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The Philistines send the ark back, ver. 1 - 12.
The Israelites receive it, ver. 13 - 18.
The people of Beth - shemesh, smitten for looking into the ark,
desire those of Kirjath - jearim to fetch it, ver. 19 - 21.
1: Seven months - So long they kept it, as loath to lose so great a
prize, and willing to try all ways to keep it.
3: It shall be known - You shall understand, what is hitherto
doubtful, whether he was the author of these calamities, and why they
continued so long upon you.
4: Emerods - Figures representing the disease. These they offered
not in contempt of God, for they fought to gain his favour hereby; but in
testimony of their humiliation, that by leaving this monument of their own
shame and misery, they might obtain pity from God. Mice - Which marred
their land by destroying the fruits thereof; as the other plague afflicted
their Bodies.
5: Give glory - The glory of his power in conquering you, who seemed
to have conquered him; of his justice in punishing you, and of his goodness
if he relieve you.
6: Wherefore, &c. - They express themselves thus, either because
some opposed the sending home the ark, though most had consented to it;
or because they thought they would hardly send it away in the manner
prescribed, by giving glory to God, and taking shame to themselves.
7: Milch kine, &c. - In respect to the ark; and for the better
discovery, because such untamed heifers are apt to wander, and keep no
certain and constant paths, as oxen accustomed to the yoke do, and
therefore were most unlikely to keep the direct road to Israel's land.
From them - Which would stir up natural affection in their dams, and
cause them rather to return home, than to go to a strange country.
9: His own coast - Or Border, that is, the way that leadeth
to his coast, or border, namely, the country to which it belongs.
Then he, &c. - Which they might well conclude, if such heifers should
against their common use, and natural instinct, go into a strange path,
and regularly and constantly proceed in it, without any man's conduct.
12: Beth - shemesh - A city of the priests, who were by office to take
care of it. Loving - Testifying at once both their natural and vehement
inclination to their calves, and the supernatural power which over - ruled
them to a contrary course. The lords went - To prevent all imposture,
and to get assurance of the truth of the event. All which circumstances
tended to the greater illustration of God's glory.
14: They - Not the lords of the Philistines, but the
Beth - shemites, the priest that dwelt there.
Offered the kine - There may seem to he a double error in this act.
First, that they offered females for a burnt - offering, contrary to
(Le 1:3).
Secondly, that they did it in a forbidden place, (De 12:5,6).
But this case being extraordinary, may in some sort excuse it, if they did
not proceed by ordinary rules.
18: Villages - This is added for explication of that foregoing
phrase, all the cities; either to shew, that under the name of the five
cities were comprehended all the villages and territories belonging to
them, in whose name, and at whose charge these presents were made; or to
express the difference between this and the former present, the emerods
being only five, according to the five cities mentioned, ver.(17),
because it may seem, the cities only, or principally, were pestered with
that disease; and the mice being many more according to the number
of all the cities, as is here expressed: the word city being taken
generally so, as to include not only fenced cities, but also the country
villages, and the fields belonging to them. Abel - This is mentioned as
the utmost border of the Philistines territory, to which the plague of
mice extended. And this place is here called Abel, by anticipation
from the great mourning mentioned in the following verse. It is desirable,
to see the ark in its habitation, in all the circumstances of solemnity.
But it is better to have it on a great stone, and in the fields of the wood,
than to be without it. The intrinsic grandeur of divine ordinances ought
not to be diminished in our eyes, by the meanness and poverty of the place,
where they are administered.
19: Had looked - Having now an opportunity which they never yet had,
it is not strange they had a vehement curiosity to see the contents of the
ark. Of the people - In and near Beth - shemesh and coming from all
parts on this occasion.
20: Who is able, &c. - That is, to minister before the ark where the
Lord is present. Since God is so severe to mark what is amiss in his
servants, who is sufficient to serve him? It seems to be a complaint, or
expostulation with God, concerning this great instance of his severity.
And to whom, &c. - Who will dare to receive the ark with so much hazard
to themselves. Thus when the word of God works with terror on men's
consciences, instead of taking the blame to themselves, they frequently
quarrel with the word, and endeavour to put it from them.
21: Kirjath - jearim - Whither they sent, either because the place was
not far off from them, and so it might soon be removed: or because it was
a place of eminency and strength, and somewhat farther distant from the
Philistines, where therefore it was likely to be better preserved from
any new attempts of the Philistines, and to be better attended by the
Israelites, who would more freely and frequently come to it at such a
place, than in Beth - shemesh, which was upon the border of their enemies
land.
