Berean Standard Bible

1 Samuel 6

1When the arkאֲרוֹן־'a.ron-H727of the LORDיְהוָ֛הYah.wehH3068had beenוַיְהִ֧יvay.HiH1961in the landבִּשְׂדֵ֥הbis.DehH7704of the Philistinesפְלִשְׁתִּ֖יםfe.lish.TimH6430sevenשִׁבְעָ֥הshiv.'AhH7651monthsחֳדָשִֽׁים׃cho.da.ShimH2320,

2the Philistinesפְלִשְׁתִּ֗יםfe.lish.TimH6430summonedוַיִּקְרְא֣וּvai.yik.re.'UH7121the priestsלַכֹּהֲנִ֤יםla.ko.ha.NimH3548and divinersוְלַקֹּֽסְמִים֙ve.la.ko.se.MimH7080,sayingלֵאמֹ֔רle.MorH559, “Whatמַֽה־mah-H4100shall we doנַּעֲשֶׂ֖הna.'a.SehH6213with the arkלַאֲר֣וֹןla.'a.RonH727of the LORDיְהוָ֑הYah.wehH3068?Tell usהוֹדִעֻ֕נוּho.di.'U.nuH3045howבַּמֶּ֖הba.MehH4100to send it backנְשַׁלְּחֶ֥נּוּne.shal.le.Che.nuH7971to its placeלִמְקוֹמֽוֹ׃lim.ko.MoH4725.”

3They repliedוַיֹּאמְר֗וּvai.yo.me.RuH559, “Ifאִֽם־'im-H518you returnמְשַׁלְּחִ֞יםme.sha.le.ChimH7971the arkאֲר֨וֹן'a.RonH727of the Godאֱלֹהֵ֤י'e.lo.HeiH430of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵל֙Yis.ra.'ElH3478אֶת־'et-H853,do notאַל־'al-H408send it awayתְּשַׁלְּח֤וּte.sha.le.ChuH7971אֹתוֹ֙'o.ToH853emptyרֵיקָ֔םrei.KamH7387,butכִּֽי־ki-H3588by all means returnH7725it to Himwith a guilt offeringאָשָׁ֑ם'a.ShamH817.Thenאָ֤ז'azH227you will be healedתֵּרָֽפְאוּ֙te.ra.fe.'UH7495,and you will understandוְנוֹדַ֣עve.no.Da'H3045whyלָ֛מָּהLa.mahH4100His handיָד֖וֹya.DoH3027has notלֹא־lo'-H3808been liftedתָס֥וּרta.SurH5493from you.”

4“Whatמָ֣הmahH4100guilt offeringהָאָשָׁם֮ha.'a.ShamH817אֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.SherH834should we send backנָשִׁ֣יבna.ShivH7725to Him?”asked the Philistinesוַיֹּאמְר֗וּvai.yo.me.RuH559. “Fiveחֲמִשָּׁה֙cha.mi.ShahH2568goldזָהָ֔בza.HavH2091tumorsH6076and fiveוַחֲמִשָּׁ֖הva.cha.mi.ShahH2568goldזָהָ֑בza.HavH2091ratsעַכְבְּרֵ֣י'akh.be.ReiH5909,”they saidוַיֹּאמְר֗וּvai.yo.me.RuH559, “according tothe numberמִסְפַּר֙mis.ParH4557of rulersסַרְנֵ֣יsar.NeiH5633of the Philistinesפְלִשְׁתִּ֔יםfe.lish.TimH6430,sinceכִּֽי־ki-H3588the sameאַחַ֛ת'a.ChatH259plagueמַגֵּפָ֥הma.ge.FahH4046has struckboth youלְכֻלָּ֖םle.khu.LamH3605and your rulersוּלְסַרְנֵיכֶֽם׃u.le.sar.nei.KhemH5633.

5Makeוַעֲשִׂיתֶם֩va.'a.si.TemH6213imagesצַלְמֵ֨יtzal.MeiH6754of your tumorsוְצַלְמֵ֣יve.tzal.MeiH6076 H6754and of the ratsעַכְבְּרֵיכֶ֗ם'akh.be.rei.KhemH5909that are ravagingהַמַּשְׁחִיתִם֙ha.mash.chi.TimH7843אֶת־'et-H853the landהָאָ֔רֶץha.'A.retzH776.Giveוּנְתַתֶּ֛םu.ne.ta.TemH5414gloryכָּב֑וֹדka.VodH3519to the Godלֵאלֹהֵ֥יle.lo.HeiH430of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֖לYis.ra.'ElH3478,and perhapsאוּלַ֗י'u.LaiH194He will liftיָקֵ֤לya.KelH7043אֶת־'et-H853His handיָדוֹ֙ya.DoH3027from youמֵֽעֲלֵיכֶ֔םme.'a.lei.KhemH5921andוּמֵעַ֥לu.me.'AlH5921your godsאֱלֹהֵיכֶ֖ם'e.lo.hei.KhemH430andוּמֵעַ֥לu.me.'AlH5921your landאַרְצְכֶֽם׃'ar.tze.KhemH776.

