1 Samuel 5:9

KJV

And it was [so], that, after they had carried it about, the hand of the LORD was against the city with a very great destruction: and he smote the men of the city, both small and great, and they had emerods in their secret parts.

KJV (with Strong's)

And it was so, that, after {H310} they had carried it about {H5437}, the hand {H3027} of the LORD {H3068} was against the city {H5892} with a very {H3966} great {H1419} destruction {H4103}: and he smote {H5221} the men {H582} of the city {H5892}, both small {H6996} and great {H1419}, and they had emerods {H2914}{H6076} in their secret parts {H8368}.

Complete Jewish Bible

But after it arrived there, ADONAI oppressed that city, causing terrible panic. He struck the people of the city, great and small alike; tumors broke out on them.

Berean Standard Bible

But after they had moved the ark to Gath, the LORD’s hand was also against that city, throwing it into great confusion and afflicting the men of the city, both young and old, with an outbreak of tumors.

American Standard Version

And it was so, that, after they had carried it about, the hand of Jehovah was against the city with a very great discomfiture: and he smote the men of the city, both small and great; and tumors brake out upon them.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
1 Samuel 5:9 powerfully depicts the severe divine judgment unleashed upon the Philistine city of Gath after the Ark of the Covenant was brought within its walls. This verse underscores the absolute sovereignty and unapproachable holiness of God, demonstrating that His sacred presence, even when seemingly held captive by pagan enemies, carries overwhelming power and demands reverence from all, irrespective of their understanding or allegiance. The swift and devastating affliction upon Gath served as an undeniable testament to the living God's defense of His own name and glory against any who would treat His holy symbols with irreverence or as mere trophies.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated within a critical narrative arc in 1 Samuel, immediately following the Philistine capture of the Ark of the Covenant from Israel during a battle ([1 Samuel 4:11](/1_samuel/4-11 "1 Samuel 4:11 - The Ark Captured")). The Philistines, intending to parade their victory and perhaps integrate the Ark into their pantheon, first brought it to Ashdod and placed it in the temple of their god, Dagon. There, God's direct intervention resulted in the repeated humiliation of Dagon's idol and a severe plague of tumors afflicting the people of Ashdod ([1 Samuel 5:1-7](/1_samuel/5-1-7 "1 Samuel 5:1-7 - The Ark in Ashdod")). Faced with this escalating calamity, the Philistine lords decided to move the Ark to Gath, hoping to escape the divine wrath. However, 1 Samuel 5:9 reveals that God's judgment was not confined to Ashdod but relentlessly followed the Ark, demonstrating that His power was not geographically limited and that His holiness could not be contained or controlled by human schemes. The narrative thus builds a compelling case for the Ark's inherent power and God's active presence, even in its captivity, setting the stage for the Philistines' eventual decision to return it to Israel.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The Philistines were a formidable maritime people who had settled on the southwestern coast of Canaan, establishing a pentapolis of major cities: Ashdod, Gaza, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron. They were a significant military and political threat to Israel during the period of the Judges and early monarchy. Their polytheistic religion included a chief deity, Dagon, a grain god often depicted as a merman. For the Philistines, capturing the Ark of the Covenant would have been perceived as a profound victory, signifying the triumph of their god Dagon over Yahweh, the God of Israel. In ancient Near Eastern warfare, it was common practice to seize the cultic objects or deities of a conquered people as a symbol of subjugation. However, the events in 1 Samuel 5, culminating in the judgment described in 1 Samuel 5:9, dramatically subvert this cultural understanding, revealing that the God of Israel was not a regional deity subject to human capture but the sovereign Lord over all nations and their gods. The specific nature of the plague, "emerods in their secret parts," was not only physically debilitating but culturally humiliating, striking at the very core of their vitality and public dignity, further emphasizing the divine hand at work.
