What is the meaning of 1 Samuel 5:9? But after they had moved the ark to Gath • The Philistines—who had captured the ark at Ebenezer (1 Samuel 4:11)—shifted it from Ashdod to Gath, hoping a change of location would end the plagues that erupted around the idol Dagon (1 Samuel 5:3–6). • Their decision reflects a futile attempt to control God’s presence much like Israel’s earlier misuse of the ark as a battle talisman (1 Samuel 4:3–5). • Cross references: Numbers 4:15 shows that only those authorized by God may handle the ark; 2 Samuel 6:6–7 confirms the peril of improper transport even centuries later. the LORD’s hand was also against that city • “The LORD’s hand” pictures His direct, personal intervention; the same phrase appears when God strikes the Egyptians with plagues (Exodus 9:3). • God judges idolatry and irreverence wherever found—inside or outside Israel (Deuteronomy 32:39; Psalm 96:5). • The repetition of judgment in Ashdod (1 Samuel 5:6) and now Gath underscores His consistency and impartiality (Romans 2:11). throwing it into great confusion • Civic panic erupts as residents realize the Ark’s arrival has brought divine wrath, not blessing (compare Exodus 12:30 when Egypt was plunged into turmoil). • God’s presence, when treated casually, unsettles the wicked (Psalm 68:1–2) but comforts the faithful (Psalm 46:1). • Chaos in Gath previews the dread that will later grip the Philistine rulers who beg to send the Ark away (1 Samuel 5:11–12). and afflicting the men of the city, both young and old • No demographic is exempt; divine judgment spans generations just as divine mercy does (Joel 2:28; Acts 2:17). • Similar universal affliction appears in the tenth plague of Egypt (Exodus 11:5) affirming that God’s judgments are thorough and righteous (Revelation 15:3). • The suffering of both “young and old” highlights the community-wide consequences of collective sin (Joshua 7:1, 5). with an outbreak of tumors • Physical tumors (also called “boils” in some contexts) demonstrate a visible, undeniable sign of God’s displeasure, akin to the boils in Egypt (Exodus 9:8–11). • Later, the tumors are linked to rats in the Philistines’ guilt offering (1 Samuel 6:4–5), pointing to a likely bubonic-plague-like affliction. • The disease serves a redemptive purpose: it moves the Philistines to acknowledge Yahweh’s supremacy and return the Ark (1 Samuel 6:7–9). summary 1 Samuel 5:9 records a literal, historical judgment: when the Philistines moved the sacred Ark to Gath, God’s powerful hand struck the city with confusion and tumors, affecting every age group. The passage teaches that God’s holiness cannot be manipulated, His judgment is impartial and comprehensive, and reverence for His presence is non-negotiable. |
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