1 Samuel 6

1 Samuel 6

Morgan - And the kine took the straight way by the way to Beth-shemesh.—1 Sam. 6.12. These words constitute the record of a remarkable fact, which to Philistia was a conclusive proof of the action and power of God. As the result of the clamour of the people that the Ark should be sent away, a council was called; and the help of the diviners was asked. It is intensely interesting to see how definitely they recognized the Divine action. Whatever the long years had done for Israel, it is certain that the fear and dread of Jehovah had been implanted in the heart of the surrounding nations. The counselors advised the sending back of the Ark, accompanied by offerings which would indicate their recognition of the fact that the plagues which had fallen upon them had come by the act of God. The method of sending the Ark was of the nature of an experiment, and the sequel shows how their own test must have conclusively proved to them that God was at work. That the kine took their way directly to Beth-shemesh was clear evidence of His overruling. That they should go quietly, lowing as they went, was a most remarkable fact, for they were "milch kine," not trained to draw loads. That they should travel away from their calves was the more remarkable. That they should take their way to the first city of Israel was conclusive. To those who have eyes to see, God constantly bears witness to Himself by turning the natural courses of men and things into extraordinary and unnatural lines of activity. (Life Applications from Every Chapter of the Bible) 1 Samuel 6:13 Now the people of Beth-shemesh were reaping their wheat harvest in the valley, and they raised their eyes and saw the ark and were glad to see it. Related Passages: Numbers 3:31+ Now their (sons of Kohath) duties involved the ARK, the table, the lampstand, the altars, and the utensils of the sanctuary with which they minister, and the screen, and all the service concerning them; Numbers 4:4+ “This is the work of the descendants of Kohath in the tent of meeting, concerning the most holy things. Numbers 4:15-20+ “When Aaron and his sons have finished covering the holy objects and all the furnishings of the sanctuary, when the camp is to set out, after that the sons of Kohath shall come to carry them, so that they will not touch the holy objects and die. These are the things in the tent of meeting which the sons of Kohath are to carry. (SHOULDERS - NO CARTS) 16 “The responsibility of Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest is the oil for the light and the fragrant incense and the continual grain offering and the anointing oil–the responsibility of all the tabernacle and of all that is in it, with the sanctuary and its furnishings.” 17 Then the LORD spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying, 18“Do not let the tribe of the families of the Kohathites be cut off from among the Levites. 19 “But do this to them that they may live and not die when they approach the most holy objects: Aaron and his sons shall go in and assign each of them to his work and to his load; 20 but they shall not go in to see the holy objects even for a moment, or they will die.” Beth-shemesh in Judah THE RETURN OF THE ARK BRINGS JOY FOLLOWED BY SORROW Now the people of Beth-shemesh (shemesh is a Semitic name for "the sun god") were reaping their wheat harvest in the valley, and they raised their eyes and saw the ark and were glad to see it - Beth-shemesh in the Shephelah of Judah, in the valley of Sorek was a Levitical city set aside for the clan of Kohath, the Levites who were charged with the responsibility of caring for the ark of the covenant (Nu 4:4, 15) and thus would have Levites present and should be familiar with the rules for proper handling of the Ark. As you can see from the map above Beth-Shemesh was less thatn 5 miles the Philistine border, and was a constant focal point of battle. Bergen says Beth-shemesh "was also a designated home for the descendants of Aaron (cf. Josh 21:13–16). It is reasonable to assume that many if not most of the Israelites in this city were from the tribe of Levi and that they, more than most Israelites, would have had cause to celebrate the ark’s return." (ED: AND ALSO THAT THEY MORE THAN MOST ISRAELITES WOULD HAVE MORE KNOWLEDGE OF HOW THE ARK WAS TO BE REVERENTIALLY HANDLED)(Borrow 1 & 2 Samuel - New American Commentary) Beth-shemesh - beth-she'-mesh, beth'-shemesh (beth-shemesh; Baithsamus, "house of the sun"): This name for a place doubtless arose in every instance from the presence of a sanctuary of the sun there. In accordance with the meaning and origin of the word, it is quite to be expected that there should be several places of this name in Bible lands, and the expectation is not disappointed. Analysis and comparison of the passages in the Bible where a Beth-shemesh is mentioned show four places of this name. Beth-shemesh of Judah: The first mention of a place by this name is in the description of the border of the territory of Judah (Josh 15:10) which "went down to Beth-Shemesh." This topographical indication "down" puts the place toward the lowlands on the East or West side of Palestine, but does not indicate which. This point is clearly determined by the account of the return of the ark by the Philistine lords from Ekron (1 Sam 6:9-19). They returned the ark to Beth-shemesh, the location of which they indicated by the remark that if their affliction was from Yahweh, the kine would bear the ark "by the way of its own border." The Philistines lay along the western border of Judah and the location of Beth-Shemesh of Judah is thus clearly fixed near the western lowland, close to the border between the territory of Judah and that claimed by the Philistines. This is confirmed by the account of the twelve officers of the commissariat of King Solomon. One of these, the son of Dekar, had a Beth-shemesh in his territory. By excluding the territory assigned to the other eleven officers, the territory of this son of Dekar is found to be in Judah and to lie along the Philistine border (1 Ki 4:9). A Philistine attack upon the border-land of Judah testifies to the same effect (2 Ch 28:18). Finally, the battle between Amaziah of Judah and Jehoash of Israel, who "looked one another in the face" at Beth-shemesh, puts Beth-Shemesh most probably near the border between Judah and Israel, which would locate it near the northern part of the western border of Judah's territory. In the assignment of cities to the Levites, Judah gave Beth-shemesh with its suburbs (Josh 21:16). It has been identified with a good degree of certainty with the modern `Ain Shems. Beth-shemesh - 21x in 19v Beth-shemesh (20), Heliopolis(1). - Jos. 15:10; Jos. 19:22; Jos. 19:38; Jos. 21:16; Jdg. 1:33; 1 Sam. 6:9; 1 Sam. 6:12; 1 Sam. 6:13; 1 Sam. 6:15; 1 Sam. 6:19; 1 Sam. 6:20; 1 Ki. 4:9; 2 Ki. 14:11; 2 Ki. 14:13; 1 Chr. 6:59; 2 Chr. 25:21; 2 Chr. 25:23; 2 Chr. 28:18; Jer. 43:13 1 Samuel 6:14 The cart came into the field of Joshua the Beth-shemite and stood there where there was a large stone; and they split the wood of the cart and offered the cows as a burnt offering to the LORD. offered: 1Sa 7:9-17 11:5 20:29 Ex 20:24 Jdg 6:26 21:4 2Sa 24:18,22,25 1Ki 18:30-38 Related Passages: Leviticus 1:3 ‘If his offering is a burnt offering from the herd, he shall offer it, a male without defect; he shall offer it at the doorway of the tent of meeting, that he may be accepted before the LORD. Leviticus 22:19 for you to be accepted–it must be a male without defect from the cattle, the sheep, or the goats. BURNT OFFERINGS ARE MADE TO YAHWEH The cart came into the field of Joshua the Beth-shemite and stood there where there was a large stone - God stopped the cart with the Ark in the field of a man who is named, which suggests there is some importance to this fact. Had he handled the Ark reverently, undoubtedly the rest of the story would have been quite different and he likely would have been blessed, Instead, they reapers made an temporary altar on the large stone. to have in effect an impromptu worship service. One might think that God would have been pleased for this attention, but that would not prove true! and they split the wood of the cart and offered the cows as a burnt offering to the LORD - What's wrong with this picture? For one thing only male animals were to be sacrificed and these clearly were female cows. The second problem is that this is not necessarily the place God choose to make offerings as instructed in the Law of Moses... “But you shall seek the LORD at the place which the LORD your God will choose from all your tribes, to establish His name there for His dwelling, and there you shall come. 6 “There you shall bring