Bible Strands
1 Samuel 6:18
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.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrator records the Philistines' completed restitution of the ark, noting how the gold tribute matched the political divisions of their five rulers. The words — מִסְפַּר (mispar, "number") and עָרֵי פְלִשְׁתִּים (arei p'lishtim, "cities of the Philistines") establish a direct numerical correspondence between the gold objects and the five Philistine rulers' territories. The thread — The distinction between fortified cities and outlying villages mirrors Deuteronomy 3:5, while the geographic marker of Ekron aligns with Joshua 13:3. Why it lands — The text requires the reader to verify the historical reality of the event by tracking its precise geographical and political details before drawing theological conclusions.
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The Hebrew words
King James Version
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.
Cross-references
- Deuteronomy 3:5 All these cities were fortified with high walls and gates and bars, and there were many more unwalled villages.
- Joshua 13:3 from the Shihor east of Egypt to the territory of Ekron on the north (considered to be Canaanite territory)—that of the five Philistine rulers of Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron, as well as that of the Avvites;
- 1 Samuel 6:14 The cart came to the field of Joshua of Beth-shemesh and stopped there near a large rock. The people chopped up the cart and offered the cows as a burnt offering to the LORD.