1 Samuel 6:2

¹ When the ark of the LORD had been in the land of the Philistines seven months,

the Philistines summoned the priests and diviners, saying, “What shall we do with the ark of the LORD? Tell us how to send it back to its place.”

³ They replied, “If you return the ark of the God of Israel, do not send it away empty, but by all means return it to Him with a guilt offering. Then you will be healed, and you will understand why His hand has not been lifted from you.”

⁴ “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.

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 Philistines summoned the priests and diviners, saying, “What shall we do with the ark of the LORD? Tell us how to send it back to its place.”
KJV: And the Philistines called for the priests and the diviners, saying, What shall we do to the ark of the LORD? tell us wherewith we shall send it to his place.
WEB: The Philistines called for the priests and the diviners, saying, “What shall we do with the LORD’s ark? Show us how we should send it to its place.”
ASV: And the Philistines called for the priests and the diviners, saying, What shall we do with the ark of Jehovah? show us wherewith we shall sent it to its place.
DARBY: And the Philistines called for the priests and the diviners, saying, What shall we do with the ark of Jehovah? tell us wherewith we shall send it to its place.
BLB: And the Philistines called for the priests and the diviners, saying, “What shall we do with the ark of YHWH? Tell us, by what should we send it to its place?”

ÅB: Da tilkalte filistrene prestene og spåmennene og sa: Hva skal vi gjøre med Herrens ark? Si oss hvordan vi skal sende den fra oss tilbake til dens plass!
OTB: Da kalte filisterne på prestene og spåmennene og sa: "Hva skal vi gjøre med Herrens ark? Fortell oss hvordan vi skal sende den tilbake til sitt sted."
B1930: Da tilkalte filistrene prestene og spåmennene og sa: Hvad skal vi gjøre med Herrens ark? Si oss hvorledes vi skal sende den fra oss tilbake til dens plass!

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Exodus 7:11
But Pharaoh called the wise men and sorcerers and magicians of Egypt, and they also did the same things by their magic arts.
Read in context
Genesis 41:8
In the morning his spirit was troubled, so he summoned all the magicians and wise men of Egypt. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but no one could interpret them for him.
Read in context
Daniel 5:7
The king called out for the enchanters, astrologers, and diviners to be brought in, and he said to these wise men of Babylon, “Whoever reads this inscription and tells me its interpretation will be clothed in purple and have a gold chain placed around his neck, and he will be made the third highest ruler in the kingdom.”
Read in context
Daniel 2:2
So the king gave orders to summon the magicians, enchanters, sorcerers, and astrologers to explain his dreams. When they came and stood before the king,
Read in context
Isaiah 47:12–13
So take your stand with your spells and with your many sorceries, with which you have wearied yourself from your youth. Perhaps you will succeed; perhaps you will inspire terror!
Read in context
Micah 6:6–9
With what shall I come before the LORD when I bow before the God on high? Should I come to Him with burnt offerings, with year-old calves?
Read in context
Matthew 2:4
And when he had assembled all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he asked them where the Christ was to be born.
Read in context
Isaiah 2:6
For You have abandoned Your people, the house of Jacob, because they are filled with influences from the east; they are soothsayers like the Philistines; they strike hands with the children of foreigners.
Read in context