1 samuel 6:21 - They sent messengers to the inhabitants of Kiriath Jearim, saying, “The Philistines have brought back Yahweh’s ark. Come down, and bring it up to yourselves.”
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What does "1 samuel 6:21" mean?
This verse, 1 Samuel 6:21, is a continuation of the story of the Ark of the Covenant after it caused plagues among the Philistines who had captured it. Let's break down the meaning:
"They sent messengers...": The "they" refers to the men of Beth-shemesh. Beth-shemesh was the nearest Israelite town to the Philistine territory where the Ark had been returned. The men of Beth-shemesh had rejoiced at the return of the Ark, but they had looked inside it, violating its sacredness, and many of them were struck dead (1 Samuel 6:19). They were terrified by the Ark's power.
"...to the inhabitants of Kiriath Jearim...": Kiriath Jearim was another Israelite town, likely one considered more suitable (or less likely to suffer harm) to house the Ark. It was probably a town with a strong religious tradition or a family known for their devotion to God.
"...saying, “The Philistines have brought back Yahweh’s ark...": This clearly indicates that the Ark was no longer in Philistine territory and had been returned to the border of Israel.
"...Come down, and bring it up to yourselves.”": This is the crucial part. The people of Beth-shemesh, having experienced the lethal consequences of improperly handling the Ark, were afraid to keep it. They were asking the people of Kiriath Jearim to take responsibility for the Ark, to move it from Beth-shemesh to their own town. The phrase "bring it up" likely refers to the Ark being brought to Kiriath Jearim, which was likely located higher in elevation than Beth-shemesh. More generally "bring it up" means to bring it to safety.
In essence, the verse describes:
The people of Beth-shemesh, having received the returned Ark of the Covenant but experiencing its deadly power, are desperately seeking to transfer the responsibility of housing it to the people of Kiriath Jearim. They are too afraid to keep it themselves, fearing further divine judgment.
Significance:
This verse highlights the awe and fear that the Ark of the Covenant inspired in the Israelites. It wasn't just a physical object; it was a tangible representation of God's presence and power, which demanded reverence and careful handling. The incident shows that improper reverence could result in terrible consequences. The transfer of the Ark to Kiriath Jearim also marks a period of relative obscurity for the Ark in Israelite history, as it would remain there for many years before being brought to Jerusalem by King David.
1 samuel 6:21 - They sent messengers to the inhabitants of Kiriath Jearim, saying, “The Philistines have brought back Yahweh’s ark. Come down, and bring it up to yourselves.”
What does "1 samuel 6:21" mean?
This verse, 1 Samuel 6:21, is a continuation of the story of the Ark of the Covenant after it caused plagues among the Philistines who had captured it. Let's break down the meaning:
"They sent messengers...": The "they" refers to the men of Beth-shemesh. Beth-shemesh was the nearest Israelite town to the Philistine territory where the Ark had been returned. The men of Beth-shemesh had rejoiced at the return of the Ark, but they had looked inside it, violating its sacredness, and many of them were struck dead (1 Samuel 6:19). They were terrified by the Ark's power.
"...to the inhabitants of Kiriath Jearim...": Kiriath Jearim was another Israelite town, likely one considered more suitable (or less likely to suffer harm) to house the Ark. It was probably a town with a strong religious tradition or a family known for their devotion to God.
"...saying, “The Philistines have brought back Yahweh’s ark...": This clearly indicates that the Ark was no longer in Philistine territory and had been returned to the border of Israel.
"...Come down, and bring it up to yourselves.”": This is the crucial part. The people of Beth-shemesh, having experienced the lethal consequences of improperly handling the Ark, were afraid to keep it. They were asking the people of Kiriath Jearim to take responsibility for the Ark, to move it from Beth-shemesh to their own town. The phrase "bring it up" likely refers to the Ark being brought to Kiriath Jearim, which was likely located higher in elevation than Beth-shemesh. More generally "bring it up" means to bring it to safety.
In essence, the verse describes:
The people of Beth-shemesh, having received the returned Ark of the Covenant but experiencing its deadly power, are desperately seeking to transfer the responsibility of housing it to the people of Kiriath Jearim. They are too afraid to keep it themselves, fearing further divine judgment.
Significance:
This verse highlights the awe and fear that the Ark of the Covenant inspired in the Israelites. It wasn't just a physical object; it was a tangible representation of God's presence and power, which demanded reverence and careful handling. The incident shows that improper reverence could result in terrible consequences. The transfer of the Ark to Kiriath Jearim also marks a period of relative obscurity for the Ark in Israelite history, as it would remain there for many years before being brought to Jerusalem by King David.