1 Samuel 5:11

9 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.

10 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!”

Then the Ekronites assembled all the rulers of the Philistines and said, “Send away the ark of the God of Israel. It must return to its place, so that it will not kill us and our people!” For a deadly confusion had pervaded the city; the hand of God was heavy upon it.

12 Those who did not die were afflicted with tumors, and the outcry of the city went up to heaven.

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

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BSB
Then the Ekronites assembled all the rulers of the Philistines and said, “Send away the ark of the God of Israel. It must return to its place, so that it will not kill us and our people!” For a deadly confusion had pervaded the city; the hand of God was heavy upon it.
KJV
So they sent and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines, and said, Send away the ark of the God of Israel, and let it go again to his own place, that it slay us not, and our people: for there was a deadly destruction throughout all the city; the hand of God was very heavy there.
WEB
They sent therefore and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines, and they said, “Send the ark of the God of Israel away, and let it go again to its own place, that it not kill us and our people.” For there was a deadly panic throughout all the city. The hand of God was very heavy there.
ASV
They sent therefore and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines, and they said, Send away the ark of the God of Israel, and let it go again to its own place, that is slay us not, and our people. For there was a deadly discomfiture throughout all the city; the hand of God was very heavy there.
DARBY
And they sent and gathered all the lords of the Philistines, and said, Send away the ark of the God of Israel, and let it go again to its own place, that it kill us not, and our people. For there was deadly alarm throughout the city: the hand of God was very heavy there;
BLB
And they sent and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines and said, “Send away the ark of the God of Israel, and let it go back to its own place, so that it does not kill me and my people.” For there was a deadly destruction throughout all the city; the hand of God was very heavy there.
ÅB
Og de sendte bud og samlet alle filistrenes høvdinger og sa: Send Israels Guds ark bort, og la den komme tilbake til sin plass, så den ikke skal drepe meg og mitt folk! For det var kommet en dødsens forferdelse over hele byen; Herrens hånd lå meget tungt på den.
OTB
Så kalte de sammen alle filisternes herskere og sa: «Send Israels Guds ark bort. La den gå tilbake til sitt eget sted, så den ikke dreper oss og vårt folk.» For død og panikk hadde fylt byen; Guds hånd var meget tung der.
B1930
Og de sendte bud og samlet alle filistrenes høvdinger og sa: Send Israels Guds ark bort, og la den komme tilbake til sin plass, så den ikke skal drepe mig og mitt folk! For det var kommet en dødsens forferdelse over hele byen; Herrens hånd lå meget tungt på den.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • 1 Samuel 5:6

    Now the hand of the LORD was heavy on the people of Ashdod and its vicinity, ravaging them and afflicting them with tumors.

    Read in context
  • 1 Samuel 5:8–9

    So they called together all the rulers of the Philistines and asked, “What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel?” “It must be moved to Gath,” they replied. So they carried away the ark of the God of Israel.

    Read in context
  • Isaiah 13:7–9

    Therefore all hands will fall limp, and every man’s heart will melt.

    Read in context
  • Jeremiah 48:42–44

    Moab will be destroyed as a nation because he vaunted himself against the LORD.

    Read in context