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"Five gold tumors and five gold rats," they said, "according to the number of rulers of the Philistines, since the same plague has struck both you and your rulers.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/1_samuel/6-4.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/11/09_1Sa_06_04.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="1 Samuel 6:4 - The Ark Returned to Israel" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="What guilt offering should we send back to Him? asked the Philistines. Five gold tumors and five gold rats, they said, according to the number of rulers of the Philistines, since the same plague has struck both you and your rulers." /><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/6-4.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/6-4.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 4</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="/ad4.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/6-3.htm" title="1 Samuel 6:3">◄</a> 1 Samuel 6:4 <a href="/1_samuel/6-5.htm" title="1 Samuel 6:5">►</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> The Philistines asked, &#8220What guilt offering should we send to him?&#8221 They replied, &#8220Five gold tumors and five gold rats, according to the number of the Philistine rulers, because the same plague has struck both you and your rulers. <a href="/nlt/1_samuel/6.htm">New Living Translation</a> “What sort of guilt offering should we send?” they asked. And they were told, “Since the plague has struck both you and your five rulers, make five gold tumors and five gold rats, just like those that have ravaged your land. <a href="/esv/1_samuel/6.htm">English Standard Version</a> And they said, “What is the guilt offering that 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 the same plague was on all of you and on your lords. <a href="/bsb/1_samuel/6.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a> “What guilt offering should we send back to Him?” asked the Philistines. “Five gold tumors and five gold rats,” they said, “according to the number of rulers of the Philistines, since the same plague has struck both you and your rulers. <a href="/kjv/1_samuel/6.htm">King James Bible</a> Then said they, What shall be the trespass offering which we shall return to him? They answered, Five golden emerods, 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. <a href="/nkjv/1_samuel/6.htm">New King James Version</a> Then they said, “What is the trespass offering which we shall return to Him?” They answered, “Five golden tumors and five golden rats, according to the number of the lords of the Philistines. For the same plague was on all of you and on your lords. <a href="/nasb_/1_samuel/6.htm">New American Standard Bible</a> Then they said, “What is to be the guilt offering that we shall return to Him?” And they said, “Five gold tumors and five gold mice corresponding to the number of the governors of the Philistines, since one plague was on all of you and on your governors. <a href="/nasb/1_samuel/6.htm">NASB 1995</a> Then they said, &#8220What shall be the guilt offering which we shall return to Him?&#8221 And they said, &#8220Five golden tumors and five golden mice according to the number of the lords of the Philistines, for one plague was on all of you and on your lords. <a href="/nasb77/1_samuel/6.htm">NASB 1977 </a> Then they said, “What shall be the guilt offering which we shall return to Him?” And they said, “Five golden tumors and five golden mice according to the number of the lords of the Philistines, for one plague was on all of you and on your lords. <a href="/lsb/1_samuel/6.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a> Then they said, “What shall be the guilt offering which we shall return to Him?” And they said, “Five golden tumors and five golden mice according to the number of the lords of the Philistines, for one plague was on all of you and on your lords. <a href="/amp/1_samuel/6.htm">Amplified Bible</a> Then they said, “What shall the guilt offering be which we shall return to Him?” They answered, “Five golden tumors and five golden mice, according to the number of the lords (governors) of the Philistines, for one plague was on all of you and on your lords. <a href="/csb/1_samuel/6.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a> They asked, “What guilt offering should we send back to him? ” And they answered, “Five gold tumors and five gold mice corresponding to the number of Philistine rulers, since there was one plague for both you and your rulers. <a href="/hcsb/1_samuel/6.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a> They asked, &#8220What restitution offering should we send back to Him?