* **Key Themes:** The events surrounding the Ark's presence in Philistia, including the judgment in Gath, powerfully articulate several foundational themes. First, **God's Unchallengeable Sovereignty** is paramount; despite Israel's defeat and the Ark's capture, Yahweh demonstrates His absolute control over all creation, including pagan nations and their deities. The Philistines, with all their military might, are utterly powerless before the divine hand ([Psalm 115:3](/psalm/115-3 "Psalm 115:3 - Our God is in the Heavens")). Second, the narrative highlights **The Seriousness of Disrespecting God's Holiness**. The Ark was not merely a war trophy but the symbol of God's holy presence, and the Philistines' irreverent treatment of it brought swift and devastating consequences, underscoring that God's glory cannot be trifled with ([Leviticus 10:1-3](/leviticus/10-1-3 "Leviticus 10:1-3 - Nadab and Abihu's Disrespect")). Third, there is a clear theme of **Divine Judgment Against Idolatry**. While the immediate cause of the plague in Gath is the Ark's presence, the broader context of Dagon's humiliation in Ashdod and the subsequent plagues across Philistine cities serves as a powerful vindication of Yahweh's supremacy over false gods. God actively defends His name and demonstrates the impotence of idols ([Isaiah 44:9-20](/isaiah/44-9-20 "Isaiah 44:9-20 - The Folly of Idolatry")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Hand (Hebrew, _yad_):** This common biblical idiom, "the hand of the LORD" (יַד יְהוָה, _yad Yahweh_), signifies divine power, intervention, or, as in this context, judgment. It emphasizes that the calamity was not accidental or a natural disaster, but a direct, intentional act of God. The phrase underscores God's active involvement and control over events, even when His people are in a state of spiritual decline. It points to an irresistible force, demonstrating that no human or pagan power can withstand His will.
* **Destruction (Hebrew, _m'humah_):** The word מְהוּמָה (_m'humah_) denotes confusion, panic, discomfiture, or great destruction. Here, "a very great destruction" (מְהוּמָה גְּדוֹלָה מְאֹד, _m'humah g'dolah m'od_) suggests not just physical ruin but a state of overwhelming chaos and terror inflicted by God. It implies a widespread and severe affliction that disrupts the entire fabric of the city's life, creating fear and disorder among its inhabitants, consistent with a divine plague.
* **Emerods (Hebrew, _'ophalim_):** The term עֳפָלִים (_'ophalim_) refers to tumors or boils, specifically associated with the "secret parts" (likely the groin or anal region). This affliction, often interpreted as hemorrhoids or bubonic plague-like swellings, was not only excruciatingly painful but also highly humiliating, especially in an ancient culture where such conditions would be considered shameful and unclean. The specificity of the plague served as an undeniable, visible sign of divine judgment, forcing the Philistines to acknowledge the source of their suffering and distinguish it from ordinary illness.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And it was [so], that, after they had carried it about,"**: This introductory phrase sets the scene, indicating the Ark's arrival and movement within Gath. The Philistines, having learned from Ashdod's experience, likely moved the Ark around the city, perhaps in a vain attempt to find a place where its presence would not bring affliction, or simply as part of their initial process of integrating it. The phrase highlights the Philistines' agency in transporting the Ark, yet simultaneously underscores their ignorance of the true nature of what they possessed.
* **"the hand of the LORD was against the city with a very great destruction:"**: This is the core declaration of divine judgment. "The hand of the LORD" explicitly identifies God as the active agent behind the calamity. The "very great destruction" signifies a widespread and severe affliction that brought chaos and devastation upon the entire city of Gath, indicating a comprehensive divine assault that transcended mere human understanding or resistance.
* **"and he smote the men of the city, both small and great,"**: This clause emphasizes the universality of the judgment within Gath. "Small and great" is a merism, indicating that the plague affected everyone—from the lowest to the highest in society, young and old, rich and poor. This highlights the indiscriminate nature of God's judgment when His holiness is affronted, ensuring that no one in the city was exempt from the consequences of the Ark's presence.
* **"and they had emerods in their secret parts."**: This specifies the precise nature of the affliction. The "emerods" (painful tumors or boils, likely hemorrhoids or buboes) were not only physically agonizing but also deeply humiliating, striking at a sensitive and private part of the body. This particular plague served as a clear, unmistakable sign of divine displeasure, designed to be both physically debilitating and spiritually convicting, forcing the Philistines to acknowledge the true source of their suffering and the potency of the God of Israel.