6Whyוְלָ֤מָּהve.La.mahH4100hardenתְכַבְּדוּ֙te.kha.be.DuH3513אֶת־'et-H853your heartsלְבַבְכֶ֔םle.vav.KhemH3824asכַּאֲשֶׁ֧רka.'a.SherH834the Egyptiansמִצְרַ֥יִםmitz.Ra.yimH4713and Pharaohוּפַרְעֹ֖הu.far.'OhH6547אֶת־'et-H853hardenedכִּבְּד֛וּki.be.DuH3513theirsלִבָּ֑םli.BamH3820?Whenכַּאֲשֶׁ֣רka.'a.SherH834He afflictedהִתְעַלֵּ֣לhit.'a.LelH5953them,did they notהֲלוֹא֙ha.lO'H3808send the people outוַֽיְשַׁלְּח֖וּםvay.sha.le.ChumH7971so they could go on their wayוַיֵּלֵֽכוּ׃vai.ye.Le.khuH1980?

7Now, thereforeוְעַתָּ֗ה קְח֨וּve.'a.Tah ke.ChuH6258 H3947,prepareוַעֲשׂ֜וּva.'a.SuH6213oneאֶחָ֔ת'e.ChatH259newחֲדָשָׁה֙cha.da.ShahH2319cartעֲגָלָ֤ה'a.ga.LahH5699with twoוּשְׁתֵּ֤יu.she.TeiH8147milkעָל֔וֹתa.LotH5763cowsפָרוֹת֙fa.rOtH6510thatאֲשֶׁ֛ר'a.SherH834have neverלֹא־lo'-H3808been yokedעָלָ֥ה עֲלֵיהֶ֖ם עֹ֑ל'a.Lah 'a.lei.Hem 'OlH5927 H5921 H5923.Hitchוַאֲסַרְתֶּ֤םva.'a.sar.TemH631אֶת־'et-H853the cowsהַפָּרוֹת֙ha.pa.rOtH6510to the cartבָּעֲגָלָ֔הba.'a.ga.LahH5699,but take their calvesבְּנֵיהֶ֛ם מֵאַחֲרֵיהֶ֖םbe.nei.Hem me.'a.cha.rei.HemH1121 H310awayוַהֲשֵׁיבֹתֶ֧םva.ha.shei.vo.TemH7725and pen them upהַבָּֽיְתָה׃ha.Ba.ye.tahH1004.

8Takeוּלְקַחְתֶּ֞םu.le.kach.TemH3947אֶת־'et-H853the arkאֲר֣וֹן'a.RonH727of the LORDיְהוָ֗הYah.wehH3068,setוּנְתַתֶּ֤םu.ne.ta.TemH5414itאֹתוֹ֙'o.ToH853onאֶל־'el-H413the cartהָ֣עֲגָלָ֔הha.'a.ga.LahH5699,andוְאֵ֣ת׀ve.'EtH853in a chestבָאַרְגַּ֖זva.'ar.GazH712beside itמִצִּדּ֑וֹmi.tzi.DoH6654putתָּשִׂ֥ימוּta.Si.muH7760the goldהַזָּהָ֗בha.za.HavH2091objectsכְּלֵ֣יke.LeiH3627אֲשֶׁ֨ר'a.SherH834you are sending backהֲשֵׁבֹתֶ֥םha.she.vo.TemH7725to Himas a guilt offeringאָשָׁ֔ם'a.ShamH817.Then sendוְשִׁלַּחְתֶּ֥םve.shi.lach.TemH7971the arkאֹת֖וֹ'o.ToH853on its wayוְהָלָֽךְ׃ve.ha.LakhH1980,

9but keep watching itוּרְאִיתֶ֗םu.re.'i.TemH7200.Ifאִם־'im-H518it goes upיַֽעֲלֶה֙ya.'a.LehH5927the roadדֶּ֨רֶךְDe.rekhH1870to its homelandגְּבוּל֤וֹge.vu.LoH1366,toward Beth-shemeshH1053,it is the LORDה֚וּאhu'H1931who has broughtעָ֣שָׂה'A.sahH6213on usאֶת־'et-H853thisהַזֹּ֑אתha.ZotH2063greatהַגְּדוֹלָ֖הha.ge.do.LahH1419disasterהָרָעָ֥הha.ra.'AhH7451.But ifוְאִם־ve.'im-H518it does notלֹ֗אLo'H3808,then we will knowוְיָדַ֙עְנוּ֙ve.ya.Da'.nuH3045thatכִּ֣יkiH3588it was notלֹ֤אlo'H3808His handיָדוֹ֙ya.DoH3027that punishedנָ֣גְעָהNa.ge.'ahH5060usand that itה֖וּאhu'H1931happenedהָ֥יָהHa.yahH1961by chanceמִקְרֶ֥הmik.RehH4745.”

10So the menהָאֲנָשִׁים֙ha.'a.na.ShimH582didוַיַּעֲשׂ֤וּvai.ya.'a.SuH6213as instructedכֵּ֔ןKenH3651.They tookוַיִּקְח֗וּvai.yik.ChuH3947twoשְׁתֵּ֤יshe.TeiH8147milkעָל֔וֹתa.LotH5763cowsפָרוֹת֙fa.rOtH6510,hitched themוַיַּאַסְר֖וּםvai.ya.'as.RumH631to the cartבָּעֲגָלָ֑הba.'a.ga.LahH5699וְאֶת־ve.'EtH853,and penned upכָּל֥וּ בַבָּֽיִת׃ka.Lu va.Ba.yitH3607 H1004their calvesבְּנֵיהֶ֖םbe.nei.HemH1121.

11Then they putוַיָּשִׂ֛מוּvai.ya.Si.muH7760אֶת־'et-H853the arkאֲר֥וֹן'a.RonH727of the LORDיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068onאֶל־'el-H413the cartהָעֲגָלָ֑הha.'a.ga.LahH5699וְאֵ֣תve.'EtH853,along with the chestהָאַרְגַּ֗זha.'ar.GazH712וְאֵת֙ve.'EtH853containing the goldהַזָּהָ֔בha.za.HavH2091וְאֵ֖תve.'EtH853ratsעַכְבְּרֵ֣י'akh.be.ReiH5909and the imagesצַלְמֵ֥יtzal.MeiH6754of the tumorsטְחֹרֵיהֶֽם׃te.cho.rei.HemH2914.

12And the cowsהַפָּר֜וֹתha.pa.RotH6510headed straightוַיִשַּׁ֨רְנָהva.yi.Shar.nahH3474up the roadבַּדֶּ֗רֶךְba.De.rekhH1870towardעַל־ דֶּ֙רֶךְ֙'al- de.rekhH5921 H1870Beth-shemeshH1053,staying on that oneאַחַ֗ת'a.ChatH259highwayבִּמְסִלָּ֣הbim.si.LahH4546and lowingוְגָע֔וֹve.ga.'OH1600as they wentH1980,neverוְלֹא־ve.lo'-H3808strayingסָ֖רוּSa.ruH5493to the rightיָמִ֣יןya.MinH3225or to the leftוּשְׂמֹ֑אולu.se.MolH8040.The rulersוְסַרְנֵ֤יve.sar.NeiH5633of the Philistinesפְלִשְׁתִּים֙fe.lish.TimH6430followedH1980behind themאַחֲרֵיהֶ֔ם'a.cha.rei.HemH310toעַד־'ad-H5704the borderגְּב֖וּלge.VulH1366of Beth-shemeshH1053.

13Now the people of Beth-shemeshH1053were harvestingקֹצְרִ֥ים קְצִיר־ko.tze.Rim ke.tzir-H7114 H7105wheatחִטִּ֖יםchi.TimH2406in the valleyבָּעֵ֑מֶקba.'E.mekH6010,and when they looked upוַיִּשְׂא֣וּvai.yis.'UH5375אֶת־'et-H853עֵינֵיהֶ֗ם'ei.nei.HemH5869and sawוַיִּרְאוּ֙vai.yir.'UH7200אֶת־'et-H853the arkהָ֣אָר֔וֹןha.'a.RonH727,they were overjoyedוַֽיִּשְׂמְח֖וּvai.yis.me.ChuH8055at the sightלִרְאֽוֹת׃lir.'otH7200.