&#8221 And they answered, &#8220Five gold tumors and five gold mice corresponding to the number of Philistine rulers, since there was one plague for both you and your rulers. <a href="/asv/1_samuel/6.htm">American Standard Version</a> Then said they, What shall be the trespass-offering which we shall return to him? And they said, 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. <a href="/cev/1_samuel/6.htm">Contemporary English Version</a> "What should we send?" the Philistines asked. The priests and fortunetellers answered: There are five Philistine rulers, and they all have the same disease that you have. <a href="/erv/1_samuel/6.htm">English Revised Version</a> Then said they, What shall be the guilt offering which we shall return to him? And they said, Five golden tumours, 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. <a href="/gwt/1_samuel/6.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a> The Philistines asked, "What kind of guilt offering should we give him?" The priests answered, "Five gold tumors and five gold mice for the [five] Philistine rulers because all of you and your rulers suffer from the same plague. <a href="/gnt/1_samuel/6.htm">Good News Translation</a> "What gift shall we send him?" the people asked. They answered, "Five gold models of tumors and five gold mice, one of each for each Philistine king. The same plague was sent on all of you and on the five kings. <a href="/isv/1_samuel/6.htm">International Standard Version</a> They asked, "What is the guilt offering that we should send back to him?" "Five gold tumors and five gold mice," they answered, "according to the number of the lords of the Philistines, since the same plague was on all of you and on your lords. <a href="/msb/1_samuel/6.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a> ?What guilt offering should we send back to Him?? asked the Philistines. ?Five gold tumors and five gold rats,? they said, ?according to the number of rulers of the Philistines, since the same plague has struck both you and your rulers. <a href="/net/1_samuel/6.htm">NET Bible</a> They inquired, "What is the guilt offering that we should send to him?" They replied, "The Philistine leaders number five. So send five gold sores and five gold mice, for it is the same plague that has afflicted both you and your leaders. <a href="/nheb/1_samuel/6.htm">New Heart English Bible</a> Then they said, "What shall be the trespass offering which we shall return to him?" They said, "Five golden tumors, according to the number of the lords of the Philistines, for the same plague was on you and your lords. <a href="/wbt/1_samuel/6.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a> Then said they, What shall be the trespass-offering which we shall return to him? They answered, Five golden emerods, 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. <a href="/web/1_samuel/6.htm">World English Bible</a> Then they said, “What should the trespass offering be which we shall return to him?” They said, “Five golden tumors and five golden mice, for the number of the lords of the Philistines; for one plague was on you all, and on your lords. <div class="vheading2">Literal Translations</div><a href="/lsv/1_samuel/6.htm">Literal Standard Version</a> And they say, “What [is] the guilt-offering which we send back to Him?” And they say, “The number of the princes of the Philistines—five golden lumps, and five golden muroids—for one plague [is] to you all, and to your princes, <a href="/ylt/1_samuel/6.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a> And they say, 'What is the guilt-offering which we send back to Him?' and they say, 'The number of the princes of the Philistines -- five golden emerods, and five golden mice -- for one plague is to you all, and to your princes, <a href="/slt/1_samuel/6.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a> And they will say, What the trespass that we shall turn back to him? And they will say, The number of the princes of Philisteim, five gold tumors, and five gold mice: for one smiting upon them all and upon your princes.<div class="vheading2">Catholic Translations</div><a href="/drb/1_samuel/6.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a> They answered: What is it we ought to render unto him for sin? and they answered: <a href="/cpdv/1_samuel/6.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a> And they said, “What is it that we ought to repay to him because of transgression?” And they responded: <a href="/nabre/1_samuel/6.htm">New American Bible</a> When asked further, “What reparation offering should be our amends to God?” they replied: “Five golden tumors and five golden mice to correspond to the number of Philistine leaders, since the same plague has struck all of you and your leaders. <a href="/nrsvce/1_samuel/6.