1 Samuel 6:1

1 The ark of Yahweh was in the country of the Philistines seven months.

1 Samuel 6:1 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 6:1

And the ark of the Lord was in the country of the Philistines
seven months.
] Or "in the field" ^F3 of the Philistines; hence Procopius Gazaeus observes, that none of the cities daring to receive the ark, they left it without under the open air, so thinking they should be delivered from their calamity. But the word is often used for country, and is generally so understood here; the Targum is,

``in the cities of the Philistines;''

in one or other of them, first for a while in Ashdod, and then for some time in Gath, and last in Ekron, and in all seven months from the time of its being taken; and it being in wheat harvest when it was returned, ( 1 Samuel 6:13 ) , these seven months will carry us back to the beginning of winter, or towards the end of autumn, when the battles between Israel and the Philistines were fought, and the ark was taken. Josephus ^F4 says it was with the Philistines four months only, contrary to the text.

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FOOTNOTES:

F3 (hdvb) (en agrw) , Sept. "in agro", Pagninus, Montanus.
F4 Antiqu. l. 6. c. 1. sect. 4.

1 Samuel 6:1 In-Context

1 The ark of Yahweh was in the country of the Philistines seven months.

2 The Philistines called for the priests and the diviners, saying, "What shall we do with the ark of Yahweh? Show us with which we shall send it to its place."

3 They said, "If you send away the ark of the God of Israel, don't send it empty; but by all means return him a trespass-offering: then you shall be healed, and it shall be known to you why his hand is not removed from you."

4 Then they said, "What shall be the trespass-offering which we shall return to him?" They said, "Five golden tumors, 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.

5 Therefore you shall make images of your tumors, and images of your mice that mar the land; and you shall give glory to the God of Israel: peradventure he will lighten his hand from off you, and from off your gods, and from off your land.