your burnt offerings, your sacrifices, your tithes, the contribution of your hand, your votive offerings, your freewill offerings, and the firstborn of your herd and of your flock. (Deut 12:5-6+) 1 Samuel 6:15 The Levites took down the ark of the LORD and the box that was with it, in which were the articles of gold, and put them on the large stone; and the men of Beth-shemesh offered burnt offerings and sacrificed sacrifices that day to the LORD. MORE BURNT OFFERINGS TO YAHWEH The Levites took down the ark of the LORD and the box that was with it, in which were the articles of gold, and put them on the large stone; and the men of Beth-shemesh offered burnt offerings and sacrificed sacrifices that day to the LORD - The people knew enough of the Law of Moses to allow the Levites to handle the Ark. However, the Levites would have (or should have) known the procedure for handling the Ark by the poles and never touched and that it was not to even be seen! Instead they put it on a large rock for all to see! It is shocking that the five golden mice and five golden tumors (essentially idolatrous images) were offered to Yahweh as burnt offerings. There is no offering of golden material mentioned anywhere else in the Bible. Bergen points out that "The present narrative appears to be yet one more indictment against the Levites during the period of the Judges. It thus takes its place alongside the story of the Levite who served as priest for the Danites (cf. Jdg 17:7–18:31), of the Levite who cut up his wife’s corpse and mobilized Israel in fratricidal warfare (cf. Jdg 19:1–20:10), and of Eli and his sons." (Borrow 1 & 2 Samuel - New American Commentary) 1 Samuel 6:16 When the five lords of the Philistines saw it, they returned to Ekron that day. the five: 1Sa 6:4,12 Jos 13:3 Jud 3:3 16:5,23-30 they returned: 1Sa 5:10 PHILISTINE LORDS SATISFIED SEEING SACRIFICES When the five lords of the Philistines saw it, they returned to Ekron that day - Seeing the festive reception of the Ark by the inhabitants of Beth-shemesh surely must have convinced that their "cow cart test" had been successful in showing that their suffering was not by chance, and that they had successfully rid themselves of the dread Ark and its plague. 1 Samuel 6:17 These are the golden tumors which the Philistines returned for a guilt offering to the LORD: one for Ashdod, one for Gaza, one for Ashkelon, one for Gath, one for Ekron; these: 1Sa 6:4 Ashdod: 1Sa 5:1 2Ch 26:6 Jer 25:20 Zec 9:6 Gaza: Jdg 16:1,21 Am 1:7,8 Ashkelon: Jdg 1:18 Zec 9:5 Gath: 1Sa 5:8 2Sa 1:20 21:22 Am 6:2 Ekron: 1Sa 5:10 2Ki 1:2 Am 1:8 ONE GOLDEN TUMOR FOR EACH CITY These are the golden tumors which the Philistines returned for a guilt offering to the LORD: one for Ashdod, one for Gaza, one for Ashkelon, one for Gath, one for Ekron 1 Samuel 6:18 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. the five lords: 1Sa 6:16 Jos 13:3 ONE GOLDEN MOUSE FOR EACH CITY 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. 1 Samuel 6:19 He struck down some of the men of Beth-shemesh because they had looked into the ark of the LORD. He struck down of all the people, 50,070 men, and the people mourned because the LORD had struck the people with a great slaughter. BGT 1 Samuel 6:19 καὶ οὐκ ἠσμένισαν οἱ υἱοὶ Ιεχονιου ἐν τοῖς ἀνδράσιν Βαιθσαμυς ὅτι εἶδαν κιβωτὸν κυρίου καὶ ἐπάταξεν ἐν αὐτοῖς ἑβδομήκοντα ἄνδρας καὶ πεντήκοντα χιλιάδας ἀνδρῶν καὶ ἐπένθησεν ὁ λαός ὅτι ἐπάταξεν κύριος ἐν τῷ λαῷ πληγὴν μεγάλην σφόδρα KJV 1 Samuel 6:19 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 threescore and ten men: and the people lamented, because the LORD had smitten many of the people with a great slaughter. NET 1 Samuel 6:19 But the LORD struck down some of the people of Beth Shemesh because they had looked into the ark of the LORD; he struck down 50,070 of the men. The people grieved because the LORD had struck the people with a hard blow. CSB 1 Samuel 6:19 God struck down the men of Beth-shemesh because they looked inside the ark of the LORD. He struck down 70 men out of 50,000 men. The people mourned because the LORD struck them with a great slaughter. ESV 1 Samuel 6:19 And he struck some of the men of Beth-shemesh, because they looked upon the ark of the LORD. He struck seventy men of them, and the people mourned because the LORD had struck the people with a great blow. NIV 1 Samuel 