1 Samuel 6 · Verse 1

1 Samuel 6:1

And the ark of the Lord was in the country of the Philistines seven months.
1 Samuel 6:1, King James Version

1 Samuel 6:1 in other translations

BSBWhen the ark of the LORD had been in the land of the Philistines seven months,
WEBThe LORD’s ark was in the country of the Philistines seven months.
ASVAnd the ark of Jehovah was in the country of the Philistines seven months.
YLTAnd the ark of Jehovah is in the field of the Philistines seven months,
DARBYAnd the ark of Jehovah was in the country of the Philistines seven months.
BBENow the ark of the Lord was in the country of the Philistines for seven months.
WebsterAnd the ark of the LORD was in the country of the Philistines seven months.

What does 1 Samuel 6:1 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
1Sa 6:1-9. The Philistines Counsel How to Send Back the Ark. 1. the ark ... was in the country of the Philistines seven months--Notwithstanding the calamities which its presence had brought on the country and the people, the Philistine lords were unwilling to relinquish such a prize, and tried every means to retain it with peace and safety, but in vain.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Introduction

After the ark had been seven months in the land of the Philistines, they consult their priests and diviners about sending it to Shiloh, 1Sam 6:1, 1Sam 6:2. They advise that it be sent back with a trespass-offering of five golden emerods, and five golden mice, 1Sam 6:3-6. They advise also that it be sent back on a new cart, drawn by two milch kine from whom their calves shall be tied up; and then conclude that if these cows shalt take the way of Beth-shemesh, as going to the Israelitish border, then the Lord had afflicted them, if not, then their evils were accidental, 1Sam 6:7-9. They do as directed; and the kine take the way of Beth-shemesh, 1Sam 6:10-13. They stop in the field of Joshua; and the men of Beth-shemesh take them, and offer them to the Lord for a burnt-offering, and cleave the wood of the cart to burn them, and make sundry other offerings, 1Sam 6:14, 1Sam 6:15. The offerings of the five lords of the Philistines, 1Sam 6:16-18. For too curiously looking into the ark, the men of Beth-shemesh are smitten of the Lord, 1Sam 6:19, 1Sam 6:20. They send to the inhabitants of Kirjath-jearim, that they may take away the ark, 1Sam 6:21.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 Samuel 6:1-9
Seven months the Philistines were punished with the presence of the ark; so long it was a plague to them, because they would not send it home sooner. Sinners lengthen out their own miseries by refusing to part with their sins. The Israelites made no effort to recover the ark. Alas! where shall we find concern for religion prevail above all other matters? In times of public calamity we fear for ourselves, for our families, and for our country; but who cares for the ark of God? We are favoured with the gospel, but it is treated with neglect or contempt. We need not wonder if it should be taken from us; to many persons this, though the heavies of calamities, would occasion no grief. There are multitudes whom any profession would please as well as that of Christianity. But there are those who value the house, the word, and the ministry of God above their richest possessions, who dread the loss of these blessings more than death. How willing bad men are to shift off their convictions, and when they are in trouble, to believe it is a chance that happens; and that the rod has no voice which they should hear or heed!

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

1 Samuel 6:1 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וַיְהִ֧יvay.Hiand it wasH1961
אֲרוֹן\־'a.ron-[the] ark ofH727
יְהוָ֛הYah.wehYahwehH3068
בִּשְׂדֵ֥הbis.Dehin [the] region ofH7704
פְלִשְׁתִּ֖יםfe.lish.Tim[the] PhilistinesH6430
שִׁבְעָ֥הshiv.'AhsevenH7651
חֳדָשִֽׁים\׃cho.da.ShimmonthsH2320

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 1 Samuel 6:1

  • Psalms 78:61

    And delivered his strength into captivity, and his glory into the enemy’s hand.

  • 1 Samuel 5:10-11

    Therefore they sent the ark of God to Ekron. And it came to pass, as the ark of God came to Ekron, that the Ekronites cried out, saying, They have brought about the ark of the God of Israel to us, to slay us and our people. So they sent and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines, and said, Send away the ark of the God of Israel, and let it go again to his own place, that it slay us not, and our people: for there was a deadly destruction throughout all the city; the hand of God was very heavy there.

  • 1 Samuel 5:3

    And when they of Ashdod arose early on the morrow, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the earth before the ark of the Lord. And they took Dagon, and set him in his place again.

  • 1 Samuel 5:1

    And the Philistines took the ark of God, and brought it from Eben–ezer unto Ashdod.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1 After seven months the Philistines take counsel how to send back the ark.
10 They bring it on a new cart with an offering unto Beth-shemesh.
19 The people are smitten for looking into the ark.
21 They send to them of Kirjath-jearim to fetch it.

A.M. 2864. B.C. 1140. An. Ex. Is. 351. the ark.
5:1,3,10,11; Ps 78:61

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • 1 Samuel 6:1

    And the ark of the Lord was in the country of the Philistines seven months.

  • 1 Samuel 6:2

    And the Philistines called for the priests and the diviners, saying, What shall we do to the ark of the Lord? tell us wherewith we shall send it to his place.

Read all of 1 Samuel 6

1 Samuel 6:1 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y ESTUVO el arca de Jehová en la tierra de los Filisteos siete meses.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et l’arche de l’ Éternel fut sept mois dans le pays des Philistins;
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und die Lade Jehovas war im Gefilde der Philister sieben Monate.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Fuit ergo arca Domini in regione Philisthinorum septem mensibus.