1 Samuel 6:4

KJV

Then said they, What [shall be] the trespass offering which we shall return to him? They answered, Five golden emerods, and five golden mice, [according to] the number of the lords of the Philistines: for one plague [was] on you all, and on your lords.

KJV (with Strong's)

Then said {H559} they, What shall be the trespass offering {H817} which we shall return {H7725} to him? They answered {H559}, Five {H2568} golden {H2091} emerods {H2914}{H6076}, and five {H2568} golden {H2091} mice {H5909}, according to the number {H4557} of the lords {H5633} of the Philistines {H6430}: for one {H259} plague {H4046} was on you all, and on your lords {H5633}.

Complete Jewish Bible

They asked, "What kind of guilt offering should we send him?" and they replied, "Five gold models of tumors and five gold rats, because that's how many leaders the P'lishtim have, and you and your leaders all had the same illness.

Berean Standard Bible

“What guilt offering should we send back to Him?” asked the Philistines. “Five gold tumors and five gold rats,” they said, “according to the number of rulers of the Philistines, since the same plague has struck both you and your rulers.

American Standard Version

Then said they, What shall be the trespass-offering which we shall return to him? And they said, Five golden tumors, and five golden mice, according to the number of the lords of the Philistines; for one plague was on you all, and on your lords.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
After suffering severe plagues and distress due to the presence of the Ark of the Covenant, the Philistine priests and diviners were consulted by their lords to determine the appropriate "trespass offering" to return to the God of Israel. Their counsel, recorded in this verse, prescribed five golden emerods (tumors) and five golden mice, corresponding to the number of the Philistine lords, as a symbolic act of restitution and an acknowledgment that a single, devastating plague had afflicted all of them and their rulers.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated at a pivotal moment in the narrative following the Philistines' capture of the Ark of the Covenant in [1 Samuel 4:11](/1_samuel/4-11 "1 Samuel 4:11 - Capture of the Ark"). After the Ark's arrival in Ashdod, the idol Dagon was twice humiliated before it ([1 Samuel 5:1-5](/1_samuel/5-1 "1 Samuel 5:1-5 - Dagon Falls Before the Ark")), and severe plagues of tumors afflicted the city's inhabitants ([1 Samuel 5:6](/1_samuel/5-6 "1 Samuel 5:6 - Plague in Ashdod")). As the Ark was moved to Gath and then Ekron, the plagues followed, causing widespread death and panic ([1 Samuel 5:7-12](/1_samuel/5-7 "1 Samuel 5:7-12 - Plagues in Gath and Ekron")). Recognizing these calamities as divine judgment from the God of Israel, the Philistine lords gathered their priests and diviners to seek advice on how to properly return the Ark and appease the offended deity. This verse presents their specific, divinely-guided recommendation for the "trespass offering" that would accompany the Ark's return, setting the stage for the subsequent account of the Ark's journey back to Israelite territory in [1 Samuel 6:10-18](/1_samuel/6-10 "1 Samuel 6:10-18 - The Ark Returns to Beth-shemesh").
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The Philistines were a non-Semitic people, likely of Aegean origin, who settled in the coastal plain of Canaan around the 12th century BCE. Their society was organized into a pentapolis, a league of five major city-states: Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron, each ruled by a "lord" (Hebrew: *seren*). Their religion was polytheistic, with Dagon being a prominent deity. The practice of offering votive images—replicas of afflicted body parts or the agents of affliction—to a deity in hopes of healing or appeasement was common in ancient Near Eastern pagan cultures. The Philistines' choice of golden images of their afflictions (tumors and mice) aligns with this pagan custom, even as they conceptually adopted the Israelite idea of a "trespass offering" to address their perceived offense against Yahweh. The "emerods" (tumors/boils) and "mice" are widely understood to refer to symptoms and vectors of bubonic plague, a devastating disease that would have caused widespread suffering and death, underscoring the severity of God's judgment.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully highlights several key themes within the book of 1 Samuel and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it underscores the **sovereignty and holiness of God**. Even among a pagan nation that did not worship Him, Yahweh demonstrates His absolute power over their gods and their well-being, demanding respect for His sacred presence as embodied in the Ark. The Philistines' suffering serves as a testament to God's active involvement in human affairs and His unyielding opposition to those who desecrate His holiness. Secondly, the concept of **divine judgment and retribution** is central; the Philistines clearly understood their afflictions as direct consequences of their transgression against the God of Israel. Their attempt at a "trespass offering" reflects a universal human recognition of the need for **atonement or restitution** when an offense has been committed against a divine power. Finally, the narrative emphasizes the **recognition of Yahweh's power** by foreign nations, a recurring motif in the Old Testament. Despite their polytheistic beliefs, the Philistines were forced to acknowledge the supremacy of the God of Israel, even if reluctantly, demonstrating that God's glory is revealed to all peoples, not just His covenant nation.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Trespass Offering (Hebrew, _'asham'_):** In Israelite sacrificial law (e.g., [Leviticus 5:14-19](/leviticus/5-14 "Leviticus 5:14-19 - The Trespass Offering")), an *'asham* was a specific type of offering made to atone for unintentional sins or wrongs that involved a violation of God's holy things or a quantifiable injury to another person, often requiring restitution in addition to the sacrifice. While the Philistines were not observing Mosaic Law, their use of this term indicates a conceptual understanding that their suffering was a direct consequence of an offense against the holy God of Israel, requiring a specific act of appeasement or restitution to avert further punishment.
* **Emerods (Hebrew, _'ophel'_ or _'apholim'_):** This term refers to tumors, boils, or hemorrhoids. In the context of the plagues described in [1 Samuel 5](/1_samuel/5 "1 Samuel 5 - The Ark in Philistine Territory"), it is widely interpreted by scholars as buboes, the characteristic swellings associated with bubonic plague. The severity of the affliction is highlighted by its widespread nature among the Philistine population.
* **Mice (Hebrew, _'akbar'_):** This refers to field mice or rats. In the context of the plague, these animals are significant as known carriers of disease, particularly the fleas that transmit bubonic plague. Their inclusion in the offering suggests that the Philistines recognized them as agents of the plague, possibly also causing agricultural devastation, thus compounding their suffering.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Then said they, What [shall be] the trespass offering which we shall return to him?":** This opening clause reveals the Philistine lords' desperation and their consultation with their religious experts—priests and diviners—to understand the nature of the divine wrath they were experiencing. Their question directly uses the term "trespass offering," indicating that they perceived their actions against the Ark as an offense requiring specific restitution, a concept remarkably close to Israelite sacrificial theology, albeit applied through their own cultural lens.
* **"They answered, Five golden emerods, and five golden mice, [according to] the number of the lords of the Philistines":** The response from the Philistine religious leaders is precise and culturally informed. The "five golden emerods" and "five golden mice" are symbolic votive offerings, representing the specific afflictions they endured and the agents of those afflictions. The number "five" is crucial, directly corresponding to the five principal Philistine city-states (Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron), each governed by a "lord." This signifies that the plague was comprehensive, affecting the entire Philistine confederation and its leadership. The use of gold indicates the value and seriousness of their offering, a costly attempt to appease the powerful God of Israel.
* **"for one plague [was] on you all, and on your lords":** This concluding clause provides the rationale for the specific offering. It emphasizes the universal nature of the judgment—a single, devastating plague had afflicted everyone, from the common people to the highest rulers, across all their territories. Therefore, the offering needed to be equally comprehensive and representative of the widespread suffering, acknowledging the God of Israel's pervasive power and the unity of their affliction.

