1 Samuel 6:2

2 and after these things the Philistines called together [the] priests and false diviners, and said, What shall we do of the ark of God? Show ye to us, how we shall send it into his place. (and after these things the Philistines called together the priests and the false diviners, and asked, What shall we do with the Ark of God? Tell us how we should send it back to its own place?)

1 Samuel 6:2 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 6:2

And the Philistines called for the priests and for the
diviners
The one were skilled in the rites and ceremonies of religion, not only of their own, but of other nations, particularly of Israel; and that they were not strangers to the history and affairs of that people is plain from ( 1 Samuel 6:6 ) and the other were skilled in judicial astrology, and knowledge of future events, at least as they pretended to; and therefore were both thought fit persons to advise with on the occasion of the ark, and the circumstances they were in through that:

saying, what shall we do to the ark of the Lord?
shall we send it back to its own land, or not? the Ekronites had moved it might be sent back, and the five lords sent for the priests and diviners to have their advice upon it, whether it was right or not, and what they should do to it, or with it; for if it was advisable to send it back, then another question follows:

tell us wherewith we shall send it to its place;
whether on men's shoulders, or on horses or asses, or on a carriage; and whether just as it was taken, or with some presents with it.

1 Samuel 6:2 In-Context

1 Therefore the ark of the Lord was in the country of [the] Philistines (for) seven months;
2 and after these things the Philistines called together [the] priests and false diviners, and said, What shall we do of the ark of God? Show ye to us, how we shall send it into his place. (and after these things the Philistines called together the priests and the false diviners, and asked, What shall we do with the Ark of God? Tell us how we should send it back to its own place?)
3 Which said, If ye send again the ark of God of Israel, do not ye deliver it void, but yield ye to him that thing, that ye owe for [the] sin; and then ye shall be healed, and ye shall know, why his hand goeth not away from you. (Who said, If ye return the Ark of the God of Israel, do not ye send it back without a gift, but send ye it back with what ye owe for your sin; and then ye shall be healed, and ye shall know why his hand goeth not away from you now.)
4 And they said, What is it, that we ought to yield to him for (the) trespass? And they answered to them, By the number of the provinces of (the) Philistines, ye shall make five golden arses, and five golden mice; for one vengeance was to all (of) you, and to your wise men, either princes.
5 And ye shall make the likeness of your arses, and the likeness of [the] mice that destroyed your land; and ye shall give glory to [the] God of Israel, if in hap he withdraw his hand from you, and from your gods, and from your land.
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.