6:19 But God struck down some of the men of Beth Shemesh, putting seventy of them to death because they had looked into the ark of the LORD. The people mourned because of the heavy blow the LORD had dealt them, NLT 1 Samuel 6:19 But the LORD killed seventy men from Beth-shemesh because they looked into the Ark of the LORD. And the people mourned greatly because of what the LORD had done. NRS 1 Samuel 6:19 The descendants of Jeconiah did not rejoice with the people of Beth-shemesh when they greeted the ark of the LORD; and he killed seventy men of them. The people mourned because the LORD had made a great slaughter among the people. RSV 1 Samuel 6:19 And he slew some of the men of Bethshemesh, because they looked into the ark of the LORD; he slew seventy men of them, and the people mourned because the LORD had made a great slaughter among the people. YLT 1 Samuel 6:19 And He smiteth among the men of Beth-Shemesh, for they looked into the ark of Jehovah, yea, He smiteth among the people seventy men -- fifty chief men; and the people mourn, because Jehovah smote among the people -- a great smiting. NKJ 1 Samuel 6:19 Then He struck the men of Beth Shemesh, because they had looked into the ark of the LORD. He struck fifty thousand and seventy men of the people, and the people lamented because the LORD had struck the people with a great slaughter. NJB 1 Samuel 6:19 Of the people of Beth-Shemesh the sons of Jeconiah had not rejoiced when they saw the ark of Yahweh, and Yahweh struck down seventy of them. The people mourned because Yahweh had struck them so fiercely. NAB 1 Samuel 6:19 The descendants of Jeconiah did not join in the celebration with the inhabitants of Beth-shemesh when they greeted the ark of the LORD, and seventy of them were struck down. The people went into mourning at this great calamity with which the LORD had afflicted them. LXE 1 Samuel 6:19 And the sons of Jechonias were not pleased with the men of Baethsamys, because they saw the ark of the Lord; and the Lord smote among them seventy men, and fifty thousand men: and the people mourned, because the Lord had inflicted on the people, a very great plague. ASV 1 Samuel 6:19 And he smote of the men of Beth-shemesh, because they had looked into the ark of Jehovah, he smote of the people seventy men, and fifty thousand men; and the people mourned, because Jehovah had smitten the people with a great slaughter. DBY 1 Samuel 6:19 And he smote among the men of Beth-shemesh, because they had looked into the ark of Jehovah, and smote of the people seventy men; and the people lamented, because Jehovah had smitten the people with a great slaughter. GWN 1 Samuel 6:19 God struck down some of the people from Beth Shemesh because they looked inside the ark of the LORD. He struck down 70 people. The people mourned because the LORD struck them with such a great blow. BBE 1 Samuel 6:19 But the Lord sent destruction on seventy men of the people of Beth-shemesh for looking into the ark of the Lord; and great was the sorrow of the people for the destruction which the Lord had sent on them. smote: Ex 19:21 Lev 10:1-3 Nu 4:4,5,15,20 De 29:29 2Sa 6:7 1Ch 13:9,10 Col 2:18 1Pe 4:17 Related Passages: Numbers 4:5-6 (NO ONE OUTSIDE AARONIC PRIESTHOOD PERMITTED TO EVEN LOOK AT THE ARK MUCH LESS INSIDE!) “When the camp sets out, Aaron and his sons shall go in and they shall take down the veil of the screen and cover the ark of the testimony with it; 6 and they shall lay a covering of porpoise skin on it, and shall spread over it a cloth of pure blue, and shall insert its poles. (See Did the high priest have a rope tied to him when he entered the Holy of Holies? | GotQuestions.org) THE HIGH COST OF IRREVERENCE TO YAHWEH Ignorance is not bliss in the case of the inhabitants of Beth-shemesh! Ignorance in fact is death! They were even a Levitical city and should have known God's clear instructions on handling the Ark with great caution, care and reverence. But as the story unfolds, they clearly "missed the mark" (description of the meaning of sin!) and discovered quickly that the wages of sin is death! He struck down some of the men of Beth-shemesh because (term of explanation explaining God's severe punishment) they had looked into the ark of the LORD - Nu 4:20 was a clear warning about looking inside the Ark, Moses recording "they (KOHATHITES - Nu 4:18,19) shall not go in to see the holy objects even for a moment, or they will die.” Bergen points out that "Even the Kohathites, whose God-given duty it was to transport the ark, were forbidden either to touch or view the sacred box. Thus, the first duty of the Israelites—especially the Kohathites, whose charge it was to care for the holy things of Israelite worship (cf. Num 4:2)—would have been to hide the ark from view while avoiding any physical or visual contact with it." The task required of the Kohathites would have been parallel to the one performed by Shem and Japheth when they were called upon to cover their father’s nakedness. Cf. Gen 9:23. Instead, the Beth Shemeshites behaved like Ham (Gen 9:22), a fact that probably would not have been lost on the original audience. (Borrow 1 & 2 Samuel - New American Commentary) It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God. ....for our God is a consuming fire! -- Hebrews 10:31+, Hebrews 12:29+ He struck down of all the people, 50,070 men, - Note that of all the people does NOT say all the people of Beth-shemesh (he had just stated "He struck down some [not all] of the men of Beth-shemesh"), and in the following verse we see some of the men of Beth-shemesh speaking. This is a strange passage because it does not explain why the 50,070 men were also struck down. This would have been a great slaughter, more dying at this time then the 30,000 who were killed by the Philistines in 1Sa 4:10! Many writers feel that the 50,070 was a transmission error by a scribe and it may have been more like 70 with the 50,000 representing the scribal error, but the manuscript evidence does not support this premise (see NET Note below). Therefore, the question is where did such a large number come from? While we can only speculate, given the popularity of the Ark, it would not be at all surprising for the word to spread quickly to other nearby cities so that spectators could gather fairly quickly and account for the large number who were struck down by God. Remember all they had to do was look at the exposed Ark and they would die. They did not necessarily need to look inside as some did and were struck down. Ginzberg speculates "The seventy members of the Sanhedrin perished, and with them fifty thousand of the people." (Legends of the Jews - a fascinating book) (The problem with this thought is there was not "Sanhedrin" at this time in Israel's history). Bergen - According to both the MT and LXX, God “struck down” (Hb. nkh; cf. 5:6, 9) fifty thousand and seventy men from Beth Shemesh. The number, so large as to defy reason, has been reduced in the NIV and other modern versions, which choose to follow Josephus (Ant. 6.1.4) to a more rational “seventy.” Though there are obvious difficulties associated with the extremely large number preserved in ancient versions—for example, the unlikelihood that fifty thousand people ever lived in ancient Beth Shemesh at one time—the MT’s reading apparently is the original. Accepting the larger number results in a theological truth consonant with the teachings of the book retained: Israel must respect the Lord more than the might of the Philistines. Although the Philistines with their military prowess could kill thirty thousand Israelites (1Sa 4:10), God in his holiness could kill more than fifty thousand. For Israel, life could be found only in a fear of Yahweh that issued forth in obedience to his Torah and his prophet. (Borrow 1 & 2 Samuel - New American Commentary) NET Note - The number 50,070 is surprisingly large, although it finds almost unanimous textual support in the MT and in the ancient versions. Only a few medieval Hebrew manuscripts lack “50,000,” reading simply “70” instead. However, there does not seem to be sufficient external evidence to warrant reading 70 rather than 50,070, although that is done by a number of recent translations (e.g., NAB, NIV, NRSV, NLT). The present translation (reluctantly) follows the MT and the ancient versions here Guzik incorrectly states "The manuscript evidence is pretty clear that the number recorded originally in the text was seventy, not fifty thousand and seventy." Editorial note - The manuscript evidence is actually pretty clear that the numbers are as stated (see NET Note above). Furthermore the text does not just state "slaughter" which would have been reasonably appropriate if 70 had died, but "great slaughter" would add weight to the fact that the 50,000 is the actual number slaughtered (plus 70). Not everyone agrees, and we will wait until Heaven to discover the truth of the text. Even if it were only the one who died, one has to ask why did the Philistines not die from touching the Ark like Uzzah did when he touched the Ark (2Sa 6:6-8+)? Keep in mind that the Philistines had no access to the special revelation of God, so would not have known they had sinned by touching the ark and using a new cart to transport it. Clearly God is merciful toward those with less knowledge of His than will than toward those (like Uzzah) who are or should be knowledgeable. This same line of reasoning explains why it will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than it will be for those who personally witnessed the great acts of the Savior in Capernaum (Mt 11:23–24). Treasury of Scripture note says "As it is very improbable that the village of Beth-shemesh should contain, or be capable of employing, 50,070 men in the fields at wheat harvest, much less that they could all peep into the ark, and from the uncommon manner in which it is expressed in the original, it is generally allowed that there is some corruption in the text, or that some explanatory word is omitted." and the people mourned because the LORD had struck the people with a great slaughter - What should the people have done? Mourned because of their sinful, irreverent handling of the Ark. Instead the mourned the great slaughter! While I love Warren Wiersbe's comments, it seems he goes a bit far afield in this comment - That 70 men were judged isn’t difficult to believe, but 50,000 seems extravagant. However, since we don’t know the population of Beth-Shemesh and its environs, we can’t pass judgment on the text. One day an archeologist may solve the problem for us. (ED: HE IS CORRECT - WE CANNOT PASS JUDGMENT ON THE TEXT AND WE DO NOT NEED TO WAIT FOR EXTRA-BIBLICAL CONFIRMATION! GOD SAID IT, THAT SETTLES IT WHETHER WE BELIEVE IT OR NOT AND WHETHER WE CAN EXPLAIN IT OR NOT!) New International Encyclopedia of Bible Difficulties - Gleason Archer - How could Beth-shemesh have contained over 50,000 men in Samuel’s day (1 Sam. 6:19)? Why was such an extreme judgment visited on them? It is quite true that 50,000 men would seem to have been far in excess of the normal population of a community like Beth-shemesh in the eleventh century B.C. But there is very strong evidence to indicate that the original text of 1 Samuel 6:19 read a much lower number. That is to say, nowhere else is a figure like 50,070 written in this fashion according to the grammar of biblical Hebrew. Normally the wording would have been either šiḇʿîm ʾîš waḥamiššîm ʾelep̱ ʾîš (lit., “seventy man and fifty thousand man”) or else in the descending order—which was far more usual—ḥamiššîm ʾelep̱ ʾîš wašiḇʿîm ʾîš (“fifty thousand man and seventy man”). The fact that neither of these customary word orders was followed in the received Hebrew text of this passage gives rise to a very justified suspicion that the text was inadvertently garbled in the course of transmission. (Textual errors are demonstrable for 1 Samuel more frequently than for almost any other book in the Old Testament.) While it is true that the Septuagint already found this same reading in its Hebrew Vorlage (hebdomēkonta andras kai pentēkonta chiliadas andrōn, “seventy men and fifty thousands of men”), it is highly significant that even in the late first century A.D., Josephus (Antiquities 6.1.4) refers to the loss of life at Beth-shemesh as only seventy, with no mention whatever of the “fifty thousand.” There are also a few Hebrew manuscripts that entirely omit “fifty thousand man.” Hence it is not necessary to defend this huge number as part of the text of the original, inerrant manuscript of 1 Samuel. Nor is it likely that more than seventy men would have become involved in the sacrilege of removing the golden propitiatory (KJV, “mercy seat”) from the ark of the covenant in order to see what was inside. It is hardly conceivable that fifty thousand persons would have filed by the opened ark in order to peer into its interior and satisfy themselves that it contained only the two tablets of the Decalogue (cf. 1 Kings 8:9). Therefore such an enormous loss of life is almost impossible to account for. Yet for