1 Samuel 6:20 — Meaning and Application

King James Version

“And the men of Bethshemesh said, Who is able to stand before this holy LORD God? and to whom shall he go up from us?”

1 Samuel 6:20

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Understanding the surrounding verses prevents misinterpretation:

And the golden mice, {according to} the number of all the cities of the Philistines {belonging} to the five lords, {both} of fenced cities, and of country villages, even unto the great {stone of} Abel, whereon they set down the ark of the LORD: {which stone remaineth} unto this day in the field of Joshua, the Bethshemite. {great...: or, great stone}

And he smote the men of Bethshemesh, because they had looked into the ark of the LORD, even he smote of the people fifty thousand and threescore and ten men: and the people lamented, because the LORD had smitten {many} of the people with a great slaughter.

And the men of Bethshemesh said, Who is able to stand before this holy LORD God? and to whom shall he go up from us?

And they sent messengers to the inhabitants of Kirjathjearim, saying, The Philistines have brought again the ark of the LORD; come ye down, {and} fetch it up to you.

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From This Chapter

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."

1 Samuel 6:3

"And they said, If ye send away the ark of the God of Israel, send it not empty; but in any wise return him a trespass offering: then ye shall be healed, and it shall be known to you why his hand is not removed from you."

1 Samuel 6:4

"Then said they, What {shall be} the trespass offering which we shall return to him? They answered, Five golden emerods, and five golden mice, {according to} the number of the lords of the Philistines: for one plague {was} on you all, and on your lords. {you: Heb. them}"

1 Samuel 6:5

"Wherefore ye shall make images of your emerods, and images of your mice that mar the land; and ye shall give glory unto the God of Israel: peradventure he will lighten his hand from off you, and from off your gods, and from off your land."

1 Samuel 6:6

"Wherefore then do ye harden your hearts, as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened their hearts? when he had wrought wonderfully among them, did they not let the people go, and they departed? {wonderfully: or, reproachfully} {the people: Heb. them}"

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