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a> And they said, “What is the guilt offering that we shall return to him?” They answered, “Five gold tumors and five gold mice, according to the number of the lords of the Philistines; for the same plague was upon all of you and upon your lords.<div class="vheading2">Translations from Aramaic</div><a href="/lamsa/1_samuel/6.htm">Lamsa Bible</a> And they said, What sort of offerings shall we bring to it? They answered, Five golden boils and five golden mice, according to the number of the lords of the Philistines; for one plague was upon you all and upon your lords. <a href="/hpbt/1_samuel/6.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a> And they said: “What offerings shall we bring to him?” And they said, “The number of the Tyrants of the Philistines five tumors of gold and five mice of gold, because one plague is for you and for the Tyrants<div class="vheading2">OT Translations</div><a href="/jps/1_samuel/6.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a> Then said they: 'What shall be the guilt-offering which we shall return to Him?' And they said: 'Five golden emerods, 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. <a href="/sep/1_samuel/6.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a> And they say, What is the offering for the plague which we shall return to it? and they said, <a href="/parallel/1_samuel/6-4.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=1388" 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> …3They replied, “If you return the ark of the God of Israel, do not send it away empty, but by all means return it to Him with a guilt offering. Then you will be healed, and you will understand why His hand has not been lifted from you.” 4<a href="/hebrew/4100.htm" title="4100: māh (Interrog) -- What? how? anything. ">“What</a> <a href="/hebrew/817.htm" title="817: hā·’ā·šām (Art:: N-ms) -- Offense, guilt. From 'asham; guilt; by implication, a fault; also a sin-offering.">guilt offering</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."></a> <a href="/hebrew/7725.htm" title="7725: nā·šîḇ (V-Hifil-Imperf-1cp) -- A primitive root; to turn back transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively; generally to retreat; often adverbial, again.">should we send back</a> <a href="/hebrew/lōw (Prep:: 3ms) -- ">to Him?”</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 the Philistines.</a> <a href="/hebrew/2568.htm" title="2568: ḥă·miš·šāh (Number-ms) -- Five. Masculine chamishshah; a primitive numeral; five.">“Five</a> <a href="/hebrew/2091.htm" title="2091: zā·hāḇ (N-ms) -- Gold. From an unused root meaning to shimmer; gold, figuratively, something gold-colored, as oil, a clear sky.">gold</a> <a href="/hebrew/6076.htm" title="6076: ʿå̄·p̄ə·lē (N-mpc) -- A tumor, a mound, fortress. From aphal; a tumor; also a mound, i.e. Fortress.">tumors</a> <a href="/hebrew/2568.htm" title="2568: wa·ḥă·miš·šāh (Conj-w:: Number-ms) -- Five. Masculine chamishshah; a primitive numeral; five.">and five</a> <a href="/hebrew/2091.htm" title="2091: zā·hāḇ (N-ms) -- Gold. From an unused root meaning to shimmer; gold, figuratively, something gold-colored, as oil, a clear sky.">gold</a> <a href="/hebrew/5909.htm" title="5909: ‘aḵ·bə·rê (N-mpc) -- A mouse. Probably from the same as akkabiysh in the secondary sense of attacking; a mouse.">rats,”</a> <a href="/hebrew/559.htm" title="559: way·yō·mə·rū (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3mp) -- To utter, say. A primitive root; to say.">they said,</a> <a href="/hebrew/4557.htm" title="4557: mis·par (N-msc) -- Number, tally. From caphar; a number, definite or indefinite; also narration.">“according to the number</a> <a href="/hebrew/5633.htm" title="5633: sar·nê (N-mpc) -- An axle, a peer. From an unused root of uncertain meaning; an axle; figuratively, a peer.">of rulers</a> <a href="/hebrew/6430.htm" title="6430: p̄ə·liš·tîm (N-proper-mp) -- Inhab. of Philistia. Patrial from Plesheth; a Pelishtite or inhabitant of Pelesheth.">of the Philistines,</a> <a href="/hebrew/3588.htm" title="3588: kî- (Conj) -- That, for, when. ">since</a> <a href="/hebrew/259.htm" title="259: ’a·ḥaṯ (Number-fs) -- One. A numeral from 'achad; properly, united, i.e. One; or first.">the same</a> <a href="/hebrew/4046.htm" title="4046: mag·gê·p̄āh (N-fs) -- A blow, slaughter, plague, pestilence. From nagaph; a pestilence; by analogy, defeat.">plague has struck</a> <a href="/hebrew/3605.htm" title="3605: lə·ḵul·lām (Prep-l:: N-msc:: 3mp) -- The whole, all. Or kowl; from kalal; properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every.">both you</a> <a href="/hebrew/5633.htm" title="5633: ū·lə·sar·nê·ḵem (Conj-w, Prep-l:: N-mpc:: 2mp) -- An axle, a peer. From an unused root of uncertain meaning; an axle; figuratively, a peer.">and your rulers.