#### Literary Devices
The passage employs several potent literary devices to convey its message. **Anthropomorphism** is evident in the phrase "the hand of the LORD," attributing a human characteristic (a hand) to God to describe His direct and powerful intervention. This device makes God's action more tangible and comprehensible to the reader, emphasizing His active role in the events. **Hyperbole** is suggested by "a very great destruction," which, while literally true in terms of divine power, evokes an image of overwhelming and comprehensive devastation that goes beyond typical human experience of calamity, underscoring the severity of God's wrath. **Irony** pervades the entire narrative: the Philistines capture the Ark as a symbol of their triumph, yet it becomes the instrument of their torment, turning their supposed victory into a source of profound suffering and humiliation. This highlights the futility of human attempts to control or disrespect divine power. Finally, the **Symbolism** of the Ark as the physical representation of God's presence is central; its very presence, even in captivity, carries the weight of God's holiness and judgment, demonstrating that God cannot be confined or desecrated without consequence. The "emerods" themselves become a symbolic plague, a painful and humiliating sign of God's direct and specific judgment against those who oppose Him.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
The events in Gath vividly illustrate the profound theological truth that God's holiness is not a passive attribute but an active, consuming force that demands reverence and cannot be trifled with. The Philistines, in their ignorance and arrogance, treated the Ark of the Covenant as a mere war trophy, failing to grasp its profound significance as the dwelling place of God's presence. This narrative serves as a stark reminder that God is not like the impotent idols of human devising; He is the living, sovereign Lord who actively defends His name and glory. The judgment upon Gath underscores that God's power transcends geographical boundaries and human understanding, and His justice will inevitably fall upon those who defiantly oppose His divine majesty, whether through direct idolatry or through irreverent treatment of what is sacred to Him. This passage therefore calls all people to a posture of awe and fear before the Lord, recognizing that His nature demands worship and obedience.

* [Exodus 7:5](/exodus/7-5 "Exodus 7:5 - God's Hand Against Egypt")
* [Psalm 115:3-7](/psalm/115-3-7 "Psalm 115:3-7 - The Impotence of Idols")
* [Leviticus 10:3](/leviticus/10-3 "Leviticus 10:3 - God's Holiness Demands Reverence")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The account of God's judgment in Gath serves as a timeless and sobering reminder of the absolute necessity of reverencing God and His holy presence. It teaches us that God's glory and holiness are not abstract concepts but active realities that cannot be trifled with, and He will indeed defend His own name against all who would disrespect it. For believers today, while we do not interact with a physical Ark, the principle remains: God's presence is real, whether in His Word, in His Spirit dwelling within us, or in the gathered community of His people. Ignoring, disrespecting, or treating spiritual truths and holy things with irreverence, even out of ignorance, can lead to severe spiritual consequences. This narrative calls us to cultivate a profound sense of awe and respect for God's majesty, understanding that His nature demands reverence and obedience. It challenges us to examine our own hearts and lives: Do we approach God with the reverence due His name? Do we take His Word seriously? Do we honor His presence in our lives and in our churches? God's power transcends all human limitations and geographical boundaries; His judgment is not limited to one place or people, and His holiness is unchanging.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the Philistines' treatment of the Ark challenge my own assumptions about God's presence and holiness in my life?**
* **In what ways might I, perhaps unknowingly, be treating God's Word, His Spirit, or His church with less reverence than is due?**
* **What does God's uncompromising defense of His holiness in Gath teach me about His character and His expectations for His people?**
* **How can I cultivate a deeper sense of awe and fear of the Lord in my daily walk, moving beyond mere intellectual assent to genuine reverence?**

### FAQ
**Why did God punish the Philistines so severely for possessing the Ark?**

Answer: God punished the Philistines severely not merely for possessing the Ark, but for their irreverent and idolatrous treatment of it, and by extension, of Him. The Ark was the most sacred symbol of God's presence among His people, representing His throne and covenant. When the Philistines captured it, they treated it as a war trophy, placing it in the temple of their god Dagon, effectively challenging Yahweh's supremacy ([1 Samuel 5:2](/1_samuel/5-2 "1 Samuel 5:2 - Dagon Falls Before the Ark")). The severe plagues, including the "emerods," were God's direct response to this affront, demonstrating His absolute sovereignty over all false gods and nations. It was a vindication of His holy name and a clear message that He cannot be confined, controlled, or disrespected without consequence. The punishment served to teach the Philistines, and indeed all who would hear the account, that Yahweh is the living God, unlike their impotent idols, and that His holiness demands reverence.

