1 Samuel 6:18

16 And when the five lords of the Philistines had seen it, they returned to Ekron the same day.

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;

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 Beth-shemite.

19 And he smote the men of Beth-shemesh, because they had looked into the ark of the LORD, even he smote of the people fifty thousand and threescore and ten men: and the people lamented, because the LORD had smitten many of the people with a great slaughter.

20 And the men of Beth-shemesh said, Who is able to stand before this holy LORD God? and to whom shall he go up from us?

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.

Compare

BSB
The number of gold rats also corresponded to the number of Philistine cities belonging to the five rulers—the fortified cities and their outlying villages. And the large rock on which they placed the ark of the LORD stands to this day in the field of Joshua of Beth-shemesh.
KJV
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 Beth-shemite.
WEB
and the golden mice, according to the number of all the cities of the Philistines belonging to the five lords, both of fortified cities and of country villages, even to the great stone on which they set down the LORD’s ark. That stone remains to this day in the field of Joshua of Beth Shemesh.
ASV
and the golden mice, according to the number of all the cities of the Philistines belonging to the five lords, both of fortified cities and of country villages, even unto the great stone, whereon they set down the ark of Jehovah, [which stone remaineth] unto this day in the field of Joshua the Beth-shemite.
DARBY
and the golden mice, [according to] the number of all the cities of the Philistines belonging to the five lords, both fortified cities and villages of the peasantry; [and they brought them] as far as the great [stone of] Abel, whereon they set down the ark of Jehovah, [which] is to this day in the field of Joshua the Beth-shemeshite.
BLB
and the golden rats—the number of all the cities of the Philistines for the five princes, from the fortified city and to the village of the countryside, even to Abel-haggedolah, which they placed in it the ark of YHWH—[are] to this day in the field of Joshua of Beth-shemesh.
ÅB
Og gullmusene svarte til tallet på alle filistrenes byer som tilhørte de fem høvdinger, både de faste byer og landsbyene. Vitne herom er den dag idag den store stein på betsemesitten Josvas mark som de satte Herrens ark på.
OTB
Og gullrottene var i samsvar med antallet av alle filisterbyene som tilhørte de fem herskerne, både befestede og landlige. Den store steinen som levittene plasserte Herrens ark på, er et vitne til denne dag i Josvas mark i Bet-Semes.
B1930
Og gullmusene svarte til tallet på alle filistrenes byer som tilhørte de fem høvdinger, både de faste byer og landsbyene. Vidne herom er den dag idag den store sten på betsemesitten Josvas mark som de satte Herrens ark på.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • 1 Samuel 6:14–16

    And the cart came into the field of Joshua, a Beth-shemite, and stood there, where there was a great stone: and they clave the wood of the cart, and offered the kine a burnt offering unto the LORD.

    Read in context
  • Deuteronomy 3:5

    All these cities were fenced with high walls, gates, and bars; beside unwalled towns a great many.

    Read in context
  • 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:

    Read in context