14The cartוְהָעֲגָלָ֡הve.ha.'a.ga.LahH5699cameבָּ֠אָהBa.'ahH935toאֶל־'el-H413the fieldשְׂדֵ֨הse.DehH7704of Joshuaיְהוֹשֻׁ֤עַye.ho.Shu.a'H3091of Beth-shemeshH1030and stoppedוַתַּעֲמֹ֣דva.ta.'a.ModH5975thereH8033near a largeגְּדוֹלָ֑הge.do.LahH1419rockאֶ֣בֶן'E.venH68.The people chopped upוַֽיְבַקְּעוּ֙vay.va.ke.'UH1234אֶת־'et-H853עֲצֵ֣י'a.TzeiH6086the cartהָעֲגָלָ֔הha.'a.ga.LahH5699וְאֶת־ve.'EtH853and offeredהֶעֱל֥וּhe.'e.LuH5927the cowsהַ֨פָּר֔וֹתha.pa.RotH6510as a burnt offeringעֹלָ֖ה'o.LahH5930to the LORDלַיהוָֽה׃ סla.Yah.wehH3068.

15And the Levitesוְהַלְוִיִּ֞םve.hal.vi.YimH3881took downהוֹרִ֣ידוּ׀ho.Ri.duH3381אֶת־'et-H853the arkאֲר֣וֹן'a.RonH727of the LORDיְהוָ֗הYah.wehH3068andוְאֶת־ve.'EtH853the chestהָאַרְגַּ֤זha.'ar.GazH712containingאֲשֶׁר־ אִתּוֹ֙'a.Sher- 'i.ToH834 H854אֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-H834the goldזָהָ֔בza.HavH2091objectsכְלֵֽי־khe.lei-H3627,and they placed themוַיָּשִׂ֖מוּvai.ya.Si.muH7760onאֶל־'el-H413the largeהַגְּדוֹלָ֑הha.ge.do.LahH1419rockהָאֶ֣בֶןha.'E.venH68.Thatהַה֖וּאha.Hu'H1931dayבַּיּ֥וֹםbai.YomH3117the menוְאַנְשֵׁ֣יve.'an.SheiH582of Beth-shemeshH1053offeredהֶעֱל֨וּhe.'e.LuH5927burnt offeringsעֹל֜וֹתo.LotH5930and madeוַֽיִּזְבְּח֧וּvai.yiz.be.ChuH2076sacrificesזְבָחִ֛יםze.va.ChimH2077to the LORDלַֽיהוָֽה׃la.Yah.wehH3068.

16And when the fiveוַחֲמִשָּׁ֥הva.cha.mi.ShahH2568rulersסַרְנֵֽי־sar.nei-H5633of the Philistinesפְלִשְׁתִּ֖יםfe.lish.TimH6430sawרָא֑וּra.'UH7200this,they returnedוַיָּשֻׁ֥בוּvai.ya.Shu.vuH7725to Ekronעֶקְר֖וֹןek.RonH6138that sameהַהֽוּא׃ סha.Hu'H1931dayבַּיּ֥וֹםbai.YomH3117.

17וְאֵ֙לֶּה֙ve.'E.lehH428As a guilt offeringאָשָׁ֖ם'a.ShamH817to the LORDלַֽיהוָ֑הla.Yah.wehH3068,the Philistinesפְלִשְׁתִּ֛יםfe.lish.TimH6430had sent backהֵשִׁ֧יבוּhe.Shi.vuH7725oneאֶחָ֜ד'e.ChadH259goldהַזָּהָ֔בha.za.HavH2091אֲשֶׁ֨ר'a.SherH834tumorטְחֹרֵ֣יte.cho.ReiH2914for each city:Ashdodלְאַשְׁדּ֨וֹדle.'ash.DodH795,Gazaלְעַזָּ֤ה אֶחָד֙le.'a.Zah 'e.ChadH5804 H259,Ashkelonלְאַשְׁקְל֣וֹן אֶחָ֔דle.'ash.ke.Lon 'e.ChadH831 H259,Gathלְגַ֥ת אֶחָ֖דle.Gat 'e.ChadH1661 H259,and Ekronלְעֶקְר֥וֹן אֶחָֽד׃ סle.'ek.Ron 'e.ChadH6138 H259.