</a> 5Make images of your tumors and of the rats that are ravaging the land. Give glory to the God of Israel, and perhaps He will lift His hand from you and your gods and your land.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div> <a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><a href="/exodus/12-35.htm">Exodus 12:35-36</a> Furthermore, the Israelites acted on Moses’ word and asked the Egyptians for articles of silver and gold, and for clothing. / And the LORD gave the people such favor in the sight of the Egyptians that they granted their request. In this way they plundered the Egyptians. <a href="/exodus/7-8.htm">Exodus 7:8-12</a> The LORD said to Moses and Aaron, / “When Pharaoh tells you, ‘Perform a miracle,’ you are to say to Aaron, ‘Take your staff and throw it down before Pharaoh,’ and it will become a serpent.” / So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and did just as the LORD had commanded. Aaron threw his staff down before Pharaoh and his officials, and it became a serpent. ... <a href="/exodus/8-1.htm">Exodus 8:1-15</a> Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh and tell him that this is what the LORD says: ‘Let My people go, so that they may worship Me. / But if you refuse to let them go, I will plague your whole country with frogs. / The Nile will teem with frogs, and they will come into your palace and up to your bedroom and onto your bed, into the houses of your officials and your people, and into your ovens and kneading bowls. ... <a href="/exodus/9-1.htm">Exodus 9:1-7</a> Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh and tell him that this is what the LORD, the God of the Hebrews, says: ‘Let My people go, so that they may worship Me. / But if you continue to restrain them and refuse to let them go, / then the hand of the LORD will bring a severe plague on your livestock in the field—on your horses, donkeys, camels, herds, and flocks. ... <a href="/exodus/10-21.htm">Exodus 10:21-29</a> Then the LORD said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward heaven, so that darkness may spread over the land of Egypt—a palpable darkness.” / So Moses stretched out his hand toward heaven, and total darkness covered all the land of Egypt for three days. / No one could see anyone else, and for three days no one left his place. Yet all the Israelites had light in their dwellings. ... <a href="/numbers/21-6.htm">Numbers 21:6-9</a> So the LORD sent venomous snakes among the people, and many of the Israelites were bitten and died. / Then the people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned by speaking against the LORD and against you. Intercede with the LORD so He will take the snakes away from us.” So Moses interceded for the people. / Then the LORD said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent and mount it on a pole. When anyone who is bitten looks at it, he will live.” ... <a href="/deuteronomy/28-27.htm">Deuteronomy 28:27</a> The LORD will afflict you with the boils of Egypt, with tumors and scabs and itch from which you cannot be cured. <a href="/joshua/6-17.htm">Joshua 6:17-19</a> Now the city and everything in it must be devoted to the LORD for destruction. Only Rahab the prostitute and all those with her in her house will live, because she hid the spies we sent. / But keep away from the things devoted to destruction, lest you yourself be set apart for destruction. If you take any of these, you will set apart the camp of Israel for destruction and bring disaster upon it. / For all the silver and gold and all the articles of bronze and iron are holy to the LORD; they must go into His treasury.” <a href="/1_samuel/5-6.htm">1 Samuel 5:6-12</a> Now the hand of the LORD was heavy on the people of Ashdod and its vicinity, ravaging them and afflicting them with tumors. / And when the men of Ashdod saw what was happening, they said, “The ark of the God of Israel must not stay here with us, because His hand is heavy upon us and upon our god Dagon.” / So they called together all the rulers of the Philistines and asked, “What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel?” “It must be moved to Gath,” they replied. So they carried away the ark of the God of Israel. ... <a href="/2_kings/5-1.htm">2 Kings 5:1-14</a> Now Naaman, the commander of the army of the king of Aram, was a great man in his master’s sight and highly regarded, for through him the LORD had given victory to Aram. And he was a mighty man of valor, but he was a leper. / At this time the Arameans had gone out in bands and had taken a young girl from