1The ark of the LORD had been in Philistine territory for seven months.2The Philistines called for the priests and for those who practice evil magic. They wanted their advice. They said to them, ‘What should we do with the ark of the LORD? Tell us how we should send it back to its place.’3They answered, ‘If you return the ark of the god of Israel, don’t send it back to him without a gift. Be sure you send a guilt offering to their god along with it. Then you will be healed. You will find out why his power has continued to be against you.’4The Philistines asked, ‘What guilt offering should we send to him?’ Their advisers replied, ‘There are five Philistine rulers. So send five gold rats. Also send five gold models of the growths in your bodies. Do it because the same plague has struck you and your rulers alike.5Make models of the rats and the growths that are destroying the country. Give honour to Israel’s god. Then perhaps his power will no longer be against you, your gods and your land.6Why are you stubborn, as Pharaoh and the people of Egypt were? Israel’s god was very hard on them. Only then did they send the Israelites out. Only then did they let them go on their way.7‘Now then, get a new cart ready. Get two cows that have just had calves. Be sure the cows have never pulled a cart before. Tie the cart to them. But take their calves away and put them in a pen.8Then put the ark of the LORD on the cart. Put the gold models in a chest beside the ark. Send them back to the LORD as a guilt offering. Send the cart on its way.9But keep an eye on the cart. See if it goes up towards Beth Shemesh to its own territory. If it does, then it’s the LORD who has brought this horrible trouble on us. But if it doesn’t, then we’ll know it wasn’t his hand that struck us. We’ll know it happened to us by chance.’10So that’s what they did. They took the two cows and tied the cart to them. They put the calves in a pen.11They placed the ark of the LORD on the cart. They put the chest there along with it. The chest held the gold models of the rats and of the growths.12Then the cows went straight up towards Beth Shemesh. They stayed on the road. They were mooing all the way. They didn’t turn to the right or the left. The Philistine rulers followed them all the way to the border of Beth Shemesh.13The people of Beth Shemesh were working in the valley. They were gathering their wheat crop. They looked up and saw the ark. When they saw it, they were filled with joy.14The cart came to the field of Joshua of Beth Shemesh. It stopped there beside a large rock. The people chopped up the wood the cart was made out of. They sacrificed the cows as a burnt offering to the LORD.15Some Levites had taken the ark of the LORD off the cart. They had also taken off the chest that held the gold models. They placed them on the large rock. On that day the people of Beth Shemesh offered burnt offerings to the LORD. They also made sacrifices to him.16The five Philistine rulers saw everything that happened. On that same day they returned to Ekron.17The Philistines sent gold models of growths as a guilt offering to the LORD. There was one each for Ashdod, Gaza, Ashkelon, Gath and Ekron.18They also sent five gold models of rats. There was one for each of the Philistine towns that belonged to the five rulers. Each of those towns had high walls around it. The towns also had country villages around them. The Levites set the ark of the LORD on the large rock. To this day the rock is a witness to what happened there. It’s in the field of Joshua of Beth Shemesh.19But some of the people of Beth Shemesh looked into the ark of the LORD. So he struck them down. He put 70 of them to death. The rest of the people were filled with sorrow. That’s because the LORD had killed so many of them.20The people of Beth Shemesh said, ‘The LORD is a holy God. Who can stand in front of him? Where can the ark go up to from here?’21Then messengers were sent to the people of Kiriath Jearim. The messengers said, ‘The Philistines have returned the ark of the LORD. Come down and take it up to your town.’
