1 Samuel 6:2
And the Philistines called for the priests and the diviners and said, “What shall we do with the ark of the LORD? Tell us with what we shall send it to its place.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Even in their fear, the Philistines don't wrestle with whether to return the Ark, but only how to do it safely, revealing their deep-seated understanding that this isn't just an object, but a powerful presence they can't control. Their question isn't about repentance, but about appeasing a force they’ve accidentally unleashed and want to return to its rightful owner.
The Philistines are in a panic because the Ark of the Lord has brought disaster and plague wherever it's been among them for seven months. After suffering greatly, they're now asking their religious experts how to get rid of it and return it to Israel without further divine wrath. This moment sets up their desperate plan to test whether Israel's God is truly behind their troubles.
The Philistines have the Ark of the Covenant, a symbol of God's presence. But they're treating it like a dangerous problem to be solved, not a divine treasure.
A Problem to Be Solved
The Philistines had captured the Ark of the LORD, and it had brought them nothing but disaster. Instead of recognizing God's power and seeking Him, they saw the Ark as the source of their troubles. They gathered their wisest men – priests and diviners – not to worship or inquire of the true God, but to figure out how to get rid of this 'problem' artifact.
This highlights a common human tendency: to try and manage or remove the consequences of straying from God, rather than turning back to Him. They were looking for a practical, magical, or superstitious solution, completely missing the point of God's covenant presence.
The Philistines, even in their pagan system, understood that the Ark required a certain protocol for its return. What does this teach us about how we should approach God's holiness?
The Wisdom of Caution
Even though the Philistines were idolaters, they weren't entirely ignorant. They had witnessed firsthand the devastating power associated with the Ark of the Covenant. Their 'priests and diviners' were essentially consulting their own spiritual guides to figure out the safest way to handle something sacred they didn't understand.
Their question, 'What shall we do with the ark of the LORD? Tell us with what we shall send it to its place,' reveals an attempt to appease God and avoid further wrath. They sought a method, a proper procedure, to return what they had wrongly taken. This underscores the importance of approaching God and His holy things with reverence and careful consideration, even if the motivation is fear rather than faith.
Understand the original words
kohen · Hebrew Noun
Individuals tasked with performing religious rituals, offering sacrifices, and acting as mediators between the people and their deities.
qasam · Hebrew Noun
Those who claim to discern the will of gods or predict the future through magical arts, omens, or occult practices.
The Philistines' desperate consultation with their priests and diviners highlights their fear and confusion. They recognized that their own gods were powerless against the God of Israel, and that the plagues were a direct consequence of their actions.
c. 1050 BC
Israel's Army Defeated
The Israelites suffered a devastating defeat at the hands of the Philistines near Aphek. The Ark of the Covenant was captured by the enemy.
c. 1050 BC
Ark of the Covenant Captured
The Philistines seized the Ark of God, a sacred object representing God's presence, during the battle. This was a shocking and terrifying event for Israel.
c. 1050 BC
Philistines Suffer Plagues
After capturing the Ark, the Philistines brought it to Ashdod and placed it in the temple of their god Dagon. Soon after, plagues began to afflict their cities.
c. 1050 BC— this verse
Ark Moved to Gath and Ekron
The Ark was moved from Ashdod to Gath, and then to Ekron, as the plagues intensified. The people of each city pleaded for the Ark to be removed.
Just as the Philistines sought counsel from their diviners to understand God's will, Achan was confronted by Joshua to confess his sin, showing how seeking truth, whether from God or through divine confrontation, is crucial.
1 Samuel 5:10-12This passage immediately precedes our verse, showing the devastating consequences the Philistines faced from the Ark, which directly led them to seek advice on what to do with it.
Exodus 25:22While the Philistines are consulting pagan diviners, this verse highlights God's appointed place for the Ark, the mercy seat, emphasizing the sacredness and divine origination of the Ark's true purpose and placement.
Isaiah 47:12-15Similar to the Philistines consulting their 'diviners,' this passage critiques the Babylonians for relying on their astrologers and sorcerers, exposing the futility of seeking guidance from anything other than the one true God.
Even in their fear, the Philistines don't wrestle with whether to return the Ark, but only how to do it safely, revealing their deep-seated understanding that this isn't just an object, but a powerful presence they can't control. Their question isn't about repentance, but about appeasing a force they’ve accidentally unleashed and want to return to its rightful owner.
The Philistines are in a panic because the Ark of the Lord has brought disaster and plague wherever it's been among them for seven months. After suffering greatly, they're now asking their religious experts how to get rid of it and return it to Israel without further divine wrath. This moment sets up their desperate plan to test whether Israel's God is truly behind their troubles.
The Philistines are in a panic because the Ark of the Lord has brought disaster and plague wherever it's been among them for seven months. After suffering greatly, they're now asking their religious experts how to get rid of it and return it to Israel without further divine wrath. This moment sets up their desperate plan to test whether Israel's God is truly behind their troubles.
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c. 1050 BC
Philistine Council Convenes
Facing disaster, the Philistine rulers and priests gathered to discern what to do with the Ark. They sought guidance on how to appease the God of Israel and end the plagues.
c. 1050 BC
Ark Returned to Israel
Following the advice of their diviners, the Philistines fashioned golden offerings and sent the Ark back to Israel on a cart pulled by cows, unaccompanied by human hands.
"And the Philistines called for the priests and the diviners and said, “What shall we do with the ark of the LORD? Tell us with what we shall send it to its place.”" — Even in their fear, the Philistines don't wrestle with whether to return the Ark, but only how to do it safely, revealing their deep-seated understanding that this isn't just an object, but a pow…