18The number of goldהַזָּהָ֗בha.za.HavH2091ratsוְעַכְבְּרֵ֣יve.'akh.be.ReiH5909also corresponded to the numberמִסְפַּ֞ר כָּל־mis.Par kol-H4557 H3605of Philistineפְלִשְׁתִּים֙fe.lish.TimH6430citiesעָרֵ֤י'a.ReiH5892belongingto the fiveלַחֲמֵ֣שֶׁתla.cha.Me.shetH2568rulersהַסְּרָנִ֔יםha.se.ra.NimH5633—the fortifiedמִבְצָ֔רmiv.TzarH4013citiesמֵעִ֣ירme.'IrH5892andוְעַ֖דve.'AdH5704their outlyingהַפְּרָזִ֑י וְעַ֣ד׀ha.pe.ra.Zi ve.'AdH6521 H5704villagesכֹּ֣פֶרKo.ferH3724.And the largeהַגְּדוֹלָ֗הha.ge.do.LahH1419rockאָבֵ֣ל'a.VelH59onעָלֶ֙יהָ֙'a.Lei.haH5921אֵ֚ת'etH853whichאֲשֶׁ֨ר'a.SherH834they placedהִנִּ֤יחוּhi.Ni.chuH5117the arkאֲר֣וֹן'a.RonH727of the LORDיְהוָ֔הYah.wehH3068standstoעַ֚ד'adH5704thisהַזֶּ֔הha.ZehH2088dayהַיּ֣וֹםhai.YomH3117in the fieldבִּשְׂדֵ֥הbis.DehH7704of Joshuaיְהוֹשֻׁ֖עַye.ho.Shu.a'H3091of Beth-shemeshH1030.

19But God struck downוַיַּ֞ךְ בְּאַנְשֵׁ֣יvai.Yakh be.'an.SheiH5221 H582some of the peopleבֵֽית־veit-H1053of Beth-shemeshשֶׁ֗מֶשׁShe.meshH1053becauseכִּ֤יkiH3588they lookedרָאוּ֙ra.'UH7200inside the arkבַּאֲר֣וֹןba.'a.RonH727of the LORDיְהוָ֔הYah.wehH3068.He struck downוַיַּ֤ךְvai.YakhH5221בָּעָם֙ba.'AmH5971seventyשִׁבְעִ֣יםshiv.'ImH7657menאִ֔ישׁ'IshH376חֲמִשִּׁ֥יםcha.mi.ShimH2572אֶ֖לֶף'E.lefH505אִ֑ישׁ'IshH376,and the people mournedוַיִּֽתְאַבְּל֣וּvai.yit.'a.be.LuH56becauseכִּֽי־ki-H3588the LORDהָעָ֔ם יְהוָ֛הha.'Am Yah.wehH3068 H5971had struckהִכָּ֧הhi.KahH5221themבָּעָ֖םba.'AmH5971with a greatגְדוֹלָֽהge.do.LahH1419slaughterמַכָּ֥הma.KahH4347.

20The menאַנְשֵׁ֣י'an.SheiH582of Beth-shemeshH1053askedוַיֹּֽאמְרוּ֙vai.yo.me.RuH559, “Whoמִ֚יmiH4310canיוּכַ֣לyu.KhalH3201standלַעֲמֹ֔דla.'a.ModH5975in the presenceלִפְנֵ֨יlif.NeiH6440of the LORDיְהוָ֧הYah.wehH3068,thisהַזֶּ֑הha.ZehH2088holyהַקָּד֖וֹשׁha.ka.Do.oshH6918Godהָאֱלֹהִ֛יםha.'E.lo.HimH430?Toוְאֶל־ve.'el-H413whomמִ֖יmiH4310should the ark go upיַעֲלֶ֥הya.'a.LehH5927from hereמֵעָלֵֽינוּ׃ סme.'a.Lei.nuH5921?”

21So they sentוַֽיִּשְׁלְחוּ֙vai.yish.le.ChuH7971messengersמַלְאָכִ֔יםmal.'a.KhimH4397toאֶל־'el-H413the peopleיוֹשְׁבֵ֥יyo.she.VeiH3427of Kiriath-jearimH7157,sayingלֵאמֹ֑רle.MorH559, “The Philistinesפְלִשְׁתִּים֙fe.lish.TimH6430אֶת־'et-H853have returnedהֵשִׁ֤בוּhe.Shi.vuH7725the arkאֲר֣וֹן'a.RonH727of the LORDיְהוָ֔הYah.wehH3068.Come downרְד֕וּre.DuH3381andtake it upהַעֲל֥וּha.'a.LuH5927אֹת֖וֹ'o.ToH853with youאֲלֵיכֶֽם׃'a.lei.KhemH413.”

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 6