the seventy who were involved in this sacrilege, they showed such an impious attitude toward the God who had invested this symbol of His presence with the most solemn of sanctions that it is hardly to be wondered at that they forfeited their lives in a sudden and catastrophic way—somewhat as Uzzah in the time of David, when he merely touched the exterior of the ark, to steady it in the lurching wagon (2Sa 6:6-8+) Norman Geisler - When Critics Ask - 1 SAMUEL 6:19—How could Beth Shemesh have a population of over 50,000 men? PROBLEM: After the people of the town of Beth Shemesh had received the ark of the covenant, some of the citizens ignored the sacredness of the ark and looked inside it. This passage states that the Lord “struck fifty thousand and seventy men of the people.” However, a population of over 50,000 seems to be much too large for such a community. SOLUTION: First, this is most probably a scribal or transcription error. The numerical designation in Hebrew usually follows a certain pattern in which the larger number is written first, then the smaller number. The normal manner to write such a number would be “fifty thousand men and seventy men.” However, in this instance, the numbers appear backward. The text actually reads “seventy men fifty thousand men.” In addition, numerical designations are almost always connected by the conjunction “and” so that the statement would read, “fifty thousand men and seventy men.” Again this passage departs from the normal practice by omitting the “and.” These factors have lead many to suspect that the text was inadvertently corrupted in transmission. Second, it is also conceivable that some explanation for the size of the group has simply eluded investigation to the present. Some future archaeological excavation may uncover evidence to explain why there was in fact such a large group present, or at least involved in the judgment at Beth Shemesh. Although a population of over 50,000 may have been too great for a community like Beth Shemesh, such population sizes were not unheard of in major cities in the ancient world. This large number may yet be accounted for in some way. 1 Samuel 6:20 The men of Beth-shemesh said, "Who is able to stand before the LORD, this holy God? And to whom shall He go up from us?" BGT 1 Samuel 6:20 καὶ εἶπαν οἱ ἄνδρες οἱ ἐκ Βαιθσαμυς τίς δυνήσεται διελθεῖν ἐνώπιον κυρίου τοῦ ἁγίου τούτου καὶ πρὸς τίνα ἀναβήσεται κιβωτὸς κυρίου ἀφ᾽ ἡμῶν KJV 1 Samuel 6:20 And the men of Beth shemesh said, Who is able to stand before this holy LORD God? and to whom shall he go up from us? NET 1 Samuel 6:20 The residents of Beth Shemesh asked, "Who is able to stand before the LORD, this holy God? To whom will the ark go up from here?" CSB 1 Samuel 6:20 The men of Beth-shemesh asked, "Who is able to stand in the presence of this holy LORD God? Who should the ark go to from here?" ESV 1 Samuel 6:20 Then the men of Beth-shemesh said, "Who is able to stand before the LORD, this holy God? And to whom shall he go up away from us?" NIV 1 Samuel 6:20 and the men of Beth Shemesh asked, "Who can stand in the presence of the LORD, this holy God? To whom will the ark go up from here?" NLT 1 Samuel 6:20 "Who is able to stand in the presence of the LORD, this holy God?" they cried out. "Where can we send the Ark from here?" NRS 1 Samuel 6:20 Then the people of Beth-shemesh said, "Who is able to stand before the LORD, this holy God? To whom shall he go so that we may be rid of him?" 1Sa 5:8-12 Nu 17:12,13 2Sa 6:7,9 1Ch 13:11-13 Ps 76:7 Mal 3:2 Lu 5:8 8:37 DEATHS PROMPT GOOD QUESTIONS! The men of Beth-shemesh said, "Who is able to stand before the LORD, this holy God? - The great slaughter would have prompted such a question! God is indeed holy and His holiness is not to be trifled with but to be held in reverential awe (with a touch of trepidation in my opinion). This is a great question because the implied answer is no one. Even the High Priest could enter the Holy of holies only once per year and that with some degree of trepidation and with taking of blood. THOUGHT - The answer to this question of course is there is only one Man Who could stand before the Holy God, the Man Christ Jesus. But because all who have placed their faith in Him are clothed with His righteousness (and made positionally holy), all these can stand before the Holy God! Amazing grace indeed!