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.

KJV (with Strong's)

Therefore they sent {H7971} the ark {H727} of God {H430} to Ekron {H6138}. And it came to pass, as the ark {H727} of God {H430} came {H935} to Ekron {H6138}, that the Ekronites {H6139} cried out {H2199}, saying {H559}, They have brought about {H5437} the ark {H727} of the God {H430} of Israel {H3478} to us, to slay {H4191} us and our people {H5971}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Next they sent the ark of God to 'Ekron; but when the ark of God arrived in 'Ekron the 'Ekronim shouted, "Now they've brought the ark of the God of Isra'el to us, to kill us and our people!"

Berean Standard Bible

So they sent the ark of God to Ekron, but as it arrived, the Ekronites cried out, “They have brought us the ark of the God of Israel in order to kill us and our people!”

American Standard Version

So 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.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
1 Samuel 5:10 captures a climactic moment in the Philistines' calamitous possession of the Ark of God, as it is reluctantly transported to Ekron, the third city to endure its devastating presence. Having witnessed the divine judgments—manifested as plagues and the humiliation of their god Dagon—in Ashdod and Gath, the Ekronites immediately recognize the Ark not as a mere war trophy, but as a direct instrument of the God of Israel's wrath. Their terrified outcry upon its arrival underscores their profound fear for their lives and the very existence of their community, dramatically highlighting the Philistines' dawning, albeit fearful, realization of Yahweh's uncontainable power and severe holiness.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is a crucial turning point within the broader narrative of the Ark's capture and its subsequent journey through Philistine territory, a story arc that spans [1 Samuel 4](/1_samuel/4 "1 Samuel 4 - The Capture of the Ark") through [1 Samuel 7](/1_samuel/7 "1 Samuel 7 - The Ark's Return and Israel's Deliverance"). Following Israel's defeat and the Ark's capture in [1 Samuel 4:11](/1_samuel/4-11 "1 Samuel 4:11 - The Ark Captured"), the Philistines brought it to Ashdod, where it caused the repeated collapse of Dagon's idol and inflicted a severe plague of tumors upon the inhabitants ([1 Samuel 5:1-6](/1_samuel/5-1-6 "1 Samuel 5:1-6 - The Ark in Ashdod")). Consequently, the Ark was moved to Gath, where similar plagues and "very great destruction" ensued ([1 Samuel 5:7-9](/1_samuel/5-7-9 "1 Samuel 5:7-9 - The Ark in Gath")). By the time the Ark reaches Ekron in [1 Samuel 5:10](/1_samuel/5-10 "1 Samuel 5:10 - The Ark Arrives in Ekron"), its reputation for divine judgment precedes it, leading to the Ekronites' desperate plea for its removal in [1 Samuel 5:11-12](/1_samuel/5-11-12 "1 Samuel 5:11-12 - Ekron's Desperation and Decision"). This sequential movement and escalating fear build narrative tension, emphasizing the inescapable nature of God's judgment.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The Philistines were a formidable "Sea Peoples" group who settled in the fertile southwestern coastal plain of Canaan, establishing a powerful pentapolis of city-states: Ashdod, Gaza, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron. They posed a significant military and cultural threat to the nascent Israelite nation during the period of the Judges and early monarchy. Their polytheistic religion centered on deities such as Dagon, often depicted as a fish-god or grain-god, and Baal-zebub, associated with Ekron. For the Philistines, capturing an enemy's sacred object or deity was a common practice, symbolizing the defeat of that god and the supremacy of their own. The Ark of the Covenant, for Israel, was the holiest object, representing God's throne, His active presence, and the tangible sign of His covenant with His people. The Philistines' initial placement of the Ark in Dagon's temple was an act of triumphal subjugation, a declaration of Dagon's superiority. However, the subsequent events dramatically subverted their understanding of divine power and territorial gods, demonstrating the unique, uncontainable sovereignty of the God of Israel, who could not be confined or manipulated like their pagan idols.