1When the ark of the Lord had been in Philistine territory for seven months,2the 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.’3They 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.’4The Philistines asked, ‘What guilt offering should we send to him?’ They replied, ‘Five gold tumours and five gold rats, according to the number of the Philistine rulers, because the same plague has struck both you and your rulers.5Make models of the tumours 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.6Why 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 that they could go on their way?7‘Now then, get a new cart ready, with two cows that have calved and have never been yoked. Hitch the cows to the cart, but take their calves away and pen them up.8Take the ark of the Lord and put it on the cart, and in a chest beside it put the gold objects you are sending back to him as a guilt offering. Send it on its way,9but keep watching it. If it goes up to its own territory, towards Beth Shemesh, then the Lord has brought this great disaster on us. But if it does not, then we shall know that it was not his hand that struck us but that it happened to us by chance.’10So they did this. They took two such cows and hitched them to the cart and penned up their calves.11They placed the ark of the Lord on the cart and along with it the chest containing the gold rats and the models of the tumours.12Then the cows went straight up towards Beth Shemesh, keeping on the road and lowing all the way; they did not turn to the right or to the left. The rulers of the Philistines followed them as far as the border of Beth Shemesh.13Now the people of Beth Shemesh were harvesting their wheat in the valley, and when they looked up and saw the ark, they rejoiced at the sight.14The cart came to the field of Joshua of Beth Shemesh, and there it stopped beside a large rock. The people chopped up the wood of the cart and sacrificed the cows as a burnt offering to the Lord.15The Levites took down the ark of the Lord, together with the chest containing the gold objects, and placed them on the large rock. On that day the people of Beth Shemesh offered burnt offerings and made sacrifices to the Lord.16The five rulers of the Philistines saw all this and then returned that same day to Ekron.17These are the gold tumours the Philistines sent as a guilt offering to the Lord – one each for Ashdod, Gaza, Ashkelon, Gath and Ekron.18And the number of the gold rats was according to the number of Philistine towns belonging to the five rulers – the fortified towns with their country villages. The large rock on which the Levites set the ark of the Lord is a witness to this day in the field of Joshua of Beth Shemesh.19But God struck down some of the inhabitants of Beth Shemesh, putting seventy[1] of them to death because they looked into the ark of the Lord. The people mourned because of the heavy blow the Lord had dealt them.20And the people 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?’21Then they sent messengers to the people of Kiriath Jearim, saying, ‘The Philistines have returned the ark of the Lord. Come down and take it up to your town.’
1The ark of the Lord was in the country of the Philistines seven months.2And the Philistines called for the priests and the diviners and said, “What shall we do with the ark of the Lord? Tell us with what we shall send it to its place.” (Ge 41:8; Ex 7:11; De 18:10; Da 2:2; Da 5:7)3They said, “If you send away the ark of the God of Israel, do not send it empty, but by all means return him a guilt offering. Then you will be healed, and it will be known to you why his hand does not turn away from you.” (Le 5:15; 1Sa 6:9)4And they said, “What is the guilt offering that we shall return to him?” They answered, “Five golden tumors and five golden mice, according to the number of the lords of the Philistines, for the same plague was on all of you and on your lords. (Jos 13:3; Jud 3:3; 1Sa 5:6; 1Sa 5:9; 1Sa 5:12; 1Sa 6:17)5So you must make images of your tumors and images of your mice that ravage the land, and give glory to the God of Israel. Perhaps he will lighten his hand from off you and your gods and your land. (Jos 7:19; 1Sa 5:3; 1Sa 5:6; 1Sa 5:7; 1Sa 5:9; 1Sa 5:11; 1Sa 6:4)6Why should you harden your hearts as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened their hearts? After he had dealt severely with them, did they not send the people away, and they departed? (Ex 7:13; Ex 8:15; Ex 8:32; Ex 9:7; Ex 9:35; Ex 10:1; Ex 12:31; Ex 14:17)7Now then, take and prepare a new cart and two milk cows on which there has never come a yoke, and yoke the cows to the cart, but take their calves home, away from them. (Nu 19:2; 2Sa 6:3)8And take the ark of the Lord and place it on the cart and put in a box at its side the figures of gold, which you are returning to him as a guilt offering. Then send it off and let it go its way (1Sa 6:3; 1Sa 6:4)9and watch. If it goes up on the way to its own land, to Beth-shemesh, then it is he who has done us this great harm, but if not, then we shall know that it is not his hand that struck us; it happened to us by coincidence.” (Jos 15:10; 1Sa 6:3)10The men did so, and took two milk cows and yoked them to the cart and shut up their calves at home.11And they put the ark of the Lord on the cart and the box with the golden mice and the images of their tumors.12And the cows went straight in the direction of Beth-shemesh along one highway, lowing as they went. They turned neither to the right nor to the left, and the lords of the Philistines