1 Samuel 6 Explained

1 Samuel 6 is the sixth chapter of the First Book of Samuel in the Old Testament of the Christian Bible or the first part of the Books of Samuel in the Hebrew Bible. According to Jewish tradition the book was attributed to the prophet Samuel, with additions by the prophets Gad and Nathan,[1] but modern scholars view it as a composition of a number of independent texts of various ages from c. 630–540 BCE. This chapter describes how the Ark of Covenant was returned to Israel by the Philistines, a part of the "Ark Narrative" (1 Samuel 4:1–7:1) within a section concerning the life of Samuel (1 Samuel 1:1–7:17).

Text

This chapter was originally written in the Hebrew language. It is divided into 21 verses.

Textual witnesses

Some early manuscripts containing the text of this chapter in Hebrew are of the Masoretic Text tradition, which includes the Codex Cairensis (895), Aleppo Codex (10th century), and Codex Leningradensis (1008). Fragments containing parts of this chapter in Hebrew were found among the Dead Sea Scrolls including 4Q51 (4QSam; 100–50 BCE) with extant verses 1–13, 16–18, 20–21.[2] [3]

Extant ancient manuscripts of a translation into Koine Greek known as the Septuagint (originally was made in the last few centuries BCE) include Codex Vaticanus (B;

ak{G}

B; 4th century) and Codex Alexandrinus (A;

ak{G}

A; 5th century).

Places

Period

The event in this chapter happened at the end of judges period in Israel, about 1100 BC.

The Ark returned to Israel (6:1–19)

The Philistines realized that the Ark of the Covenant had to be returned to Israel to stop the plagues (verse 2, cf. 1 Samuel 5:11), so they consulted their priests and diviners to avoid further humiliation (verses 1–9). Two issues were raised in verse 3:

  1. What was the appropriate offering to accompany the ark?
  2. Was it really YHWH who had humiliated them?

The answer for the first concern is to send gifts (cf. Exodus 3:21) on the basis of value ('gold'), corresponding to the victims ('five' for the five lords of the Philistines) and representing the plagues ('tumors' and 'mice'). The gifts are called 'guilt offering (ʼašām), serving a double function: as a sacrifice to ensure that YHWH would 'lighten his hand' and as a compensatory tribute to YHWH. They learned from the Exodus tradition 'not to be obstinate and prevent the return of the ark' (verse 6).

The answer to the second concern was sought by the use of divination (verses 7–9), utilizing untrained cows, separated from their young calves (therefore inclined to return home), and released unguided, so when the cows went straight to the territory of Israel (in the direction of border city Beth-shemesh; verses 10–18), the Philistines were convinced that the plagues came from YHWH and their gifts were acceptable (verses 16–18). The Israelites celebrated the return of the ark, and utilized the cows to be an appropriate sacrifice for the removal of ritual 'contamination', as the animals and the cart were new, unused, and therefore ritually clean (cf. Numbers 19:2). The sacrifice was performed on a 'large stone of Abel' in the field of an unknown Joshua (verse 18), which afterward also became the resting place for the ark (verse 15).

Verse 1

And the ark of the Lord was in the country of the Philistines seven months.[4]

Verse 5

Therefore you will make images of your tumors and images of your mice that ravage the land. And you will give glory to the God of Israel. Perhaps He will lighten His hand from off you, even from off your gods and from off your land.[8]

The Ark at Kirjath Jearim (6:20–21)

Similar to what happened to the Philistines, the ark caused plagues for Israelites when they did not show due respect to it, so the ark was moved from Beth-shemesh to Kiriath Jearim ("city of the forests"), probably due to its previous connection with Baal-worship (cf. 'city of Baal', Joshua 18:14, and 'Baalah', Joshua 15:9, 10). The custodian of the city was Eleazar, son of Abinadab, both had names that often appear in levitical lists.

Verse 21

And they sent messengers to the inhabitants of Kiriath Jearim, saying, "The Philistines have brought back the ark of the . Come down, and take it up to you."[10]

See also

Sources

Commentaries on Samuel

General

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Hirsch . Emil G. . SAMUEL, BOOKS OF. www.jewishencyclopedia.com.
  2. https://thewaytoyahuweh.com/dead-sea-scrolls/general-info/#1_samuel Dead sea scrolls - 1 Samuel
  3. https://www.deadseascrolls.org.il/explore-the-archive/manuscript/4Q51-1 4Q51 at the Leon Levy Dead Sea Scrolls Digital Library
  4. 6:1 KJV KJV
  5. Septuagint in agro, cf. Pagninus, Montanus; apud Gill, "1 Samuel 6"
  6. [John Gill (theologian)|Gill, John]
  7. Josephus, Antiquities book 6, chapter 1, section 4.
  8. 2 1 Samuel MEV
  9. [Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges]
  10. 2 1 Samuel MEV
  11. Cooke . Francis T. . The Site of Kirjath-Jearim . . 5 . 1925 . 105–120 . 10.2307/3768522 . 3768522 .
  12. Book: Robinson, E.. Edward Robinson (scholar). 1856. Later Biblical Researches in Palestine and in the Adjacent Regions - A Journal of Travels in the Year 1852. Boston. Crocker & Brewster. 156.
  13. Web site: The Shmunis Family Foundation Excavations at Kiriath-Jearim. The Shmunis Family Foundation Excavations at Kiriath-Jearim. en. 2019-12-29.

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