#### Literary Devices
The passage employs several potent literary devices. **Symbolism** is paramount, as the golden emerods and mice are not merely gifts but potent representations of the very afflictions the Philistines suffered. By offering these images, they symbolically "returned" the plague to its source, hoping to remove the actual affliction. There is a profound **irony** in this scene: a pagan nation, through its own superstitious practices of votive offerings, is compelled to acknowledge the supremacy of Yahweh and even adopt a concept (the "trespass offering") from Israelite law. This highlights God's ability to use even the unlikeliest of circumstances to manifest His glory. Furthermore, the narrative uses **foreshadowing**, as the Philistines' reluctant acknowledgment of Yahweh's power in this instance anticipates future encounters and the ongoing narrative of God's sovereignty over all nations, setting a precedent for His dealings with those who oppose His will or desecrate His holiness. The entire episode functions as a **theological demonstration**, showcasing God's active intervention in history to defend His honor and the sanctity of His covenant symbols.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This passage profoundly illustrates God's unyielding sovereignty and holiness, demonstrating that His power extends far beyond the boundaries of His covenant people. The Philistines, despite their paganism and their initial triumph in capturing the Ark, are utterly humbled by the God of Israel, who uses judgment to reveal His character and demand respect for His sacred presence. Their attempt at a "trespass offering," though rooted in pagan customs, reflects a universal human understanding that sin against a divine power incurs consequences and requires some form of restitution or appeasement. This forced acknowledgment of Yahweh's power by a foreign nation underscores that all peoples are ultimately accountable to the one true God, whether they recognize Him or not.

