1 samuel 6:18 - and the golden mice, according to the number of all the cities of the Philistines belonging to the five lords, both of fortified cities and of country villages, even to the great stone, on which they set down Yahweh’s ark. That stone remains to this day in the field of Joshua of Beth Shemesh.
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What does "1 samuel 6:18" mean?
This verse, 1 Samuel 6:18, is part of the story of the Philistines returning the Ark of the Covenant to the Israelites after it brought plagues upon them. Let's break down the meaning:
"and the golden mice, according to the number of all the cities of the Philistines belonging to the five lords, both of fortified cities and of country villages..." The Philistines, as part of their guilt offering to appease the God of Israel, sent back golden images of mice (and tumors, mentioned earlier in the chapter). The number of golden mice corresponded to the total number of Philistine cities, both major (fortified) and minor (country villages), controlled by the five lords of the Philistines (Ashdod, Gaza, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron). This emphasizes the widespread impact of the plagues they believed were caused by the Ark; the plague affected all levels of Philistine society and territories.
"...even to the great stone, on which they set down Yahweh’s ark." When the Philistines returned the Ark on a cart pulled by cows, the cart stopped at a large stone in the field of Joshua of Beth Shemesh. The Israelites of Beth Shemesh received the Ark at this stone. The stone served as a marker and a witness to the Ark's return.
"That stone remains to this day in the field of Joshua of Beth Shemesh." The author of 1 Samuel notes that the stone was still present at the time of writing. This serves two purposes:
Historical Verification: It's a way for the author to provide a tangible, verifiable piece of evidence for the story. Readers could potentially go to the location and see the stone, lending credence to the narrative.
A Reminder: The stone served as a lasting reminder of the power of Yahweh and the Philistines' defeat and repentance. It was a testament to a significant event in the relationship between Israel and the Philistines.
In summary, the verse highlights:
The Extent of the Plague: The number of golden mice signifies the wide reach of the plagues inflicted upon the Philistines.
The Significance of the Place: The stone marks the specific location where the Ark was returned, making it a historically important site.
The Enduring Memory: The continued presence of the stone serves as a constant reminder of the events and the power of God.
The inclusion of such details in the text suggests that the author wanted to present the story as factual and historically grounded, reinforcing the importance of the events for the Israelites.
1 samuel 6:18 - and the golden mice, according to the number of all the cities of the Philistines belonging to the five lords, both of fortified cities and of country villages, even to the great stone, on which they set down Yahweh’s ark. That stone remains to this day in the field of Joshua of Beth Shemesh.
What does "1 samuel 6:18" mean?
This verse, 1 Samuel 6:18, is part of the story of the Philistines returning the Ark of the Covenant to the Israelites after it brought plagues upon them. Let's break down the meaning:
"and the golden mice, according to the number of all the cities of the Philistines belonging to the five lords, both of fortified cities and of country villages..." The Philistines, as part of their guilt offering to appease the God of Israel, sent back golden images of mice (and tumors, mentioned earlier in the chapter). The number of golden mice corresponded to the total number of Philistine cities, both major (fortified) and minor (country villages), controlled by the five lords of the Philistines (Ashdod, Gaza, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron). This emphasizes the widespread impact of the plagues they believed were caused by the Ark; the plague affected all levels of Philistine society and territories.
"...even to the great stone, on which they set down Yahweh’s ark." When the Philistines returned the Ark on a cart pulled by cows, the cart stopped at a large stone in the field of Joshua of Beth Shemesh. The Israelites of Beth Shemesh received the Ark at this stone. The stone served as a marker and a witness to the Ark's return.
"That stone remains to this day in the field of Joshua of Beth Shemesh." The author of 1 Samuel notes that the stone was still present at the time of writing. This serves two purposes:
Historical Verification: It's a way for the author to provide a tangible, verifiable piece of evidence for the story. Readers could potentially go to the location and see the stone, lending credence to the narrative.
A Reminder: The stone served as a lasting reminder of the power of Yahweh and the Philistines' defeat and repentance. It was a testament to a significant event in the relationship between Israel and the Philistines.
In summary, the verse highlights:
The Extent of the Plague: The number of golden mice signifies the wide reach of the plagues inflicted upon the Philistines.
The Significance of the Place: The stone marks the specific location where the Ark was returned, making it a historically important site.
The Enduring Memory: The continued presence of the stone serves as a constant reminder of the events and the power of God.
The inclusion of such details in the text suggests that the author wanted to present the story as factual and historically grounded, reinforcing the importance of the events for the Israelites.