1st Samuel Chapter 6 verse 1 Holy Bible
And the ark of Jehovah was in the country of the Philistines seven months.
read chapter 6 in ASV
Now the ark of the Lord was in the country of the Philistines for seven months.
read chapter 6 in BBE
And the ark of Jehovah was in the country of the Philistines seven months.
read chapter 6 in DARBY
And the ark of the LORD was in the country of the Philistines seven months.
read chapter 6 in KJV
And the ark of the LORD was in the country of the Philistines seven months.
read chapter 6 in WBT
The ark of Yahweh was in the country of the Philistines seven months.
read chapter 6 in WEB
And the ark of Jehovah is in the field of the Philistines seven months,
read chapter 6 in YLT
Pulpit Commentary
Pulpit CommentaryVerses 1, 2. - The ark of Jehovah was in the country - literally, the field, i.e. the territory - of the Philistines seven months, during which long time the people wherever the ark was deposited were afflicted in their persons with a most painful malady. The princes determined, therefore, to restore it to Israel, and convened the priests and the diviners, that they might advise them as to the manner in which this purpose should be best carried out, lest some error or want of due reverence might only serve to increase their sufferings. It would be the duty of the priests to see that the proper ceremonial was observed in moving the ark, while the diviners would decide what day and hour and special method would be lucky. The importance of the diviner, qosem, is shown by his being mentioned in Isaiah 3:2 in an enumeration of the leading orders in the state. He is placed there between the prophet and the elder or senator; but the A.V., displeased perhaps at finding one who practised a forbidden art nevertheless described as practically so valued, translates the word prudent. Literally it means a divider or partitioner, because it was his office to separate things into the two classes of lucky and unlucky. Tell us wherewith, etc, Though this translation is tenable, the right rendering is probably how. The princes did not assume that gifts must accompany the ark, but inquired generally as to the best method of restoring it. So the answer of the priests and diviners is not merely that expiatory offerings are to be made, but that the ark is to be sent back in such a way as to give proof that Jehovah had intervened, or the contrary (vers. 7, 8, 9).