* **Key Themes:** This passage powerfully illustrates several profound theological themes. Firstly, it highlights the **uncontainable holiness and sovereignty of God**, demonstrating that the God of Israel cannot be confined, manipulated, or dishonored, even by pagan nations. His presence, symbolized by the Ark, brings judgment upon those who oppose Him or treat His sacred things with contempt, regardless of their belief system or geographical location ([Psalm 99:1](/psalms/99-1 "Psalm 99:1 - God's Reign and Holiness")). Secondly, it underscores the theme of **divine judgment on idolatry and rebellion**. The plagues inflicted upon the Philistine cities serve as undeniable proof of the supremacy of Yahweh over their false gods, specifically Dagon, who is repeatedly humiliated before the Ark ([1 Samuel 5:3-4](/1_samuel/5-3-4 "1 Samuel 5:3-4 - Dagon's Humiliation")). Finally, the Ekronites' outcry reveals a profound, albeit reluctant, **acknowledgment of God's power**, driven by terror rather than genuine reverence. Their recognition of "the God of Israel" as the source of their affliction signifies a forced confession of His unique and potent identity, emphasizing His transcendent power over all other gods, even to those who are His enemies ([Exodus 12:12](/exodus/12-12 "Exodus 12:12 - God's Judgment on Egyptian Gods")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Ark (Hebrew, _ʼârôwn'_):** This term refers to the Ark of the Covenant, the most sacred object in Israelite worship. According to the provided Strong's data, it denotes "a box; ark, chest, coffin." In this context, it is the gold-covered wooden chest containing the tablets of the Law, Aaron's rod, and a pot of manna, surmounted by the mercy seat and cherubim. It symbolized the very presence of God among His people, His throne, and the place where He met with them. Its capture by the Philistines was a profound theological crisis for Israel, but its subsequent journey among the Philistines powerfully demonstrated that God's presence and power were not bound by the Ark's physical location or human control.
* **God of Israel (Hebrew, _ʼĕlôhîym Yisrâʼêl'_):** This specific designation is crucial. The term _ʼĕlôhîym_ (H430) refers to "God (gods) (-dess, -ly)" and can denote the supreme God. _Yisrâʼêl_ (H3478) means "he will rule as God; Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity; Israel." Combined, "God of Israel" emphasizes Yahweh's unique identity and His covenant relationship with Israel, distinguishing Him sharply from the Philistine deities like Dagon. Even in their distress, the Philistines acknowledge Him by His specific national designation, recognizing His unique and potent identity as the source of their affliction, rather than attributing the plagues to a generic "god" or a random misfortune. This forced acknowledgment highlights God's self-revelation even to His enemies.
* **Slay (Hebrew, _mûwth'_):** Derived from the primitive root _mûwth_ (H4191), meaning "to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill." The Ekronites' use of this word reveals the extreme terror and direct threat they perceived. It's not just sickness or discomfort; they believe the Ark's presence is a direct, intentional act of God designed to bring about their literal death and the destruction of their entire community. This hyperbole underscores the severity of the plagues and their desperate fear, indicating a perceived existential threat to their very existence.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Therefore they sent the ark of God to Ekron."**: This phrase indicates the culmination of the Philistines' desperate attempts to rid themselves of the Ark's devastating presence. After its disastrous effects in Ashdod and Gath, the Philistine lords, in their desperation, decided to transfer the Ark to Ekron, hoping to escape the divine judgment that had afflicted the previous cities. This decision implies a collective, strategic move, yet one born of fear and a lack of understanding regarding the true nature of the God whose presence they were trying to evade.
* **"And it came to pass, as the ark of God came to Ekron, that the Ekronites cried out, saying,"**: This describes the immediate and visceral reaction of the Ekronite populace upon the Ark's arrival. The phrase "cried out" (Hebrew, _wayyizʿăqû_ from H2199 _zâʻaq_ - "to shriek (from anguish or danger)") signifies a loud, desperate cry, indicative of panic, alarm, and profound distress. Unlike the initial curiosity or triumphalism in Ashdod, the Ekronites were already acutely aware of the Ark's destructive reputation, leading to an immediate and overwhelming sense of dread that erupted into a public lament.
* **"They have brought about the ark of the God of Israel to us, to slay us and our people."**: This is the core of the Ekronites' terrified outcry, expressed through the verb "brought about" (Hebrew, _hēsabbû_ from H5437 _çâbab_ - "to revolve, surround, or border; used in various applications, literally and figuratively; bring"). Their words reveal several key insights: (1) They correctly identify the object as "the ark of the God of Israel," demonstrating their awareness of its origin and the specific deity it represents. (2) They explicitly link the Ark's arrival to a direct, intentional threat: "to slay us and our people." This illustrates their understanding that the plagues were not random but a targeted act of divine judgment, and they feared the same fate that had befallen Ashdod and Gath, anticipating widespread death. Their fear is not merely for individuals but for the entire community (Hebrew, _ʻam_ H5971 - "a people (as a congregated unit)"), highlighting the collective nature of the perceived existential threat.

