1 Samuele 6:3

3 E quelli risposero: "Se rimandate l’arca dell’Iddio d’Israele, non la rimandate senza nulla, ma fategli ad ogni modo un’offerta di riparazione; allora guarirete, e così saprete perché la sua mano non abbia cessato d’aggravarsi su voi".

1 Samuele 6:3 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 6:3

And they said, if ye send away the ark of the God of Israel,
send it not empty
As they perceived they had either resolved upon, or at least were inclined to do; and which they also thought advisable and therefore would have them by no means send it away as it was, but with some presents along with it; for the meaning of this word "empty" is not that they should take care that all that were in it when taken should go with it, and nothing be taken out of it, or it be stripped of its contents; but that some gifts and offerings should be sent along with it: perhaps they might have some notion of, or respect unto a law in Israel, ( Exodus 23:15 ) or might say this from a common principle received among Heathens, that deities were to be appeased by gifts ^F5:

but in any wise return him a trespass offering;
here again they seem to have some notion of the sorts and kinds of sacrifice among the Israelites; and advise to a trespass offering, to make satisfaction and atonement for the offence they had committed in taking away the ark; and that they should make restoration not only by returning the ark, but by sending an expiatory offering along with it:

then ye shall be healed;
of the disease with which they were smitten; for it seems it still continued on them, at least on many:

and it shall be known to you why his hand is not removed from you;
which was because the ark was detained by them; but when that should be sent home, and they be healed upon it, then it would be a plain case that the reason why the disease was inflicted and continued was because of that.

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FOOTNOTES:

F5 "Munera crede mihi" Ovid. de arte amandi, l. 3.

1 Samuele 6:3 In-Context

1 L’arca dell’Eterno rimase nel paese dei Filistei sette mesi.

2 Poi i Filistei chiamarono i sacerdoti e gl’indovini, e dissero: "Che faremo dell’arca dell’Eterno? Insegnateci il modo di rimandarla al suo luogo".

3 E quelli risposero: "Se rimandate l’arca dell’Iddio d’Israele, non la rimandate senza nulla, ma fategli ad ogni modo un’offerta di riparazione; allora guarirete, e così saprete perché la sua mano non abbia cessato d’aggravarsi su voi".

4 Essi chiesero: "Quale offerta di riparazione gli offriremo noi?" Quelli risposero: "Cinque emorroidi d’oro e cinque topi d’oro, secondo il numero dei principi dei Filistei; giacché una stessa piaga ha colpito voi e i vostri principi.

5 Fate dunque delle figure delle vostre emorroidi e delle figure dei topi che vi devastano il paese, e date gloria all’Iddio d’Israele; forse egli cesserà d’aggravare la sua mano su voi, sui vostri dèi e sul vostro paese.