went after them as far as the border of Beth-shemesh. (Nu 20:19; Jos 21:16)13Now the people of Beth-shemesh were reaping their wheat harvest in the valley. And when they lifted up their eyes and saw the ark, they rejoiced to see it. (1Sa 6:12)14The cart came into the field of Joshua of Beth-shemesh and stopped there. A great stone was there. And they split up the wood of the cart and offered the cows as a burnt offering to the Lord. (1Sa 6:18)15And the Levites took down the ark of the Lord and the box that was beside it, in which were the golden figures, and set them upon the great stone. And the men of Beth-shemesh offered burnt offerings and sacrificed sacrifices on that day to the Lord. (1Sa 6:12; 1Sa 6:14)16And when the five lords of the Philistines saw it, they returned that day to Ekron. (1Sa 6:4)17These are the golden tumors that the Philistines returned as a guilt offering to the Lord: one for Ashdod, one for Gaza, one for Ashkelon, one for Gath, one for Ekron, (1Sa 6:3; 1Sa 6:8)18and the golden mice, according to the number of all the cities of the Philistines belonging to the five lords, both fortified cities and unwalled villages. The great stone beside which they set down the ark of the Lord is a witness to this day in the field of Joshua of Beth-shemesh. (De 3:5; 1Sa 6:14)19And he struck some of the men of Beth-shemesh, because they looked upon the ark of the Lord. He struck seventy men of them,[1] and the people mourned because the Lord had struck the people with a great blow. (Ex 19:21; Nu 4:15; Nu 4:20; 2Sa 6:7)20Then 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?” (2Sa 6:9)21So they sent messengers to the inhabitants of Kiriath-jearim, saying, “The Philistines have returned the ark of the Lord. Come down and take it up to you.” (Jos 9:17; Jos 18:14; 1Ch 13:5)
1 Samuel 6
King James Version
1And the ark of the LORD was in the country of the Philistines seven months.2And the Philistines called for the priests and the diviners, saying, What shall we do to the ark of the LORD? tell us wherewith we shall send it to his place.3And they said, If ye send away the ark of the God of Israel, send it not empty; but in any wise return him a trespass offering: then ye shall be healed, and it shall be known to you why his hand is not removed from you.4Then said they, What shall be the trespass offering which we shall return to him? They answered, Five golden emerods, and five golden mice, according to the number of the lords of the Philistines: for one plague was on you all, and on your lords.5Wherefore ye shall make images of your emerods, and images of your mice that mar the land; and ye shall give glory unto the God of Israel: peradventure he will lighten his hand from off you, and from off your gods, and from off your land.6Wherefore then do ye harden your hearts, as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened their hearts? when he had wrought wonderfully among them, did they not let the people go, and they departed?7Now therefore make a new cart, and take two milch kine, on which there hath come no yoke, and tie the kine to the cart, and bring their calves home from them:8And take the ark of the LORD, and lay it upon the cart; and put the jewels of gold, which ye return him for a trespass offering, in a coffer by the side thereof; and send it away, that it may go.9And see, if it goeth up by the way of his own coast to Bethshemesh, then he hath done us this great evil: but if not, then we shall know that it is not his hand that smote us: it was a chance that happened to us.10And the men did so; and took two milch kine, and tied them to the cart, and shut up their calves at home:11And they laid the ark of the LORD upon the cart, and the coffer with the mice of gold and the images of their emerods.12And the kine took the straight way to the way of Bethshemesh, and went along the highway, lowing as they went, and turned not aside to the right hand or to the left; and the lords of the Philistines went after them unto the border of Bethshemesh.13And they of Bethshemesh were reaping their wheat harvest in the valley: and they lifted up their eyes, and saw the ark, and rejoiced to see it .14And the cart came into the field of Joshua, a Bethshemite, and stood there, where there was a great stone: and they clave the wood of the cart, and offered the kine a burnt offering unto the LORD.15And the Levites took down the ark of the LORD, and the coffer that was with it, wherein the jewels of gold were , and put them on the great stone: and the men of Bethshemesh offered burnt offerings and sacrificed sacrifices the same day unto the LORD.16And when the five lords of the Philistines had seen it , they returned to Ekron the same day.17And these are the golden emerods which the Philistines returned for a trespass offering unto the LORD; for Ashdod one, for Gaza one, for Askelon one, for Gath one, for Ekron one;18And the golden mice, according to the number of all the cities of the Philistines belonging to the five lords, both of fenced cities, and of country villages, even unto the great stone of Abel, whereon they set down the ark of the LORD: which stone remaineth unto this day in the field of Joshua, the Bethshemite.19And 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.20And the men of Bethshemesh said, Who is able to stand before this holy LORD God? and to whom shall he go up from us?21And they sent messengers to the inhabitants of Kirjathjearim, saying, The Philistines have brought again the ark of the LORD; come ye down, and fetch it up to you.