#### Literary Devices
The passage employs several potent **literary devices** to convey its message. **Irony** is profoundly prominent, as the Philistines, who captured the Ark as a trophy of war and a symbol of their victory over Israel, are now desperately trying to get rid of it, finding it to be a source of divine judgment and torment rather than a testament to their triumph. The very object meant to signify their subjugation of Israel's God becomes the instrument of their own suffering and humiliation. The Ekronites' outcry also contains **hyperbole**, "to slay us and our people," expressing their extreme fear and the perceived existential threat to their entire population, even if not every individual would literally die. This exaggerated language effectively conveys the profound terror and despair gripping the city. Furthermore, the narrative uses **foreshadowing**, as the Ekronites' immediate and accurate assessment of the Ark's destructive power foreshadows the continued plagues and the ultimate decision by the Philistine lords to return the Ark to Israel, highlighting the inevitable triumph of God's sovereignty over all human and pagan opposition.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
The events surrounding the Ark in Philistia, culminating in the Ekronites' terrified outcry, profoundly underscore the uncontainable nature of God's holiness and His absolute sovereignty over all creation, including pagan nations and their deities. The Philistines' experience demonstrates that God's power is not limited by geographical boundaries or human understanding; He is not merely a tribal deity but the supreme God whose presence demands reverence and whose judgment falls upon those who defy Him or desecrate what is holy. This narrative serves as a powerful reminder that God defends His own honor and name, even when His own people are unfaithful, and that true power belongs to Him alone, far surpassing any false god or human might.

* [Psalm 115:3](/psalms/115-3 "Psalm 115:3 - Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases.")
* [Isaiah 45:5-7](/isaiah/45-5-7 "Isaiah 45:5-7 - I am the Lord, and there is no other; besides me there is no God.")
* [Romans 1:18-20](/romans/1-18-20 "Romans 1:18-20 - God's wrath is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men.")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The Ekronites' desperate cry in [1 Samuel 5:10](/1_samuel/5-10 "1 Samuel 5:10 - The Ark Arrives in Ekron") serves as a stark reminder that even those who do not know or worship God can be confronted with the undeniable reality of His power and holiness. Their fear, born of self-preservation rather than genuine reverence, highlights a fundamental truth: God's character demands respect, and there are severe consequences for treating Him or His sacred things lightly. While we no longer have a physical Ark, the spiritual principle remains: God's presence, His Word, and His Church are not to be trifled with. For believers, this passage calls us to a deeper understanding of God's awesome majesty, prompting us to cultivate genuine reverence and worship, not out of a servile fear of punishment, but out of a profound awe for His character and a desire to honor Him in all things. For those who do not yet know Him, it stands as a testament to His inescapable reality and the ultimate futility of resisting His sovereign will, inviting them to turn from fear to saving faith.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the Ekronites' fear of the Ark challenge our own understanding of God's holiness and power in a world that often dismisses or redefines Him?**
* **In what ways might we, in our modern context, unknowingly "trifle" with God's presence, His Word, or the sacred callings He places upon us?**
* **What is the crucial difference between the Ekronites' fear of God, which was born of terror, and a healthy, reverent fear of the Lord that leads to wisdom and life?**
* **How does this narrative encourage us to trust in God's sovereignty and His ultimate control, even when circumstances seem chaotic or threatening to our own well-being?**

