' successor, also the name of a number of Israelites of Beth-shemesh. הַשִּׁמְשִֽׁי׃ (haš·šim·šî) Noun - proper - feminine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_1030.htm">Strong's 1030: </a> Beth-shemite -- a Beth-shimshite <div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/1_samuel/6-18.htm">1 Samuel 6:18 NIV</a> <a href="/nlt/1_samuel/6-18.htm">1 Samuel 6:18 NLT</a> <a href="/esv/1_samuel/6-18.htm">1 Samuel 6:18 ESV</a> <a href="/nasb/1_samuel/6-18.htm">1 Samuel 6:18 NASB</a> <a href="/kjv/1_samuel/6-18.htm">1 Samuel 6:18 KJV</a> <a href="//bibleapps.com/1_samuel/6-18.htm">1 Samuel 6:18 BibleApps.com</a> <a href="//bibliaparalela.com/1_samuel/6-18.htm">1 Samuel 6:18 Biblia Paralela</a> <a href="//holybible.com.cn/1_samuel/6-18.htm">1 Samuel 6:18 Chinese Bible</a> <a href="//saintebible.com/1_samuel/6-18.htm">1 Samuel 6:18 French Bible</a> <a href="/catholic/1_samuel/6-18.htm">1 Samuel 6:18 Catholic Bible</a> <a href="/1_samuel/6-18.htm">OT History: 1 Samuel 6:18 And the golden mice according to (1Sa iSam 1 Sam i sa) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/1_samuel/6-17.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="1 Samuel 6:17"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="1 Samuel 6:17" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/1_samuel/6-19.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="1 Samuel 6:19"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="1 Samuel 6:19" /></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>