๐ Summary of 1 Samuel 5–6: ๐ “I am the LORD” — Chapters That Show It Personally!
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In the previous chapters, 3–4, we saw the fulfillment of the oath that the LORD had revealed to Samuel.
→ Just as He had foretold, the LORD killed Eli’s two sons.
→ During this process, however, the Philistines took the [Ark of the Covenant of the LORD] as war booty and carried it away.
The Ark of the Covenant was covered with pure gold, with a gold molding around it, gold rings, and poles also covered with gold (Exodus 25:10–15).
๐ Summary of 1 Samuel 5–7
Chapter 5: The Plague That Struck the Philistines in (Ashdod, Gath, and Ekron)
1. Ashdod:
When they placed the Ark of the LORD in the temple of Dagon, Dagon fell facedown before the Ark of the LORD. The next day, Dagon’s head and both hands had been cut off and were lying on the threshold, leaving only the trunk of Dagon. At the same time, the LORD struck Ashdod and its surrounding region with a plague of painful tumors (verses 2–6).
2. Gath:
The Ark was moved to Gath, but the LORD struck the city, affecting both young and old, and painful tumors appeared on them.
3. Ekron:
When the Ark arrived at Ekron, there was great panic and death. Those who did not die were afflicted with painful tumors, and the cry of the city rose up to heaven (verses 10–12).
After seeing calamity strike all three places, the Philistine rulers gathered together and decided to return the Ark of the God of Israel to its proper place.
๐ An interesting point:
The LORD strikes both the god of the Philistines and the people themselves.
→ In the case of Dagon, we can even see a touch of God’s “wit,” leaving only the body after cutting off his head and hands. ใ ใ
→ Tumors were already extremely painful, and considering the sanitary conditions of the ancient world, we can imagine how severe their suffering must have been.
✔️ The LORD was making it very clear that the Philistines should never think of taking the Ark again.
Chapter 6: The Return of the Ark and the Philistines’ Confirmation
The Philistine priests and diviners said that the Ark should be sent back with a guilt offering (verse 3).
As an offering, they made five golden tumors and five golden rats, saying:
→ “Give glory to the God of Israel.” (verse 5)
They also remembered what → the LORD had done to Egypt and Pharaoh (verse 6).
๐ A way to determine whether the plague truly came from God
The Philistines prepared a new cart, placed the Ark of the LORD on it, and put the guilt offerings beside it.
They also chose two cows:
Two cows that had never been yoked;
Two milk cows whose calves were still with them.
→ If the cows went directly toward Beth-shemesh, they would consider that the calamity had truly come from the God of Israel.
→ Otherwise, they would conclude that the calamity had happened by chance. (verse 9)
The Philistine rulers followed the two cows as far as the border of Beth-shemesh to see what would happen.
But the two cows went straight along the road toward Beth-shemesh, lowing as they went and turning neither to the right nor to the left.
✔️ Just as in Genesis 7:8–9, when many animals entered the ark according to God’s command... ๐
✔️ It seems that these two cows were also being guided in the same way. ๐
✍️ Final Thoughts – 1
The guilt offering that the Philistine rulers and priests decided to give may actually seem more like a sin offering, considering the situation.
And making golden images of tumors and rats does not seem particularly appropriate either.
✔️ Nevertheless, we can see that they were trying to show reverence and give glory to God with what they had. ๐
→ We can see a certain realization or acknowledgment on the part of the Philistines.
In addition, choosing cows that had never been yoked and milk cows whose calves were still with them shows their wisdom in testing the situation.
→ Through this process, the LORD clearly demonstrated that the calamity that had struck the Philistines had come from the LORD God Himself. ๐
✍️ Final Thoughts – 2
The people of Beth-shemesh looked inside the Ark of the LORD, and because of this, 70 people — or 50,070 according to some textual traditions — were killed.
When I saw the number written as 50,070 in the Korean Bible, I found it strange, so I asked Gemini about it.
According to the explanation I received, there are differences among Hebrew manuscripts concerning this number.
Some manuscripts and translations give 50,070, while others give only 70 people.
Verse 19 says that the LORD struck the people with a great slaughter.
Also, considering that the LORD had previously struck Ashdod and its surrounding region, I think the number 50,070 may fit the context better.
✍️ Final Thoughts – 3
๐ Chapters 5 and 6 of 1 Samuel show us how the [Ark of the LORD God] was to be treated. ๐
→ To the Philistines, the [Ark of the LORD God] became both a symbol — and a reality — of fear.
→ To the Israelites, it represented salvation.
Just as we saw in the Book of Judges, where the Bible repeatedly says:
“In those days there was no king in Israel,”
perhaps these chapters are also showing that although Israel possessed the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD, the people had abandoned God’s commandments and served other gods.
Therefore, merely possessing the Ark did not mean that God was with them.
✔️ At the same time, these chapters seem to teach both the foreign nations and the people of Israel that the LORD is a God who must truly be feared. ๐
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