seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
1 Samuel 6:1 When the ark of the Lord had been in Philistine territory seven months, 2 the Philistines called for the priests and the diviners and said, “What shall we do with the ark of the Lord? Tell us how we should send it back to its place.”
3 They answered, “If you return the ark of the god of Israel, do not send it back to him without a gift; by all means send a guilt offering to him. Then you will be healed, and you will know why his hand has not been lifted from you.”
4 The Philistines asked, “What guilt offering should we send to him?”
They replied, “Five 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. 5 Make models of the tumors and of the rats that are destroying the country, and give glory to Israel’s god. Perhaps he will lift his hand from you and your gods and your land. 6 Why do you harden your hearts as the Egyptians and Pharaoh did? When Israel’s god dealt harshly with them, did they not send the Israelites out so they could go on their way?
3 They answered, “If you return the ark of the god of Israel, do not send it back to him without a gift; by all means send a guilt offering to him. Then you will be healed, and you will know why his hand has not been lifted from you.”
4 The Philistines asked, “What guilt offering should we send to him?”
They replied, “Five 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. 5 Make models of the tumors and of the rats that are destroying the country, and give glory to Israel’s god. Perhaps he will lift his hand from you and your gods and your land. 6 Why do you harden your hearts as the Egyptians and Pharaoh did? When Israel’s god dealt harshly with them, did they not send the Israelites out so they could go on their way?
Ok... I have a couple of questions. First, what's a tumor and second why are they making gold rats to go with the Ark of the Covenant.
This is from the easy English site.
The Philistines now knew that the ark belonged to the God of Israel. They stole the ark but they did not steal the God of Israel. God had caused them trouble. Now they wanted to send the ark back to Israel. But they needed to do it in the proper way. They wanted to stop any more trouble. They did not know how to do this. So, they asked their priests and men who work magic. These were the experts of their religion.
Verses 3-6 answer the question ‘What shall we do with the ark?’ First, the Philistines had to confess that they were guilty. God’s punishment was killing their people. They wanted to send the ark back. But they did not know how to stop God’s punishment. They made models of the tumours and the rats. They sent them to God and confessed that they were guilty. They agreed that the God of Israel was more powerful than their god. Perhaps the Philistines believed that the real tumours and rats would go away with the models. The Philistines had 5 main towns (s. Each town had a ruler. The ark went to only 3 towns, but all the Philistines were guilty. So they made models for each town.
Verses 3-6 answer the question ‘What shall we do with the ark?’ First, the Philistines had to confess that they were guilty. God’s punishment was killing their people. They wanted to send the ark back. But they did not know how to stop God’s punishment. They made models of the tumours and the rats. They sent them to God and confessed that they were guilty. They agreed that the God of Israel was more powerful than their god. Perhaps the Philistines believed that the real tumours and rats would go away with the models. The Philistines had 5 main towns (s. Each town had a ruler. The ark went to only 3 towns, but all the Philistines were guilty. So they made models for each town.
This is from the https://www.blueletterbible.org site.
We know the plague involved tumors (1 Samuel 5:6, 9, 12). We had not been told in 1 Samuel 5 that the plague involved rats. Some think the tumors were the result of bubonic plague, carried by rats. Others think the rats were part of another plague or calamity mentioned in 1 Samuel 5:11: For there was a deadly destruction throughout all the city; the hand of God was very heavy there.
Why would they put golden images of their tumors? "In testimony of their humiliation, that by leaving this monument of their own shame and misery they might obtain pity from God, and freedom from their disease." (Poole)
Why would they put golden images of their tumors? "In testimony of their humiliation, that by leaving this monument of their own shame and misery they might obtain pity from God, and freedom from their disease." (Poole)
Now there is a general question on my mind. Why is it everyone else around the Israelites knew and remembered what God did for the tribes of Israel and the Israelites didn't seem to?
Anyway.... the Philistines [who we now know are now known as the Palestinians] decided to make some little gold idols to go along with the Ark of the Covenant when it was returned. It was their hope that the plague would stop.