1So war die Lade des HERRN sieben Monate im Lande der Philister.2Und die Philister riefen ihre Priester und Wahrsager und sprachen: Was sollen wir mit der Lade des HERRN machen? Lasst uns wissen, wie wir sie an ihren Ort senden sollen!3Sie sprachen: Wollt ihr die Lade des Gottes Israels zurücksenden, so sendet sie nicht ohne eine Gabe, sondern gebt ihm eine Sühnegabe; so werdet ihr gesund werden, und es wird euch kundwerden, warum seine Hand nicht von euch ablässt.4Sie aber sprachen: Was ist die Sühnegabe, die wir ihm geben sollen? Sie antworteten: Fünf goldene Beulen und fünf goldene Mäuse nach der Zahl der Fürsten der Philister, denn es ist ein und dieselbe Plage gewesen über euch alle und über eure Fürsten. (Jos 13:3)5So macht nun Abbilder eurer Beulen und eurer Mäuse, die euer Land zugrunde gerichtet haben, dass ihr dem Gott Israels die Ehre gebt. Vielleicht wird seine Hand leichter werden über euch und über euren Gott und über euer Land.6Warum verstockt ihr euer Herz, wie die Ägypter und der Pharao ihr Herz verstockten? Ist’s nicht so: Als der Herr seine Macht an ihnen bewies, ließen sie sie ziehen, dass sie gehen konnten? (Ex 4:21; Ex 7:13; Ex 10:2; Ex 12:31)7So macht nun einen neuen Wagen und nehmt zwei säugende Kühe, auf die noch kein Joch gekommen ist; spannt sie an den Wagen und lasst ihre Kälber daheimbleiben.8Aber die Lade des HERRN nehmt und stellt sie auf den Wagen, und die Dinge aus Gold, die ihr ihm zur Sühnegabe gebt, tut in ein Kästlein daneben. So sendet sie hin und lasst sie gehen.9Und seht zu: Geht sie den Weg hinauf in ihr Land auf Bet-Schemesch zu, so hat er uns dies große Übel angetan; wenn nicht, so wissen wir, dass nicht seine Hand uns getroffen hat, sondern es ist uns zufällig widerfahren.10Die Leute taten so und nahmen zwei säugende Kühe und spannten sie an einen Wagen und behielten ihre Kälber daheim11und stellten die Lade des HERRN auf den Wagen, dazu das Kästlein mit den goldenen Mäusen und mit den Abbildern ihrer Beulen.12Und die Kühe gingen geradewegs auf Bet-Schemesch zu, auf ein und derselben Straße, und brüllten immerfort und wichen weder zur Rechten noch zur Linken; und die Fürsten der Philister gingen ihnen nach bis an die Grenze von Bet-Schemesch. (Jos 15:10)13Die Leute von Bet-Schemesch aber schnitten eben den Weizen im Talgrund, und als sie ihre Augen aufhoben, sahen sie die Lade und freuten sich, sie zu sehen.14Der Wagen aber kam auf den Acker Joschuas von Bet-Schemesch und stand dort still. Und dort lag ein großer Stein. Da spalteten sie das Holz des Wagens und opferten die Kühe dem HERRN zum Brandopfer.15Die Leviten aber hoben die Lade des HERRN herab und das Kästlein, das daneben stand, darin die Dinge aus Gold waren, und stellten sie auf den großen Stein. Und die Leute von Bet-Schemesch opferten dem HERRN am selben Tage Brandopfer und Schlachtopfer.16Da aber die fünf Fürsten der Philister das gesehen hatten, kehrten sie am selben Tage nach Ekron zurück.17Dies sind die goldenen Beulen, die die Philister dem HERRN als Sühnegabe erstatteten: für Aschdod eine, für Gaza eine, für Aschkelon eine, für Gat eine und für Ekron eine;18und goldene Mäuse nach der Zahl aller Städte der Philister unter den fünf Fürsten, der festen Städte und der Dörfer. Und Zeuge ist der große Stein, auf den sie die Lade des HERRN gestellt hatten. Er liegt bis auf diesen Tag auf dem Acker Joschuas von Bet-Schemesch.
Die Lade kommt nach Kirjat-Jearim
19Und der HERR schlug etliche von Bet-Schemesch, denn sie hatten die Lade des HERRN gesehen; und er schlug im Volk siebzig Mann[1]. Da trug das Volk Leid, dass der HERR einen so großen Schlag gegen das Volk getan hatte. (Nu 4:20; 2Sa 6:6)20Und die Leute von Bet-Schemesch sprachen: Wer kann bestehen vor dem HERRN, diesem heiligen Gott? Und zu wem soll er von uns wegziehen?21Und sie sandten Boten zu den Bürgern von Kirjat-Jearim und ließen ihnen sagen: Die Philister haben die Lade des HERRN zurückgebracht; kommt herab und holt sie zu euch hinauf. (1Ch 13:6; Ps 132:3)