**What is the significance of the "emerods" as the specific plague inflicted upon the Philistines?**

Answer: The "emerods" (painful tumors or boils, likely hemorrhoids or buboes) were a highly significant and deliberate choice of plague. Firstly, they were physically debilitating and caused immense suffering, making it clear that a powerful, supernatural force was at work. Secondly, and perhaps more importantly, they were deeply humiliating. Afflicting people in their "secret parts" was a culturally shameful and undignified affliction, particularly in ancient societies. This specific judgment served to mock the Philistines' pride and power, striking at their very vitality and public image. It was a direct, unmistakable sign from God that He was the one causing their suffering, forcing them to acknowledge His hand. The Philistines later recognized this, offering golden models of these "emerods" as a trespass offering when they returned the Ark, explicitly linking the plague to their offense against God ([1 Samuel 6:4-5](/1_samuel/6-4-5 "1 Samuel 6:4-5 - Golden Tumors and Mice")).

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The dramatic events in Gath, where God's unapproachable holiness brought judgment upon those who disrespected His presence, find their ultimate fulfillment and transformation in Jesus Christ. The Ark of the Covenant, though a powerful symbol of God's presence, was a physical object, confined to a specific place, and its holiness was so potent that it brought death to those who touched it irreverently ([2 Samuel 6:6-7](/2_samuel/6-6-7 "2 Samuel 6:6-7 - Uzzah Struck Down")). In contrast, Jesus Christ is the living embodiment of God's presence, the very Word made flesh who "dwelt among us" ([John 1:14](/john/1-14 "John 1:14 - The Word Became Flesh")). He is the true temple, the ultimate dwelling place of God, in whom "all the fullness of the Godhead dwells bodily" ([Colossians 2:9](/colossians/2-9 "Colossians 2:9 - Fullness of God in Christ")). While the Ark brought judgment to the Philistines for their sin, Christ, as the Lamb of God, takes away the sin of the world ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God")). Through His perfect life, atoning death, and glorious resurrection, Jesus has reconciled humanity to a holy God, removing the barrier of sin and making it possible for us to approach God's throne of grace with confidence, not fear ([Hebrews 4:16](/hebrews/4-16 "Hebrews 4:16 - Approach the Throne of Grace")). The judgment seen in 1 Samuel 5:9 highlights God's unchangeable holiness, a holiness that is now satisfied and upheld by Christ's sacrifice, allowing believers to experience God's presence not as a source of terrifying judgment, but as a fountain of grace and life through the indwelling Holy Spirit ([Romans 8:1-2](/romans/8-1-2 "Romans 8:1-2 - No Condemnation in Christ Jesus")).

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

1 Samuel 5:6

¶ But the hand of the LORD was heavy upon them of Ashdod, and he destroyed them, and smote them with emerods, [even] Ashdod and the coasts thereof.

1 Samuel 7:13

¶ So the Philistines were subdued, and they came no more into the coast of Israel: and the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel.

Deuteronomy 2:15

For indeed the hand of the LORD was against them, to destroy them from among the host, until they were consumed.

1 Samuel 12:15

But if ye will not obey the voice of the LORD, but rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then shall the hand of the LORD be against you, as [it was] against your fathers.

Psalms 78:66

And he smote his enemies in the hinder parts: he put them to a perpetual reproach.

1 Samuel 6:11

And they laid the ark of the LORD upon the cart, and the coffer with the mice of gold and the images of their emerods.

Amos 9:1

¶ I saw the Lord standing upon the altar: and he said, Smite the lintel of the door, that the posts may shake: and cut them in the head, all of them; and I will slay the last of them with the sword: he that fleeth of them shall not flee away, and he that escapeth of them shall not be delivered.