1 samuel 6:3 - They said, “If you send away the ark of the God of Israel, don’t send it empty; but by all means return a trespass offering to him. Then you will be healed, and it will be known to you why his hand is not removed from you.”
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What does "1 samuel 6:3" mean?
This verse, 1 Samuel 6:3, is a key part of the story of the return of the Ark of the Covenant to Israel after the Philistines had captured it. Let's break down what it means:
Context: The Philistines captured the Ark in battle (1 Samuel 4). However, its presence among them brought a series of plagues and misfortunes (1 Samuel 5). They suffered tumors (likely bubonic plague or a similar ailment) and devastation. They realized that their problems were likely related to the Ark, and they were desperate to get rid of it.
"They said, 'If you send away the ark of the God of Israel...'": This refers to the Philistine priests and diviners advising their people on what to do. They are the ones who come up with the plan.
"...don’t send it empty; but by all means return a trespass offering to him.": This is the crucial part of the advice.
"Don't send it empty": This means don't just send the Ark back without any acknowledgment of their wrongdoing or any attempt to appease the God of Israel. Sending it back "empty" would be interpreted as disrespectful and could potentially worsen their situation.
"Trespass offering": A trespass offering (or guilt offering) was a type of sacrifice prescribed in the Law of Moses (Leviticus 5-6). It was offered to atone for unintentional sins, sins committed in ignorance, or sins against holy things. In this context, the Philistines were acknowledging that they had done wrong by capturing the Ark, which was a sacred object.
The idea of giving a trespass offering shows that the Philistines, or at least their priests and diviners, understood that their problems were connected to a violation of the God of Israel. They were not simply dealing with bad luck; they believed they had offended a powerful deity.
"Then you will be healed, and it will be known to you why his hand is not removed from you.": This is the promise contingent on offering the appropriate trespass offering.
"Then you will be healed": The expected result of offering the trespass offering was relief from the plagues and illnesses they were experiencing. They hoped to appease the God of Israel and stop the suffering.
"And it will be known to you why his hand is not removed from you": This suggests that the Philistines were not entirely sure why the plagues had struck them. The advice implies that the trespass offering would not only bring healing but also provide understanding. By following the prescribed ritual, they would gain insight into the nature of their offense and the reason for God's displeasure. In short, they would understand why the Ark's presence brought disaster.
In essence, the verse means:
The Philistine priests and diviners advised their people that, to get rid of the plagues associated with the Ark and to appease the God of Israel, they should return the Ark along with a guilt offering. This offering was meant to acknowledge their wrongdoing in taking the Ark and to seek atonement. The hope was that this act would bring healing from the plagues and reveal to them the reason behind their suffering. The verse highlights the Philistines' understanding, or at least the diviners' understanding, that their troubles were divine punishment for violating the sacred nature of the Ark.
The Philistines followed the advice and sent the Ark back to Israel with the trespass offering, which included golden images of tumors and mice (1 Samuel 6:4-5). The story illustrates how even those who did not worship the God of Israel were aware of His power and the potential consequences of disrespecting Him.
1 samuel 6:3 - They said, “If you send away the ark of the God of Israel, don’t send it empty; but by all means return a trespass offering to him. Then you will be healed, and it will be known to you why his hand is not removed from you.”
What does "1 samuel 6:3" mean?
This verse, 1 Samuel 6:3, is a key part of the story of the return of the Ark of the Covenant to Israel after the Philistines had captured it. Let's break down what it means:
Context: The Philistines captured the Ark in battle (1 Samuel 4). However, its presence among them brought a series of plagues and misfortunes (1 Samuel 5). They suffered tumors (likely bubonic plague or a similar ailment) and devastation. They realized that their problems were likely related to the Ark, and they were desperate to get rid of it.
"They said, 'If you send away the ark of the God of Israel...'": This refers to the Philistine priests and diviners advising their people on what to do. They are the ones who come up with the plan.
"...don’t send it empty; but by all means return a trespass offering to him.": This is the crucial part of the advice.
"Don't send it empty": This means don't just send the Ark back without any acknowledgment of their wrongdoing or any attempt to appease the God of Israel. Sending it back "empty" would be interpreted as disrespectful and could potentially worsen their situation.
"Trespass offering": A trespass offering (or guilt offering) was a type of sacrifice prescribed in the Law of Moses (Leviticus 5-6). It was offered to atone for unintentional sins, sins committed in ignorance, or sins against holy things. In this context, the Philistines were acknowledging that they had done wrong by capturing the Ark, which was a sacred object.
The idea of giving a trespass offering shows that the Philistines, or at least their priests and diviners, understood that their problems were connected to a violation of the God of Israel. They were not simply dealing with bad luck; they believed they had offended a powerful deity.
"Then you will be healed, and it will be known to you why his hand is not removed from you.": This is the promise contingent on offering the appropriate trespass offering.
"Then you will be healed": The expected result of offering the trespass offering was relief from the plagues and illnesses they were experiencing. They hoped to appease the God of Israel and stop the suffering.
"And it will be known to you why his hand is not removed from you": This suggests that the Philistines were not entirely sure why the plagues had struck them. The advice implies that the trespass offering would not only bring healing but also provide understanding. By following the prescribed ritual, they would gain insight into the nature of their offense and the reason for God's displeasure. In short, they would understand why the Ark's presence brought disaster.
In essence, the verse means:
The Philistine priests and diviners advised their people that, to get rid of the plagues associated with the Ark and to appease the God of Israel, they should return the Ark along with a guilt offering. This offering was meant to acknowledge their wrongdoing in taking the Ark and to seek atonement. The hope was that this act would bring healing from the plagues and reveal to them the reason behind their suffering. The verse highlights the Philistines' understanding, or at least the diviners' understanding, that their troubles were divine punishment for violating the sacred nature of the Ark.
The Philistines followed the advice and sent the Ark back to Israel with the trespass offering, which included golden images of tumors and mice (1 Samuel 6:4-5). The story illustrates how even those who did not worship the God of Israel were aware of His power and the potential consequences of disrespecting Him.