1 Samuel 5 10

1 Samuel 5:10 kjv

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.

1 Samuel 5:10 nkjv

Therefore they sent the ark of God to Ekron. So it was, as the ark of God came to Ekron, that the Ekronites cried out, saying, "They have brought the ark of the God of Israel to us, to kill us and our people!"

1 Samuel 5:10 niv

So they sent the ark of God to Ekron. As the ark of God was entering Ekron, the people of Ekron cried out, "They have brought the ark of the god of Israel around to us to kill us and our people."

1 Samuel 5:10 esv

So they sent the ark of God to Ekron. But as soon as the ark of God came to Ekron, the people of Ekron cried out, "They have brought around to us the ark of the God of Israel to kill us and our people."

1 Samuel 5:10 nlt

So they sent the Ark of God to the town of Ekron, but when the people of Ekron saw it coming they cried out, "They are bringing the Ark of the God of Israel here to kill us, too!"

1 Samuel 5 verses

1 Samuel 5 10 Meaning

The verse describes the climactic moment of panic and terror among the Philistines of Ekron as the Ark of the Covenant arrives in their city. Having already witnessed the devastating judgments on Gath and Ashdod, the Ekronites immediately recognize the Ark as the source of affliction and cry out in anguish, perceiving its arrival as a direct and existential threat from the "God of Israel," intending their widespread destruction. It reveals their forced acknowledgment of Yahweh's unparalleled power, far exceeding that of their own deities.

1 Samuel 5 10 Context

Following Israel's devastating defeat and the capture of the Ark by the Philistines in chapter 4, the Ark was taken to Ashdod and placed in Dagon's temple (1 Sam 5:1-2). Yahweh, however, demonstrated His supremacy by twice toppling Dagon's idol and then afflicting Ashdod with tumors and rodents (1 Sam 5:3-6). When the people of Ashdod realized the hand of the God of Israel was upon them, they sent the Ark to Gath (1 Sam 5:7-8). Gath similarly suffered a severe plague of tumors (1 Sam 5:9), leading them to send the Ark away to Ekron. Verse 10 captures the immediate and desperate reaction of the Ekronites upon the Ark's arrival, signifying their acute awareness of the catastrophic pattern experienced by the preceding Philistine cities.

1 Samuel 5 10 Word analysis

• So they sent (וַיְשַׁלְּחוּ - wayšallĕḥû): "They caused to be sent" or "they sent off." This emphasizes an intentional act, a decision by the Philistines to rid themselves of the Ark. It's a move born of desperation, not devotion. This is the third time the Ark is dispatched from a Philistine city, underscoring their repeated attempts to escape divine judgment.
• the ark of God (אֲרוֹן הָאֱלֹהִים - ʾărôn hāʾělōhîm): This phrase is repeated constantly in this chapter. The definite article "the" and the direct reference to "God" highlight its unique divine connection, owned and empowered by Yahweh, not a general deity. This object, meant for Israel's worship, is now a vehicle of divine wrath against pagan oppressors, underscoring God's continued sovereignty despite the Ark's capture.
• to Ekron (עֶקְרוֹן - ‘Eqrôn): One of the five major Philistine city-states (pentapolis). This was the last city in the proposed circuit, highlighting a "hot potato" situation where no one wants the Ark due to its devastating effects. This movement completes the testimony of God's power throughout the Philistine strongholds.
• And it came about (וַיְהִי - wayhî): A common Hebrew narrative marker, "and it happened" or "and it was." It indicates a subsequent event directly connected to the preceding action.
• as the ark of God came to Ekron: Reiterates the exact trigger for the Ekronites' reaction – the Ark's physical presence. The immediate and overwhelming nature of the divine judgment associated with its arrival is central to the narrative.
• that the Ekronites cried out (וַיִּצְעֲקוּ הָעֶקְרוֹנִים - wayyiṣ‘ăqû hā‘eqrônîm): "Cried out" denotes a loud, urgent, and despairing shout. It indicates public alarm, panic, and distress, an immediate recognition of imminent disaster. Their outcry isn't merely surprise but deep terror stemming from a knowledge of what had already befallen Ashdod and Gath.
• saying, "They have brought around to us (הֵסַבּוּ אֵלֵינוּ - hēsabbû ʾēlênû): "They have circulated" or "caused to turn/come around to us." The verb suggests that the Philistines themselves have been complicit in moving the Ark from city to city, leading it ultimately to their own doom. The phrase conveys a sense of inescapable fate, as if they are the inevitable final recipient of this divine plague. They are aware of the Ark's trajectory.
• the ark of the God of Israel (אֲרוֹן אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל - ʾărôn ʾělōhê yiśrāʾēl): Crucially, the Ekronites identify the Ark not just as "the ark of God" but specifically as the "ark of the God of Israel." This is a profound theological recognition by pagan adversaries. It implies they understand the specific identity of the God who is afflicting them, recognizing His distinctive sovereignty and connection to His people, Israel. It underscores the unique power of Yahweh.
• to kill us and our people (לְהָמִיתֵנוּ וְאֶת־עַמּוֹ - ləhāmîtēnû wəʾet-‘ammô): The purpose clause indicates their interpretation of the Ark's arrival. They do not perceive it as accidental but as a deliberate act leading directly to death for themselves and their community. "Us and our people" implies not just a few individuals but widespread, communal annihilation, reflective of the widespread suffering inflicted by the tumors. This highlights their fear of mass extermination rather than just discomfort.