the land of Israel, and she was serving Naaman’s wife. / She said to her mistress, “If only my master would go to the prophet who is in Samaria, he would cure him of his leprosy.” ... <a href="/2_kings/7-3.htm">2 Kings 7:3-8</a> Now there were four men with leprosy at the entrance of the city gate, and they said to one another, “Why just sit here until we die? / If we say, ‘Let us go into the city,’ we will die there from the famine in the city; but if we sit here, we will also die. So come now, let us go over to the camp of the Arameans. If they let us live, we will live; if they kill us, we will die.” / So they arose at twilight and went to the camp of the Arameans. But when they came to the outskirts of the camp, there was not a man to be found. ... <a href="/isaiah/66-19.htm">Isaiah 66:19-20</a> I will establish a sign among them, and I will send survivors from among them to the nations—to Tarshish, Put, and the archers of Lud; to Tubal, Javan, and the islands far away who have not heard of My fame or seen My glory. So they will proclaim My glory among the nations. / And they will bring all your brothers from all the nations as a gift to the LORD on horses and chariots and wagons, on mules and camels, to My holy mountain Jerusalem,” says the LORD, “just as the Israelites bring an offering in a clean vessel to the house of the LORD.” <a href="/jeremiah/13-23.htm">Jeremiah 13:23</a> Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? Neither are you able to do good—you who are accustomed to doing evil. <a href="/ezekiel/14-21.htm">Ezekiel 14:21</a> For this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘How much worse will it be when I send against Jerusalem My four dire judgments—sword, famine, wild beasts, and plague—in order to cut off from it both man and beast? <a href="/matthew/2-11.htm">Matthew 2:11</a> On coming to the house, they saw the Child with His mother Mary, and they fell down and worshiped Him. Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh.</div> <a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div>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.Five golden<a href="/1_samuel/6-5.htm">1 Samuel 6:5,17,18</a> Wherefore ye shall make images of your emerods, and images of your mice that mar the land; and ye shall give glory unto the God of Israel: peradventure he will lighten his hand from off you, and from off your gods, and from off your land… <a href="/1_samuel/5-6.htm">1 Samuel 5:6,9</a> But the hand of the LORD was heavy upon them of Ashdod, and he destroyed them, and smote them with emerods, even Ashdod and the coasts thereof… <a href="/exodus/12-35.htm">Exodus 12:35</a> And the children of Israel did according to the word of Moses; and they borrowed of the Egyptians jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment:you all [heb] them <div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/1_samuel/1-28.htm">Caused</a> <a href="/1_samuel/5-9.htm">Disease</a> <a href="/1_samuel/5-12.htm">Emerods</a> <a href="/1_samuel/5-12.htm">Hemorrhoids</a> <a href="/judges/3-26.htm">Images</a> <a href="/1_samuel/5-11.htm">Lords</a> <a href="/1_samuel/6-18.htm">Mice</a> <a href="/1_samuel/6-3.htm">Offering</a> <a href="/1_samuel/6-1.htm">Philistine</a> <a href="/1_samuel/6-2.htm">Philistines</a> <a href="/1_samuel/4-8.htm">Plague</a> <a href="/isaiah/66-17.htm">Rats</a> <a href="/judges/16-27.htm">Rulers</a> <a href="/1_samuel/5-12.htm">Struck</a> <a href="/1_samuel/6-3.htm">Trespass</a> <a href="/1_samuel/6-3.htm">Trespass-Offering</a> <a href="/1_samuel/5-12.htm">Tumors</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/1_samuel/6-7.htm">Caused</a> <a href="/1_samuel/25-38.htm">Disease</a> <a href="/1_samuel/6-5.htm">Emerods</a> <a href="/1_samuel/5-6.htm">Hemorrhoids</a> <a href="/1_samuel/6-5.htm">Images</a> <a href="/1_samuel/6-16.htm">Lords</a> <a href="/1_samuel/6-5.htm">Mice</a> <a href="/1_samuel/6-8.htm">Offering</a> <a href="/1_samuel/13-3.htm">Philistine</a> <a href="/1_samuel/6-12.htm">Philistines</a> <a href="/2_samuel/24-15.htm">Plague</a> <a href="/1_samuel/6-5.htm">Rats</a> <a href="/1_samuel/6-16.htm">Rulers</a> <a href="/1_samuel/6-9.htm">Struck</a> <a href="/1_samuel/6-8.htm">Trespass</a> <a href="/1_samuel/6-8.htm">Trespass-Offering</a> <a href="/1_samuel/6-5.htm">Tumors</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>“What guilt offering should we send back to Him?” asked the Philistines. The Philistines, having captured the Ark of the Covenant, experienced severe plagues and sought to appease the God of Israel. The concept of a guilt offering, or trespass offering, is rooted in Levitical law (<a href="/leviticus/5-14.htm">Leviticus 5:14-19</a>), where it was used to atone for unintentional sins and offenses against God. The Philistines, though pagans, recognized the need to make amends for their transgression against the God of Israel, showing an understanding of divine retribution and the necessity of atonement.