* [Exodus 12:12](/exodus/12-12 "Exodus 12:12 - Judgment on Egyptian Gods")
* [Numbers 31:50](/numbers/31-50 "Numbers 31:50 - Offering for Atonement")
* [Isaiah 45:23](/isaiah/45-23 "Isaiah 45:23 - Every Knee Shall Bow")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The Philistines' painful experience with the Ark of the Covenant serves as a stark reminder that God's holiness is not to be trifled with, and His divine warnings should never be ignored. Even those outside the covenant are subject to God's moral order and the consequences of violating His sacred principles. This narrative challenges us to consider our own reverence for God and His truth. Do we, like the Philistines, sometimes try to manage or appease God with external acts or superficial offerings when true repentance and acknowledgment of His sovereignty are required? The "plagues" in our own lives, whether personal struggles, societal crises, or spiritual emptiness, might be God's way of calling us to recognize His authority, confess our "trespasses," and seek genuine reconciliation. This passage compels us to move beyond mere appeasement to a heartfelt submission to the God who is sovereign over all, whose holiness demands our utmost respect and whose judgment, though severe, is always just and ultimately redemptive in its aim to reveal His glory.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does God's judgment on the Philistines, a non-covenant people, reveal His unchanging character and sovereignty over all nations?**
* **In what ways do we, like the Philistines, sometimes try to "appease" God with external acts or rituals without true repentance or a deep understanding of His holiness?**
* **What "plagues" or consequences in our lives might be God's way of calling us to acknowledge His authority, confess our wrongdoing, and seek genuine reconciliation with Him?**

### FAQ
**Why did the Philistines offer golden images of emerods and mice?**

Answer: This practice was a common form of votive offering in ancient Near Eastern pagan cultures. When afflicted by a disease or calamity, people would create an image of the affliction (e.g., a diseased organ, an animal causing a pestilence) and offer it to the deity believed to be responsible, or to a deity invoked for healing. The act symbolized the "return" of the plague to its source, or a plea for its removal, and served as an acknowledgment of the deity's power over the specific affliction. By making these images out of gold, the Philistines were signifying the great value and seriousness of their offering, reflecting the severity of the plague and their desperate desire to appease the God of Israel and persuade Him to remove His hand from them.

**What is the significance of the number five in their offering?**

Answer: The number five holds direct significance because it corresponds precisely to the number of the principal Philistine city-states and their respective lords. The Philistine confederation, or pentapolis, consisted of five major cities: Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron. The plague had affected all these cities and their rulers, as stated in the verse: "for one plague [was] on you all, and on your lords." Therefore, offering five golden emerods and five golden mice was a symbolic representation that the entire Philistine nation, from its common people to its ruling elite, had been afflicted and was collectively seeking to make amends. It underscored the comprehensive nature of both the judgment and the offering.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The Philistines' "trespass offering" of golden emerods and mice, though a pagan practice, profoundly foreshadows the ultimate and perfect atonement found in Jesus Christ. Their offering was external, symbolic, and temporary, an attempt to appease an offended deity through material means. It underscored the universal human dilemma: how can sinful humanity stand before a holy God and escape judgment? The Philistines' desperate act points to humanity's inherent need for a true and lasting reconciliation. In Christ, we find the definitive "trespass offering" for all humanity. He did not offer gold or symbolic images, but His own sinless life and body on the cross, becoming the [Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"). Unlike the Philistines' offering, which merely aimed to avert a physical plague, Christ's sacrifice dealt with the spiritual plague of sin that afflicts all humanity ([Romans 3:23](/romans/3-23 "Romans 3:23 - All Have Sinned")). He bore the full weight of God's righteous wrath against sin, effectively becoming sin for us so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God ([2 Corinthians 5:21](/2_corinthians/5-21 "2 Corinthians 5:21 - Christ Became Sin for Us")). His blood, not gold, is the precious ransom that secures our redemption ([1 Peter 1:18-19](/1_peter/1-18 "1 Peter 1:18-19 - Redeemed by Christ's Blood")). Through His perfect and once-for-all sacrifice, Christ accomplished what no animal sacrifice or symbolic offering could ([Hebrews 9:11-14](/hebrews/9-11 "Hebrews 9:11-14 - Christ's Superior Sacrifice")), providing a complete and eternal propitiation for our sins ([Romans 3:25](/romans/3-25 "Romans 3:25 - Propitiation Through Faith")), enabling us to approach a holy God not with fear, but with grace and peace.

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

Joshua 13:3

From Sihor, which [is] before Egypt, even unto the borders of Ekron northward, [which] is counted to the Canaanite: five lords of the Philistines; the Gazathites, and the Ashdothites, the Eshkalonites, the Gittites, and the Ekronites; also the Avites:

1 Samuel 6:17

And these [are] the golden emerods which the Philistines returned [for] a trespass offering unto the LORD; for Ashdod one, for Gaza one, for Askelon one, for Gath one, for Ekron one;

1 Samuel 6:18

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.

Judges 3:3

[Namely], five lords of the Philistines, and all the Canaanites, and the Sidonians, and the Hivites that dwelt in mount Lebanon, from mount Baalhermon unto the entering in of Hamath.

1 Samuel 5:9

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.

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 5:12

And the men that died not were smitten with the emerods: and the cry of the city went up to heaven.