• "So they sent the ark of God to Ekron": This marks a decision driven by panic. The Philistines' strategy to move the Ark fails spectacularly. Their attempt to treat it as a common trophy or object that can be passed around backfires.
• "as the ark of God came to Ekron, that the Ekronites cried out": This captures the immediate, overwhelming fear that gripped Ekron. The sight of the Ark was enough, due to the preceding cities' experiences, to trigger a full-blown crisis, showing the powerful reputation of the "God of Israel."
• "They have brought around to us the ark of the God of Israel": This highlights the irony. The Philistines, through their own actions, delivered their own judgment. It's a recognition of cause and effect, with "the God of Israel" firmly identified as the cause, distinguishing Him from their own impotent deities.
• "to kill us and our people!": This declaration reflects utter despair and conviction of unavoidable doom. It speaks to the perceived destructive capability of Yahweh, directly attacking life and society itself, far beyond just temporary discomfort.

1 Samuel 5 10 Bonus section

The narrative throughout 1 Samuel 5 is rich in dramatic irony. The Philistines, initially believing they had triumphed over Israel and their God by capturing the Ark, instead find themselves utterly defeated and tormented by the very 'trophy' they coveted. This verse emphasizes that Yahweh’s power is not localized or limited to a specific land or people, nor is it dependent on the Ark remaining within Israelite territory or Israel’s righteousness. He actively displays His dominion over the nations and their false deities through direct, palpable judgment. The "hot potato" game among the Philistine cities – from Ashdod to Gath to Ekron – illustrates their escalating terror and desperation as they witness the unfailing, lethal potency of Israel's God, culminating in this verse where Ekron openly declares their impending doom. It is a powerful theological statement about divine sovereignty and the folly of resisting the One True God.

1 Samuel 5 10 Commentary

1 Samuel 5:10 represents the peak of Philistine despair and the triumph of God's uncontainable power over human and pagan resistance. Despite being held captive, the Ark, as the symbol of God's presence, actively wrought devastation, confirming Yahweh's independence from geographical location or human manipulation. The Ekronites' desperate outcry, "They have brought around to us the ark of the God of Israel, to kill us and our people," is a poignant testimony to the undeniable evidence of God's judgment. It signifies their reluctant acknowledgment of Yahweh as the potent, distinct God of Israel, capable of inflicting communal destruction, thus rendering their gods, especially Dagon, demonstrably powerless. The narrative emphasizes God's self-vindication, defending His honor and name even when Israel had failed.