“Five gold tumors and five gold rats,” they said, The choice of gold tumors and rats as offerings directly correlates to the plagues that afflicted the Philistines. The tumors likely refer to the physical afflictions described in <a href="/1_samuel/5-6.htm">1 Samuel 5:6-12</a>, while the rats may symbolize the destruction of their land, possibly through disease or famine. Gold, a precious metal, signifies the value and seriousness of the offering. This act reflects the ancient Near Eastern practice of creating votive offerings that represent the affliction or sin being atoned for.“according to the number of rulers of the Philistines,” The Philistines were organized into a pentapolis, consisting of five major city-states: Ashdod, Gaza, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron. Each city was governed by a ruler or lord. The offering of five gold tumors and five gold rats corresponds to these five rulers, indicating a collective acknowledgment of guilt and a unified attempt to seek relief from the divine punishment affecting all their territories.“since the same plague has struck both you and your rulers.” The plagues affected not only the common people but also the rulers, emphasizing the widespread nature of the divine judgment. This mirrors the biblical theme that God's judgment is impartial and affects all levels of society, as seen in other instances of divine retribution (e.g., the plagues of Egypt in <a href="/exodus/7.htm">Exodus 7-12</a>). The acknowledgment of shared suffering underscores the Philistines' recognition of the power and sovereignty of the God of Israel, compelling them to seek reconciliation through the prescribed guilt offering.<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/a/ark_of_the_covenant.htm">Ark of the Covenant</a> A sacred chest that held the tablets of the Ten Commandments, representing God's presence with Israel. 3. <a href="/topical/f/five_philistine_rulers.htm">Five Philistine Rulers</a> Leaders of the five principal cities of the Philistines—Ashdod, Gaza, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron. 4. <a href="/topical/g/gold_tumors_and_rats.htm">Gold Tumors and Rats</a> Objects made by the Philistines as a guilt offering to God, symbolizing the plagues that afflicted them. 5. <a href="/topical/p/plague.htm">Plague</a> A divine punishment that struck the Philistines, causing them to seek a way to appease the God of Israel.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><a href="/topical/u/understanding_guilt_offerings.htm">Understanding Guilt Offerings</a> The Philistines recognized their need to make amends for offending the God of Israel. This highlights the importance of acknowledging wrongdoing and seeking reconciliation. <a href="/topical/s/symbolism_in_offerings.htm">Symbolism in Offerings</a> The choice of gold tumors and rats as offerings symbolizes the specific afflictions they experienced. This teaches us to be specific in our repentance and acknowledgment of sin. <a href="/topical/g/god's_sovereignty_over_nations.htm">God's Sovereignty Over Nations</a> The plagues demonstrate God's power over all nations, not just Israel. This reminds us that God is sovereign over all creation and His will prevails. <a href="/topical/t/the_consequences_of_disobedience.htm">The Consequences of Disobedience</a> The Philistines' experience serves as a warning about the consequences of opposing God's will. It encourages us to live in obedience to God's commands. <a href="/topical/s/seeking_god's_guidance.htm">Seeking God's Guidance</a> The Philistines sought advice on how to appease God, showing the importance of seeking divine guidance in times of trouble.<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/evidence_of_philistines_capturing_ark.htm">Is there any archaeological evidence to support the Philistines' capture of the Ark in 1 Samuel 4?</a> <a href="/q/evidence_of_ark's_impact_on_philistines.htm">1 Samuel 5 – Where is the historical or archaeological evidence that the Ark’s presence caused such devastation in Philistine cities? </a> <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><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>(4) Five golden emerods, and five golden mice.