1 Samuel 6 18

1 Samuel 6:18 kjv

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.

1 Samuel 6:18 nkjv

and the golden rats, according to the number of all the cities of the Philistines belonging to the five lords, both fortified cities and country villages, even as far as the large stone of Abel on which they set the ark of the LORD, which stone remains to this day in the field of Joshua of Beth Shemesh.

1 Samuel 6:18 niv

And the number of the gold rats was according to the number of Philistine towns belonging to the five rulers?the fortified towns with their country villages. The large rock on which the Levites set the ark of the LORD is a witness to this day in the field of Joshua of Beth Shemesh.

1 Samuel 6:18 esv

and the golden mice, according to the number of all the cities of the Philistines belonging to the five lords, both fortified cities and unwalled villages. The great stone beside which they set down the ark of the LORD is a witness to this day in the field of Joshua of Beth-shemesh.

1 Samuel 6:18 nlt

The five gold rats represented the five Philistine towns and their surrounding villages, which were controlled by the five rulers. The large rock at Beth-shemesh, where they set the Ark of the LORD, still stands in the field of Joshua as a witness to what happened there.

1 Samuel 6 verses

1 Samuel 6 18 Meaning

1 Samuel 6:18 details the extent and specifics of the guilt offering the Philistines sent with the Ark of the Lord as it returned to Israel. The verse specifies the "golden tumors" and "golden mice" (from v. 17) correspond to the number of cities afflicted by the plague within the Philistine Pentapolis, encompassing both fortified and unwalled settlements. It also identifies a landmark, "the great stone of Abel," as the exact spot where the Ark was received, signifying a momentous event that remained historically memorable up to the time the biblical narrative was recorded.

1 Samuel 6 18 Context

First Samuel chapter 6 follows the narrative of the Ark of the Lord's seven-month captivity among the Philistines. Chapters 4 and 5 detail the Ark's capture by the Philistines during a battle with Israel, followed by devastating plagues (tumors/boils, pestilence, and likely internal affliction or death, based on fear and outcry) that afflicted various Philistine cities—Ashdod, Gath, and Ekron—where the Ark was kept. These plagues targeted both people and their land, demonstrating God's sovereignty over Dagon and their other gods. The Philistine priests and diviners, realizing these misfortunes were divine judgments from the God of Israel, advised their leaders to return the Ark with a guilt offering ('asham), specific "golden tumors" and "golden mice," corresponding to the afflictions. The immediate context of verse 18 is the successful return of the Ark to Beth Shemesh by the miraculous leading of the cows, confirming that the plague was indeed from the Lord. This verse acts as a conclusive summary of the specific extent of the offering and anchors the event to a recognizable physical landmark. Historically, this period reflects the tension between Israel and the Philistines and establishes the unique power and holiness of Yahweh, distinct from the polytheistic practices prevalent in the region.

1 Samuel 6 18 Word analysis

• and the golden tumors (וְהַטְּחֹרִ֤י יָנֵ֖ב vəhaṭṭəḥōrî yānēḇ)

  • וְהַטְּחֹרִ֤י (vəhaṭṭəḥōrî): "and the tumors." The term ṭəḥōrîm (plural of ṭeḥōr) refers to eruptive sores, boils, or hemorrhoids. It implies a painful, debilitating skin affliction. The gold indicates preciousness, an attempt at a valuable offering for atonement.
  • יָנֵ֖ב (yānēḇ): A rarer form, likely connecting back to a sense of bringing forth or production. In this context, it confirms the physical manifestations.
  • Significance: Represents the Philistines' tangible acknowledgment of their affliction by the God of Israel. Their choice of "golden" items was a pagan custom to appease offended deities and potentially an attempt to buy off divine wrath, yet God used it to demonstrate His power.

• according to the number of all the cities of the Philistines (מִסְפַּר֮ עָרֵ֣י פְלִשְׁתִּים֒ mispar ʿārê p̄əlišṭîm)

  • מִסְפַּר (mispar): "number," "count." Emphasizes precision and completeness in the offering. The offering was not arbitrary but proportionate to the widespread judgment.
  • Significance: Highlights the vast scope of the plague that affected all Philistine cities, not just the capital cities mentioned directly (Ashdod, Gath, Ekron). This reinforces God's thorough judgment across their entire dominion.

• belonging to the five lords (לַחֲמֵ֥שֶׁת הַסְּרָנִ֖ים laḥămešet hassərānîm)

  • לַחֲמֵ֥שֶׁת (laḥămešet): "to the five."
  • הַסְּרָנִ֖ים (hassərānîm): "the lords" or "princes." This is the unique Philistine title for their rulers (Seranim), suggesting a distinct political structure. These five cities formed the Philistine Pentapolis: Ashdod, Gaza, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron (Josh 13:3, Jdg 3:3).
  • Significance: This detail precisely defines the geographical and political boundary of the affected territory and the unified authority structure responsible for the offering. It signifies that even the highest Philistine authority recognized the judgment.

• both of fortified cities and of unwalled villages (מֵעִיר֙ מִבְצָ֣ר וְעַד־כְּפָר֙ הַפְּרָזִ֔י mēʿîr miḇṣār wəʿaḏ-kəp̄ār happərzî)

  • מֵעִיר֙ מִבְצָ֣ר (mēʿîr miḇṣār): "from city, fortified." Implies cities with walls, strong defenses.
  • וְעַד־כְּפָר֙ הַפְּרָזִ֔י (wəʿaḏ-kəp̄ār happərzî): "and until village, open/unwalled." Denotes smaller, unprotected settlements.
  • Significance: This phrase emphasizes the universality of the plague across all segments of Philistine society, regardless of status or defenses. It shows that God's judgment permeated every corner of their land.

