1 Samuel 6:4

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.

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}.

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.

“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.

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

1 Samuel 6:4 details the Philistine priests' and diviners' counsel regarding the proper "trespass offering" to return to the God of Israel, acknowledging His powerful hand in their suffering. After the Ark of the Covenant had brought plagues and distress upon their cities (see 1 Samuel 5:6), they sought to appease Him and ensure the Ark's peaceful return.

Context

Following their capture of the Ark of the Covenant from Israel, the Philistines experienced a series of severe afflictions in Ashdod, Gath, and Ekron. Tumors (emerods) and a widespread plague, possibly accompanied by an infestation of mice, devastated their population and land. Recognizing these calamities as divine judgment from the God of Israel, they consulted their own religious leaders on how to make amends and persuade Him to lift the curses and take His Ark away. This verse records their specific recommendation for a symbolic offering.

Key Themes

  • Divine Judgment and Retribution: The Philistines clearly understood that their suffering was a direct consequence of their transgression against the God of Israel and His holy Ark. This highlights God's sovereignty and His active involvement in human affairs, even among those who do not worship Him.
  • The Nature of a Trespass Offering: Though not Israelites, the Philistine diviners grasped the concept of an "offering" (Hebrew: 'asham) designed to atone for a wrong committed and to avert further punishment. Their choice of golden images of their afflictions reflects a pagan custom of votive offerings, yet it served the purpose of acknowledging the specific nature of the plague.
  • Symbolic Atonement: The five golden emerods (tumors/boils) and five golden mice were not merely gifts but symbolic representations of the very things that afflicted them. By offering these, they symbolically returned the "plague" to its source, hoping to remove the actual affliction. The number "five" corresponds to the five principal Philistine cities and their lords (Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron), emphasizing the comprehensive nature of the judgment and the offering.
  • Recognition of God's Power: This act signifies the Philistines' reluctant but undeniable recognition of the superior power of the God of Israel over their own deities, such as Dagon (1 Samuel 5:4).

Linguistic Insights

The term "trespass offering" (Hebrew: 'asham) refers to a specific type of sacrifice in Israelite law, typically made to atone for unintentional sins or wrongs that required restitution, often involving a penalty and a specific offering (see Leviticus 5:14-19). While the Philistines' offering was not according to Mosaic Law, their use of the concept shows a general understanding of the need to compensate for an offense against a deity.

"Emerods" (Hebrew: 'ophel or 'apholim) likely refers to a severe form of tumors or boils, possibly hemorrhoids or buboes consistent with bubonic plague. The "mice" (Hebrew: 'akbar) could refer to field mice or rats, known carriers of disease and destroyers of crops, suggesting both disease and economic hardship.

Practical Application

This passage illustrates that God's judgment can extend beyond His covenant people to demonstrate His sovereignty and holiness. It reminds us that:

  • God is Sovereign: Even those who do not know or worship Him can experience His power and judgment when they oppose His will or desecrate what is holy to Him.
  • Acknowledge Wrongdoing: The Philistines' recognition of their "trespass" and their attempt to make amends, however imperfectly, serves as a reminder of the importance of acknowledging our own sins and seeking reconciliation with God.
  • Consequences of Sin: Sin, whether intentional or unintentional, often carries natural and spiritual consequences. The Philistines' suffering was a direct result of their disregard for the holiness of the Ark and the power of God.
The Philistines, through their painful experience, learned a profound lesson about the God of Israel, a lesson that echoes throughout history about the consequences of opposing divine authority.

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Cross-References

  • Joshua 13:3 (5 votes)

    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 (5 votes)

    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 (5 votes)

    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 (5 votes)

    [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 (4 votes)

    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 (4 votes)

    ¶ 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 (2 votes)

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