--It was a general custom in the nations of antiquity to offer to the deity, to whom sickness or recovery from sickness was ascribed, likenesses of the diseased parts; so, too, those who had escaped from shipwreck would offer pictures, or perhaps their garments, to Neptune, or, as some tell us, to Isis. (See, for instance, Horace, Carm. i. 5.) Slaves and gladiators would present their arms to Hercules; captives would dedicate their chains to some deity. This practice has found favour in more modern times. In the fifth century Christians--Theodoret tells us--would often offer in their churches gold or silver hands and feet, or eyes, as a thank-offering for cures effected in reply to prayer. Similar votive offerings are still made in Roman Catholic countries. <a href="/commentaries/1_samuel/6-4.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a> <a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div>“What מָ֣ה (māh) Interrogative <a href="/hebrew/strongs_4100.htm">Strong's 4100: </a> What?, what!, indefinitely what guilt offering הָאָשָׁם֮ (hā·’ā·šām) Article | Noun - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_817.htm">Strong's 817: </a> Guilt, a fault, a sin-offering should we send back to Him?” נָשִׁ֣יב (nā·šîḇ) Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - first person common plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_7725.htm">Strong's 7725: </a> To turn back, in, to retreat, again asked the Philistines. וַיֹּאמְר֗וּ (way·yō·mə·rū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_559.htm">Strong's 559: </a> To utter, say “Five חֲמִשָּׁה֙ (ḥă·miš·šāh) Number - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_2568.htm">Strong's 2568: </a> Five gold זָהָ֔ב (zā·hāḇ) Noun - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_2091.htm">Strong's 2091: </a> Gold, something gold-colored, as oil, a clear sky tumors טְחֹרֵ֣י (ṭə·ḥō·rê) Noun - masculine plural construct <a href="/hebrew/strongs_6076.htm">Strong's 6076: </a> A tumor, a mound, fortress and five וַחֲמִשָּׁ֖ה (wa·ḥă·miš·šāh) Conjunctive waw | Number - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_2568.htm">Strong's 2568: </a> Five gold זָהָ֑ב (zā·hāḇ) Noun - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_2091.htm">Strong's 2091: </a> Gold, something gold-colored, as oil, a clear sky rats,” עַכְבְּרֵ֣י (‘aḵ·bə·rê) Noun - masculine plural construct <a href="/hebrew/strongs_5909.htm">Strong's 5909: </a> A mouse they said, וַיֹּאמְר֗וּ (way·yō·mə·rū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_559.htm">Strong's 559: </a> To utter, say “[according to] the number מִסְפַּר֙ (mis·par) Noun - masculine singular construct <a href="/hebrew/strongs_4557.htm">Strong's 4557: </a> A number, definite, indefinite, narration of rulers סַרְנֵ֣י (sar·nê) Noun - masculine plural construct <a href="/hebrew/strongs_5633.htm">Strong's 5633: </a> An axle, a peer of the Philistines, פְלִשְׁתִּ֔ים (p̄ə·liš·tîm) Noun - proper - masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_6430.htm">Strong's 6430: </a> Philistines -- inhabitants of Philistia since כִּֽי־ (kî-) Conjunction <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> A relative conjunction the same אַחַ֛ת (’a·ḥaṯ) Number - feminine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_259.htm">Strong's 259: </a> United, one, first plague [has struck] מַגֵּפָ֥ה (mag·gê·p̄āh) Noun - feminine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_4046.htm">Strong's 4046: </a> A blow, slaughter, plague, pestilence both you לְכֻלָּ֖ם (lə·ḵul·lām) Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3605.htm">Strong's 3605: </a> The whole, all, any, every and your rulers. וּלְסַרְנֵיכֶֽם׃ (ū·lə·sar·nê·ḵem) Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_5633.htm">Strong's 5633: </a> An axle, a peer <div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/1_samuel/6-4.htm">1 Samuel 6:4 NIV</a> <a href="/nlt/1_samuel/6-4.htm">1 Samuel 6:4 NLT</a> <a href="/esv/1_samuel/6-4.htm">1 Samuel 6:4 ESV</a> <a href="/nasb/1_samuel/6-4.htm">1 Samuel 6:4 NASB</a> <a href="/kjv/1_samuel/6-4.htm">1 Samuel 6:4 KJV</a> <a href="//bibleapps.com/1_samuel/6-4.htm">1 Samuel 6:4 BibleApps.com</a> <a href="//bibliaparalela.com/1_samuel/6-4.htm">1 Samuel 6:4 Biblia Paralela</a> <a href="//holybible.com.cn/1_samuel/6-4.htm">1 Samuel 6:4 Chinese Bible</a> <a href="//saintebible.com/1_samuel/6-4.htm">1 Samuel 6:4 French Bible</a> <a href="/catholic/1_samuel/6-4.htm">1 Samuel 6:4 Catholic Bible</a> <a href="/1_samuel/6-4.htm">OT History: 1 Samuel 6:4 Then they said What shall be (1Sa iSam 1 Sam i sa) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/1_samuel/6-3.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="1 Samuel 6:3"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="1 Samuel 6:3" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/1_samuel/6-5.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="1 Samuel 6:5"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="1 Samuel 6:5" /></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>