• even to the great stone of Abel (וְעַד֮ אֶ֣בֶל הַגְּדֹלָה֒ wəʿaḏ ʾeḇel hagdəlâ)

  • אֶ֣בֶל הַגְּדֹלָה (ʾeḇel hagdəlâ): "Abel the great" or "great stone" (referring to 'eben haggedolah mentioned in earlier texts of 1 Sam 6:14). It could be a specific landmark, likely a large, distinctive stone or rock. "Abel" here is probably a place name or an adjectival descriptor rather than referring to the biblical Abel directly.
  • Significance: This geographical marker authenticates the narrative by referencing a known landmark that witnessed the pivotal moment. It serves as a visual, enduring reminder of where the divine object arrived back on Israelite soil. The text in 1 Sam 6:14 simply states "great stone," but here adds "of Abel," perhaps to provide more specificity or a later identification for its readers.

• on which they set the ark of the LORD (עָלֶ֖יהָ הִנִּ֥יחוּ אֶת־אֲרֹ֣ון יְהוָ֑ה ʿālehā hinnîḥû ʾet-ʾărôn YHWH)

  • אֲרֹ֣ון יְהוָ֑ה (ʾărôn YHWH): "Ark of the LORD." This is the sacred chest symbolizing God's presence, holiness, and covenant with Israel.
  • Significance: This indicates the exact place where the Philistines—or more likely, the Beth Shemeshites—received and placed the Ark immediately after its return. It underscores the profound sacredness and solemnity of the Ark's return journey.

• until this day (עַ֖ד הַיֹּ֥ום הַזֶּֽה׃ ʿaḏ hayyôm hazzêh)

  • Significance: This common biblical idiom is a narrative device, asserting the historical validity and enduring memorial of the event. It signifies that the landmark (the stone) and the memory of the event persisted up to the time the book was written or compiled, confirming its truthfulness for the audience. It does not imply the Ark remained on the stone, but the stone remained.

• Words-group by words-group analysis

  • "and the golden tumors, according to the number of all the cities of the Philistines belonging to the five lords": This entire phrase delineates the precise proportionality and scope of the Philistines' offering. It reflects their understanding that a specific atonement was required for the widespread plague from Yahweh, targeting their entire confederation of cities. It showcases God's total victory over Philistine power and deities.
  • "both of fortified cities and of unwalled villages": This part emphasizes the comprehensiveness of God's judgment and the offering. No settlement, regardless of its size or defenses, was spared from the plague or exempt from the acknowledgment of God's power. It reveals that the plague's reach was absolute within their territory.
  • "even to the great stone of Abel, on which they set the ark of the LORD, until this day": This segment focuses on establishing a lasting, tangible landmark for the momentous return of the Ark. The stone becomes a historical marker and a witness to a unique divine intervention, validating the entire narrative for subsequent generations and confirming the truthfulness of the events.

1 Samuel 6 18 Bonus section

The Hebrew word for "tumors" (ṭeḥorim) in ancient Near Eastern medical contexts sometimes referred to conditions consistent with bubonic plague. The rapid spread and severe nature of the affliction upon the Philistines, coupled with the association with mice (which are vectors for plague), strongly suggests this as the divine judgment. The Philistine custom of crafting effigies of afflictions (like the golden tumors and mice) was a form of sympathetic magic, where they believed removing the effigy would remove the curse. While God used their pagan practice, it was His power, not their magic, that halted the plague. This further highlights a polemic: the futility of their superstitions contrasted with the direct, undeniable power of Yahweh, who doesn't need to be manipulated but acts sovereignly. The stone of Abel (or "great stone") might also subtly echo ancient Israelite practices of establishing massebot (standing stones) as memorials, drawing a connection to earlier covenants and significant events in Israelite history (Gen 28:18; Josh 4:20).

1 Samuel 6 18 Commentary

1 Samuel 6:18 succinctly ties together the Philistine tribute and the Ark's return, underscoring several profound theological truths. The detail concerning the "golden tumors" matching "all the cities" of the "five lords," whether "fortified or unwalled," demonstrates God's pervasive and absolute sovereignty. The Philistines, though pagan, were forced by overwhelming divine judgment to recognize the God of Israel's power, crafting a guilt offering proportional to their widespread affliction. This act, while stemming from pagan practice, was a compelled confession of Yahweh's dominion over their entire domain and deities like Dagon, who had repeatedly fallen before the Ark. The "great stone of Abel" serves as a fixed, historical point of reference, authenticating the miracle for future generations ("until this day"). It marks not merely a geographical location, but a pivot point in salvation history, where the tangible symbol of God's presence returns to His people after proving His absolute power to their enemies. The verse underscores God's control even over those who defy Him, compelling their acknowledgment of His holiness and judgment.

• Example: Just as the Philistines' widespread affliction necessitated a proportional, comprehensive offering, so too does God's work in history or our personal lives often leave behind clear markers (like this stone) that remind us of His power, whether in deliverance or judgment.
• Example: The distinction between "fortified cities and unwalled villages" implies that no part of life or society is outside God's reach or accountability, demonstrating His universal claim to authority.