1 samuel 5:11 - They sent therefore and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines, and they said, “Send the ark of the God of Israel away, and let it go again to its own place, that it not kill us and our people.” For there was a deadly confusion throughout all the city. The hand of God was very heavy there.
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What does "1 samuel 5:11" mean?
This verse, 1 Samuel 5:11, describes the desperate reaction of the Philistines after capturing the Ark of the Covenant from the Israelites. Here's a breakdown of what it means:
"They sent therefore and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines..." The "lords" or "rulers" of the Philistine city-states (like Ashdod, Gaza, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron) convened a council. This suggests the crisis was affecting all of them, and they needed a unified strategy.
"...and they said, 'Send the ark of the God of Israel away, and let it go again to its own place, that it not kill us and our people.'" This is the core of the verse. The Philistines, who initially saw the Ark as a trophy of their victory, now wanted to get rid of it as quickly as possible. They believed the Ark, which represented the God of Israel, was the cause of their suffering. They wanted to send it back "to its own place" (Israelite territory) to stop the calamities.
"For there was a deadly confusion throughout all the city. The hand of God was very heavy there." This explains why the Philistines were so eager to return the Ark. The "deadly confusion" refers to the plagues and suffering that had struck the Philistine cities since the Ark's arrival. In previous verses and chapters these plagues and suffering are described in more detail, commonly referring to tumors and a plague of mice. The phrase "The hand of God was very heavy there" is a direct acknowledgement that they believed the God of Israel was responsible for their misery, and they felt powerless against it. The word "heavy" implies a crushing, oppressive force.
In essence, the verse highlights:
The Philistines' initial triumph over the Israelites turned into a nightmare.
Their polytheistic worldview led them to recognize the power of the God of Israel, even while worshipping their own deities.
Their fear motivated them to return the Ark, acknowledging the destructive consequences of having it in their possession.
The verse underscores the biblical narrative's claim that the God of Israel is more powerful than other deities and that his presence brings judgment to those who oppose him.
1 samuel 5:11 - They sent therefore and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines, and they said, “Send the ark of the God of Israel away, and let it go again to its own place, that it not kill us and our people.” For there was a deadly confusion throughout all the city. The hand of God was very heavy there.
What does "1 samuel 5:11" mean?
This verse, 1 Samuel 5:11, describes the desperate reaction of the Philistines after capturing the Ark of the Covenant from the Israelites. Here's a breakdown of what it means:
"They sent therefore and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines..." The "lords" or "rulers" of the Philistine city-states (like Ashdod, Gaza, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron) convened a council. This suggests the crisis was affecting all of them, and they needed a unified strategy.
"...and they said, 'Send the ark of the God of Israel away, and let it go again to its own place, that it not kill us and our people.'" This is the core of the verse. The Philistines, who initially saw the Ark as a trophy of their victory, now wanted to get rid of it as quickly as possible. They believed the Ark, which represented the God of Israel, was the cause of their suffering. They wanted to send it back "to its own place" (Israelite territory) to stop the calamities.
"For there was a deadly confusion throughout all the city. The hand of God was very heavy there." This explains why the Philistines were so eager to return the Ark. The "deadly confusion" refers to the plagues and suffering that had struck the Philistine cities since the Ark's arrival. In previous verses and chapters these plagues and suffering are described in more detail, commonly referring to tumors and a plague of mice. The phrase "The hand of God was very heavy there" is a direct acknowledgement that they believed the God of Israel was responsible for their misery, and they felt powerless against it. The word "heavy" implies a crushing, oppressive force.
In essence, the verse highlights:
The Philistines' initial triumph over the Israelites turned into a nightmare.
Their polytheistic worldview led them to recognize the power of the God of Israel, even while worshipping their own deities.
Their fear motivated them to return the Ark, acknowledging the destructive consequences of having it in their possession.
The verse underscores the biblical narrative's claim that the God of Israel is more powerful than other deities and that his presence brings judgment to those who oppose him.