1 Samuel 6:9 — Meaning and Application

King James Version

“And see, if it goeth up by the way of his own coast to Bethshemesh, {then} he hath done us this great evil: but if not, then we shall know that {it is} not his hand {that} smote us: it {was} a chance {that} happened to us. {he: or, it}”

1 Samuel 6:9

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Understanding the surrounding verses prevents misinterpretation:

Now therefore make a new cart, and take two milch kine, on which there hath come no yoke, and tie the kine to the cart, and bring their calves home from them:

And take the ark of the LORD, and lay it upon the cart; and put the jewels of gold, which ye return him {for} a trespass offering, in a coffer by the side thereof; and send it away, that it may go.

And see, if it goeth up by the way of his own coast to Bethshemesh, {then} he hath done us this great evil: but if not, then we shall know that {it is} not his hand {that} smote us: it {was} a chance {that} happened to us. {he: or, it}

And the men did so; and took two milch kine, and tied them to the cart, and shut up their calves at home:

And they laid the ark of the LORD upon the cart, and the coffer with the mice of gold and the images of their emerods.

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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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