### FAQ
**Why did the Philistines keep moving the Ark instead of just getting rid of it immediately?**

Answer: The narrative suggests a complex interplay of factors. Initially, after capturing the Ark, the Philistines likely viewed it as a powerful war trophy, signifying the defeat of Israel's God and the supremacy of their own deity, Dagon. Placing it in Dagon's temple in Ashdod was an act of triumphal subjugation. When plagues struck Ashdod, they didn't immediately discard it, perhaps hoping to contain its power or transfer the problem to another city within their pentapolis, believing that moving it might alleviate the curse. There might also have been a cultural belief that simply destroying or abandoning a powerful divine object could incur even greater wrath or that it might still possess some beneficial power if properly managed. They were attempting to manage a supernatural problem they did not understand, leading to a series of desperate transfers rather than an immediate, definitive solution, until the cumulative effect of the plagues forced a more radical decision as seen in [1 Samuel 5:11-12](/1_samuel/5-11-12 "1 Samuel 5:11-12 - Ekron's Desperation and Decision").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The terrifying journey of the Ark of God through Philistine territory, culminating in the Ekronites' cry of dread, powerfully foreshadows the ultimate confrontation between God's unblemished holiness and human sin, a confrontation uniquely resolved in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The Ark, representing God's awesome presence and His throne, brought judgment and death to those who treated it irreverently; similarly, the unblemished holiness of God, when encountered by sinful humanity, justly brings condemnation and spiritual death ([Romans 6:23](/romans/6-23 "Romans 6:23 - The Wages of Sin Is Death")). However, unlike the Ark, which could only bring judgment to the Philistines, Jesus Christ, the true embodiment of God's presence—"God with us," Immanuel ([Matthew 1:23](/matthew/1-23 "Matthew 1:23 - Immanuel, God With Us"))—came into the world not to condemn it, but to save it ([John 3:17](/john/3-17 "John 3:17 - God Sent His Son to Save the World")). He became the ultimate "Ark" of God's presence, bearing the full weight of God's righteous wrath against sin on the cross, so that those who believe in Him might escape the judgment that sin justly deserves ([2 Corinthians 5:21](/2_corinthians/5-21 "2 Corinthians 5:21 - Christ Became Sin for Us")). The Philistines desperately sought to remove the Ark to save themselves; humanity, in its sin, needed God Himself to provide the means of salvation, found only in the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God")). Thus, the fear of death brought by the Ark finds its redemptive answer in Christ, who conquered death and offers eternal life to all who turn to Him in faith ([Hebrews 2:14-15](/hebrews/2-14-15 "Hebrews 2:14-15 - Christ's Victory Over Death")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Amos 1:8

And I will cut off the inhabitant from Ashdod, and him that holdeth the sceptre from Ashkelon, and I will turn mine hand against Ekron: and the remnant of the Philistines shall perish, saith the Lord GOD.

Judges 1:18

Also Judah took Gaza with the coast thereof, and Askelon with the coast thereof, and Ekron with the coast thereof.

2 Kings 1:2

And Ahaziah fell down through a lattice in his upper chamber that [was] in Samaria, and was sick: and he sent messengers, and said unto them, Go, enquire of Baalzebub the god of Ekron whether I shall recover of this disease.

Joshua 15:45

Ekron, with her towns and her villages: