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Nach YomiI Samuel ยท ืฉืžื•ืืœ ืืณChapter 6

I Samuel 6

ืฉืžื•ืืœ ืืณ ืคืจืง ื•ืณ

Section: ื ื‘ื™ืื™ื ยท ื ื‘ื™ืื™ื ืจืืฉื•ื ื™ื | Book: I Samuel | Chapter: 6 of 31 | Day: 51 of 742

Date: April 3, 2026

ืงืœืื•ื“ ืขืœ ื”ื ืดืš

After seven months of plague and panic, the Philistines arrive at the question that drives this remarkable chapter: how do you send back a God you never meant to invite? I Samuel 6 is structured as an elaborate theological experiment designed by pagan priests, and its outcome delivers the narrativeโ€™s verdict on every question raised since the Arkโ€™s capture. The Philistine priests and diviners advise that the Ark must not be returned empty-handed โ€” an indemnity (ืืฉื) of five golden hemorrhoids and five golden mice must accompany it, one for each of the five Philistine lords. The choice of the word ืืฉื is striking: it is a sacrificial term from Israelite law, a guilt offering, and the Radak notes that even the Philistines intuited the need for some form of atonement when dealing with the God of Israel.

The test the Philistine priests devise is an ingenious piece of ancient reasoning. Two milch cows that have never borne a yoke are to be harnessed to a new cart carrying the Ark, while their nursing calves are shut up at home. Every natural instinct should drive the cows back toward their calves; if instead they walk straight to Beth-shemesh in Israelite territory, it will prove beyond doubt that the plagues were not coincidence but divine action. The priests even invoke the precedent of Egypt โ€” โ€œDo not harden your hearts as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened their heartsโ€ (ื•ืœืžื” ืชื›ื‘ื“ื• ืืช ืœื‘ื‘ื›ื ื›ืืฉืจ ื›ื‘ื“ื• ืžืฆืจื™ื ื•ืคืจืขื” ืืช ืœื‘ื) โ€” a remarkable moment in which pagans demonstrate better theological memory than Israelโ€™s own elders showed in chapter 4. The Radak observes that the Philistinesโ€™ knowledge of the Exodus story shows how widely the fame of those miracles had spread among the nations, and that the priests were warning their people not to repeat Pharaohโ€™s fatal stubbornness.

The cows walk straight to Beth-shemesh, lowing as they go โ€” mourning for their calves but overriding every maternal instinct to obey the invisible hand guiding them. The Philistine lords follow behind to witness the result with their own eyes. The scene of the Arkโ€™s arrival is luminous: the people of Beth-shemesh are reaping their wheat harvest in the valley, they look up and see the Ark approaching on its cart, and they rejoice. The cart stops in the field of Joshua of Beth-shemesh beside a great stone. The wood of the cart is split for fuel and the cows are offered as a burnt offering โ€” a spontaneous, improvised sacrifice born of overwhelming gratitude. The Levites set the Ark and its accompanying chest of golden offerings upon the great stone, and the Israelites offer sacrifices throughout the day.

But the chapter does not end in celebration. The inhabitants of Beth-shemesh look into the Ark, and God strikes them down โ€” a devastating blow that turns joy to mourning in an instant. The people cry out, โ€œWho can stand in attendance on the Eternal, this holy God?โ€ (ืžื™ ื™ื•ื›ืœ ืœืขืžื•ื“ ืœืคื ื™ ื”โ€™ ื”ืืœื”ื™ื ื”ืงื“ื•ืฉ ื”ื–ื”). This closing disaster mirrors the lesson of the entire Ark narrative from both sides: the Philistines learned that the Ark could not be treated as a trophy, and now the Israelites learn it cannot be treated as a curiosity. Holiness is not sentimentality; the God who humiliated Dagon and plagued the Philistines demands the same reverence from His own people. The Ark is sent onward to Kiriath-jearim, where it will remain in quiet obscurity for twenty years until David brings it to Jerusalem โ€” a long exile that underscores how thoroughly the old order at Shiloh has been dismantled and how much rebuilding lies ahead.

ืคืจืง ื•ืณ ยท Chapter 6

ืคืกื•ืง ืืณ ยท Verse 1

Hebrew:

ื•ึทื™ึฐื”ึดึงื™ ืึฒืจื•ึนืŸึพื™ึฐื”ึนื•ึธึ›ื” ื‘ึผึดืฉื‚ึฐื“ึตึฅื” ืคึฐืœึดืฉืึฐืชึผึดึ–ื™ื ืฉืึดื‘ึฐืขึธึฅื” ื—ึณื“ึธืฉืึดึฝื™ืืƒ

English:

The Ark of GOD remained in the territory of the Philistines seven months.aSeptuagint continues โ€œand mice invaded their fieldsโ€; cf. vv. 4, 5, 18, and note at 5.6.

This opening verse establishes the timeframe: seven full months of plague and suffering since the Ark was captured in chapter 4. The duration underscores the severity of the crisis -- the Philistines endured divine punishment for an extended period before finally resolving to return the Ark. This verse serves as a bridge from the plague narrative of chapter 5 to the return narrative that follows.

ืคืกื•ืง ื‘ืณ ยท Verse 2

Hebrew:

ื•ึทื™ึผึดืงึฐืจึฐืึฃื•ึผ ืคึฐืœึดืฉ๏ฟฝ๏ฟฝึฐืชึผึดึ—ื™ื ืœึทื›ึผึนื”ึฒื ึดึคื™ื ื•ึฐืœึทืงึผึนึฝืกึฐืžึดื™ืึ™ ืœึตืืžึนึ”ืจ ืžึทึฝื”ึพื ึผึทืขึฒืฉื‚ึถึ–ื” ืœึทืึฒืจึฃื•ึนืŸ ื™ึฐื”ึนื•ึธึ‘ื” ื”ื•ึนื“ึดืขึปึ•ื ื•ึผ ื‘ึผึทืžึผึถึ–ื” ื ึฐืฉืึทืœึผึฐื—ึถึฅื ึผื•ึผ ืœึดืžึฐืงื•ึนืžึฝื•ึนืƒย {ืก}ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย 

English:

Then the Philistines summoned the priests and the diviners and asked, โ€œWhat shall we do about the Ark of GOD? Tell us with what we shall send it off to its own place.โ€

After seven months of plagues, the Philistines consult their religious authorities -- priests and diviners -- about the proper protocol for returning the Ark. As Rashi explains, they were asking not merely whether to return it but in what manner, so that God would not remain angry. The Metzudat David adds that they were debating the logistics: should it be carried on a cart pulled by animals, or borne on shoulders? This consultation of pagan clergy sets the stage for an elaborate theological experiment.
โ–ถCommentaries (2)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
How we should send it back. In what manner should we send it away, so that He will not be angry, and so that His wrath will be removed from us.", hebrewText: "ื‘ึทึผืžึถึผื” ื ึฐืฉึทืืœึฐึผื—ึถื ึผื•ึผ. ื‘ึฐึผืึตื™ื–ึถื” ืขึดื ึฐื™ึธืŸ ื ึฐืฉึทืืœึฐึผื—ึถื ึผื•ึผ ืฉึถืืœึนึผื ื™ึถื—ึฑืจึถื” ืึทืคึผื•ึน, ื•ึฐื™ึธืฉืื•ึผื‘ ื—ึฒืจื•ึนื ื•ึน ืžึดืžึถึผื ึผื•ึผ:
ืžืฆื•ื“ืช ื“ื•ื“Metzudat David
", hebrewText: "ืžื” ื ืขืฉื”. ืื ืœืฉืœื—ื• ืœืžืงื•ืžื•: ื”ื•ื“ื™ืขื ื•. ืจืฆื” ืœื•ืžืจ: ื•ืื ื™ื”ื™ื” ืžื”ื”ื›ืจื— ืœืฉืœื—ื•, ื”ื•ื“ื™ืขื ื• ื‘ืžื” ื ืฉืœื—ื ื•, ืื ืœื”ื ื™ื—ื• ื‘ืขื’ืœื” ื•ืœืžืฉื›ื• ื‘ื‘ื”ืžื•ืช, ืื ืœืฉืืชื• ื‘ื›ืชืฃ:

ืคืกื•ืง ื’ืณ ยท Verse 3

Hebrew:

ื•ึทื™ึผึนืืžึฐืจึ—ื•ึผ ืึดึฝืึพืžึฐืฉืึทืœึผึฐื—ึดึžื™ื ืึถืชึพืึฒืจึจื•ึนืŸ ืึฑืœึนื”ึตึคื™ ื™ึดืฉื‚ึฐืจึธืึตืœึ™ ืึทืœึพืชึผึฐืฉืึทืœึผึฐื—ึคื•ึผ ืึนืชื•ึนึ™ ืจึตื™ืงึธึ”ื ื›ึผึดื™ึพื”ึธืฉืึตึฅื‘ ืชึผึธืฉืึดึ›ื™ื‘ื•ึผ ืœึ–ื•ึน ืึธืฉืึธึ‘ื ืึธึคื– ืชึผึตืจึธึฝืคึฐืื•ึผึ™ ื•ึฐื ื•ึนื“ึทึฃืข ืœึธื›ึถึ”ื ืœึธึ›ืžึผึธื” ืœึนืึพืชึธืกึฅื•ึผืจ ื™ึธื“ึ–ื•ึน ืžึดื›ึผึถึฝืืƒ

English:

They answered, โ€œIf you are going to send the Ark of the God of Israel away, do not send it away without anything; you must also pay an indemnity. Then you will be healed, and he will be made known to you; otherwise his hand will not turn away from you.โ€bhe will be made known โ€ฆ from you Or โ€œand you will know why his hand would not turn away from you.โ€ Meaning of Heb. uncertain.

The Philistine priests insist the Ark must not be sent back empty -- a guilt offering (asham) must accompany it. The use of the term asham is remarkable, as Rashi notes it implies a confession of wrongdoing against God. The Radak explains the logic: only after the Ark is returned with its indemnity will healing come, which will itself prove that the plagues were divine punishment rather than coincidence. This reasoning reveals the Philistines grasping, however imperfectly, that their affliction had a moral cause.
โ–ถCommentaries (3)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
A guilt-offering. As an indication that you confess that you have betrayed Him. Then you will be healed, and you will realize. That He did this, for why wouldn't His hand turn away from you then?", hebrewText: "ืึธืฉึธืื. ื”ึถื›ึตึผืจ ื“ึธึผื‘ึธืจ ืฉึถืืึทืชึถึผื ืžื•ึนื“ึดื™ื ืฉึถืืžึฐึผืขึทืœึฐืชึถึผื ื‘ึผื•ึน: ืึธื–. ืชึตึผืจึธืคึฐืื•ึผ ื•ึฐื ื•ึนื“ึทืข ืœึธื›ึถื ืฉึถืื”ื•ึผื ืขึธืฉึธื‚ื”, ื›ึดึผื™ ืœึธืžึธึผื” ืœึนื ืชึธืกื•ึผืจ ื™ึธื“ื•ึน ืึธื– ืžึดื›ึถึผื:
ืžืฆื•ื“ืช ื“ื•ื“Metzudat David
", hebrewText: "ืื ืžืฉืœื—ื™ื. ืจืฆื” ืœื•ืžืจ: ืื ื™ืฆื ื”ื“ื‘ืจ ืœืฉืœื—ื• ืœืžืงื•ืžื•, ืืœ ืชืฉืœื—ื ื• ืจื™ืงื ืžื‘ืœื™ ืžื ื—ื” ื•ืชืฉื•ืจื”: ืชืฉื™ื‘ื• ืœื• ืืฉื. ืชืฉื™ื‘ื• ืœื”ืณ ืงืจื‘ืŸ ืืฉื, ื›ื“ื™ืŸ ื”ืžื•ืขืœ ื‘ื”ืงื“ืฉ: ืื– ืชืจืคืื•. ืจืฆื” ืœื•ืžืจ: ื›ืฉืชืจืคืื•, ืื– ื™ื”ื™ื” ื ื•ื“ืข ืœื›ื ื‘ื‘ื™ืจื•ืจ, ืœืžื” ืœื ืชืกื•ืจ ื™ื“ื• ืงื•ื“ื ื”ื”ืฉื‘ื”, ืจืฆื” ืœื•ืžืจ: ืื– ืชื“ืขื• ืฉื™ื“ ื”ืณ ืขืฉืชื” ื–ืืช:
ืจื“ืดืงRadak
", hebrewText: "ืœืžื” ืœื ืชืกื•ืจ ื™ื“ื• ืžื›ื. ืื– ืชื“ืขื• ืœืžื” ืœื ืกืจื” ื™ื“ื• ื•ืžื›ืชื• ืžื›ื ืœืคื™ ืฉื”ื™ื™ืชื ืžืขื›ื‘ื™ื ืืจื•ื ื• ืืฆืœื™ื›ื ื›ื™ ื‘ืฉืœื—ื›ื ืื•ืชื• ืชืจืคืื• ื•ืืฉื ืœื›ืคืจื” ืขืœ ืืฉืจ ืขืฉื™ืชื:

ืคืกื•ืง ื“ืณ ยท Verse 4

Hebrew:

ื•ึทื™ึผึนืืžึฐืจึ—ื•ึผ ืžึธึฃื” ื”ึธืึธืฉืึธืึฎ ืึฒืฉืึถึฃืจ ื ึธืฉืึดึฃื™ื‘ ืœื•ึนึ’ ื•ึทื™ึผึนืืžึฐืจึ—ื•ึผ ืžึดืกึฐืคึผึทืจึ™ ืกึทืจึฐื ึตึฃื™ ืคึฐืœึดืฉืึฐืชึผึดึ”ื™ื ื—ึฒืžึดืฉืึผึธื”ึ™ (ืขืคืœื™) [ื˜ึฐื—ึนืจึตึฃื™] ื–ึธื”ึธึ”ื‘ ื•ึทื—ึฒืžึดืฉืึผึธึ–ื” ืขึทื›ึฐื‘ึผึฐืจึตึฃื™ ื–ึธื”ึธึ‘ื‘ ื›ึผึดึฝื™ึพืžึทื’ึผึตืคึธึฅื” ืึทื—ึทึ›ืช ืœึฐื›ึปืœึผึธึ–ื ื•ึผืœึฐืกึทืจึฐื ึตื™ื›ึถึฝืืƒ

English:

They asked, โ€œWhat is the indemnity that we should pay?โ€ They answered, โ€œFive golden hemorrhoids and five golden mice, corresponding to the number of lords of the Philistines; for the same plague struck all of youcyou Heb. โ€œthem.โ€ and your lords.

The priests specify five golden hemorrhoids and five golden mice, one for each of the five Philistine lords (of Ashdod, Gaza, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron). The golden images serve as symbolic representations of the afflictions, meant to appease God. The Radak offers a vivid explanation: the hemorrhoids caused intestinal distress and the mice would attack the exposed flesh, making both images necessary for atonement. The Metzudat David emphasizes that the plague struck all classes equally -- both the lords and the common people needed expiation.
โ–ถCommentaries (3)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
Philistine rulers. They were five, as it is stated, "The Azites, the Ashdodites, the Ashkelonites, the Gittites, and the Ekronites."1 Yehoshua 13:3.", hebrewText: "ืกึทืจึฐื ึตื™ ืคึฐืœึดืฉึฐืืชึดึผื™ื. ื—ึฒืžึดืฉึธึผืื” ื”ึตื, ื›ึฐึผืžึธื” ืฉึถืื ึถึผืึฑืžึทืจ (ื™ื”ื•ืฉืข ื™ื’:ื’): ืดื”ึธืขึทื–ึธึผืชึดื™ ื•ึฐื”ึธืึทืฉึฐืื“ึผื•ึนื“ึดื™ ื”ึธืึถืฉึฐืืงึฐืœื•ึนื ึดื™ ื”ึทื’ึดึผืชึดึผื™ ื•ึฐื”ึธืขึถืงึฐืจื•ึนื ึดื™ืด:
ืžืฆื•ื“ืช ื“ื•ื“Metzudat David
", hebrewText: "ืžืกืคืจ. ื›ืคื™ ืžืกืคืจ ืกืจื ื™ ืคืœืฉืชื™ื ืฉื”ื ื—ืžืฉื”, ื›ื›ื” ืชืฉื™ื‘ื• ื—ืžืฉื” ืขืคื•ืœื™ื ืขืฉื•ื™ื ืžื–ื”ื‘: ื•ื—ืžืฉื” ืขื›ื‘ืจื™. ื›ื™ ื”ืขืคื•ืœื™ื ื”ื™ื• ื“ื•ืžื™ื ื‘ืฆื“ ืžื” ืœื“ืžื•ืช ืขื›ื‘ืจื™ื, ื•ืœื–ื” ืืžืจ ืœื”ืฉื™ื‘ ื’ื ื—ืžืฉื” ืขื›ื‘ืจื™ ื–ื”ื‘, ืœื›ืคืจ ืขืœ ื”ืขื ื—ืžืฉืช ื”ืื•ืžื•ืช ืฉื‘ืืจืฅ ืคืœืฉืชื™ื: ืœื›ื•ืœื. ืœื›ืœ ื”ืขื ื•ืœื”ืกืจื ื™ื, ื•ื›ื•ืœื›ื ืฆืจื™ื›ื™ื ื›ืคืจื”:
ืจื“ืดืงRadak
", hebrewText: "ื•ื—ืžืฉื” ืขื›ื‘ืจื™ ื–ื”ื‘. ื–ื” ืžืกื™ื™ืข ื”ื“ืจืฉ ืฉื›ืชื‘ื ื• ืœืžืขืœื” ื›ื™ ื›ืฉื”ื™ื” ืœื”ื ื—ื•ืœื™ ื”ืชื—ืชื•ื ื™ื•ืช ื•ื”ื™ืชื” ื™ื•ืฆืืช ื”ื—ืœื—ื•ืœื™ื•ืช ืฉืœื”ื ื‘ืคื™ ื”ื˜ื‘ืขืช ืžืชื•ืš ื”ื—ื•ืœื™ ื•ื”ื™ื• ื‘ืื™ื ื”ืขื›ื‘ืจื™ื ื•ืฉื•ืžื˜ื™ื ืืช ื”ืžืขื™ ื”ื”ื•ื ื•ืœืคื™ ืฉื”ื™ื” ื”ื—ื•ืœื™ ืื—ื“ ืœืกืจื ื™ื ื•ืœืขื ืืžืจื• ืœื”ื ื”ื›ื”ื ื™ื ื•ื”ืงื•ืกืžื™ื ืฉื™ืขืฉื• ืืฃ ื‘ื“ืžื•ืช ื”ื˜ื—ื•ืจื™ื ื—ืžืฉื” ื•ื‘ื“ืžื•ืช ื”ืขื›ื‘ืจื™ื ื—ืžืฉื” ื›ืžืกืคืจ ื”ืกืจื ื™ื ื•ื™ื”ื™ื• ืืฉื ืœื›ืคืจ ืœื”ื ื•ืœื”ืกื™ืจ ืื•ืชื• ื”ื—ื•ืœื™ ืžื”ื: ืœื›ื•ืœื ื•ืœืกืจื ื™ื›ื. ื›ืžื• ืฉืžืขื• ืขืžื™ื ื›ืœื:

ืคืกื•ืง ื”ืณ ยท Verse 5

Hebrew:

ื•ึทืขึฒืฉื‚ึดื™ืชึถืึฉ ืฆึทืœึฐืžึตึจื™ (ืขืคืœื™ื›ื) [ื˜ึฐื—ึนืจึตื™ื›ึถึœื] ื•ึฐืฆึทืœึฐืžึตึฃื™ ืขึทื›ึฐื‘ึผึฐืจึตื™ื›ึถึ—ื ื”ึทืžึผึทืฉืึฐื—ึดื™ืชึดืึ™ ืึถืชึพื”ึธืึธึ”ืจึถืฅ ื•ึผื ึฐืชึทืชึผึถึ›ื ืœึตืืœึนื”ึตึฅื™ ื™ึดืฉื‚ึฐืจึธืึตึ–ืœ ื›ึผึธื‘ึ‘ื•ึนื“ ืื•ึผืœึทึ—ื™ ื™ึธืงึตึคืœ ืึถืชึพื™ึธื“ื•ึนึ™ ืžึตึฝืขึฒืœึตื™ื›ึถึ”ื ื•ึผืžึตืขึทึฅืœ ืึฑืœึนื”ึตื™ื›ึถึ–ื ื•ึผืžึตืขึทึฅืœ ืึทืจึฐืฆึฐื›ึถึฝืืƒ

English:

You shall make figures of your hemorrhoids and of the mice that are ravaging your land; thus you shall honor the God of Israel, and perhaps the burden upon you and your gods and your land will be lightened.dthe burden upon youโ€ฆwill be lightened Lit. โ€œhe will lighten his hand from upon youโ€; cf. Exod. 18.22 and 1 Kings 12.10.

The priests instruct the Philistines to fashion images of both their afflictions and to present them as an act of honor to the God of Israel. The phrase 'perhaps He will lighten His hand' reveals their uncertainty -- even the pagan clergy cannot guarantee divine response. The Metzudat David notes that this is not about God needing such offerings, but about the Philistines demonstrating respect and submission. Notably, the verse mentions suffering upon 'your gods' as well, recalling Dagon's humiliation in chapter 5.
โ–ถCommentaries (1)
ืžืฆื•ื“ืช ื“ื•ื“Metzudat David
", hebrewText: "ืฆืœืžื™ ื•ื›ื•ืณ ื”ืžืฉื—ื™ืชื™ื ื•ื›ื•ืณ. ืจืฆื” ืœื•ืžืจ: ืขืฉื• ืฆืœืžื™ ื“ืžื•ืช ื”ืขืคื•ืœื™ื ื•ื”ืขื›ื‘ืจื™ื, ืืฉืจ ื”ื ืžืฉื—ื™ืชื™ื ื•ื›ื•ืณ: ื•ื ืชืชื ื•ื›ื•ืณ ื›ื‘ื•ื“. ืจืฆื” ืœื•ืžืจ: ืœื ืฉื”ื•ื ืฆืจื™ืš ืœื–ื”, ืืœื ืชื ื• ืœื›ื‘ื•ื“ื•: ืื•ืœื™ ื™ืงืœ. ื‘ืขื‘ื•ืจ ื”ื›ื‘ื•ื“ ืืฉืจ ืชืขืฉื• ืœื•: ืžืขืœื™ื›ื. ืขืœ ื”ืกืจื ื™ื ื™ืืžืจ: ื•ืžืขืœ ืืจืฆื›ื. ืžืขืœ ื™ื•ืฉื‘ื™ ืืจืฆื›ื, ืžื•ืชืจ ื”ืขื:

ืคืกื•ืง ื•ืณ ยท Verse 6

Hebrew:

ื•ึฐืœึธึคืžึผึธื” ืชึฐื›ึทื‘ึผึฐื“ื•ึผึ™ ืึถืชึพืœึฐื‘ึทื‘ึฐื›ึถึ”ื ื›ึผึทืึฒืฉืึถึงืจ ื›ึผึดื‘ึผึฐื“ึ›ื•ึผ ืžึดืฆึฐืจึทึฅื™ึดื ื•ึผืคึทืจึฐืขึนึ–ื” ืึถืชึพืœึดื‘ึผึธึ‘ื ื”ึฒืœื•ึนืึ™ ื›ึผึทืึฒืฉืึถึฃืจ ื”ึดืชึฐืขึทืœึผึตึฃืœ ื‘ึผึธื”ึถึ”ื ื•ึทึฝื™ึฐืฉืึทืœึผึฐื—ึ–ื•ึผื ื•ึทื™ึผึตืœึตึฝื›ื•ึผืƒ

English:

Donโ€™t harden your hearts as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened their hearts. As you know, when he made a mockery of them, they had to let IsraeleIsrael Heb. โ€œthem.โ€ go, and they departed.

The Philistine priests invoke the precedent of the Exodus, warning their people not to repeat Pharaoh's stubbornness. This is a remarkable moment: pagans demonstrating better theological memory than Israel's own elders showed in chapter 4. The Metzudat David explains that the priests anticipated the same outcome -- just as Egypt eventually had to release Israel after prolonged resistance, so the Philistines would ultimately be forced to return the Ark, but only after suffering more needlessly. The Radak notes the unusual grammatical form of the verb 'harden' here.
โ–ถCommentaries (2)
ืžืฆื•ื“ืช ื“ื•ื“Metzudat David
", hebrewText: "ื•ืœืžื” ืชื›ื‘ื“ื•. ืขืœ ืฉืฉืืœื• ืžื” ื ืขืฉื” ืœืืจื•ืŸ, ื›ืืœื• ื”ื™ื• ืžืกื•ืคืงื™ื ืื ืœืฉืœื—ื• ืื ืœื”ื—ื–ื™ืงื•, ืœื–ื” ืืžืจื• ื•ืœืžื” ืชื›ื‘ื“ื• ื•ื›ื•ืณ: ื”ืœื ื›ืืฉืจ ื”ืชืขืœืœ ื‘ื”ื. ืจืฆื” ืœื•ืžืจ: ื”ืœื ืกื•ืฃ ื”ื“ื‘ืจ ื™ื”ื™ื” ื›ืืฉืจ ื”ื™ื” ื‘ืžืฆืจื™ื, ืฉื”ื™ื” ืžืฉื—ืง ื•ืžื”ืชืœ ื‘ื”ื, ื•ืื—ืจื™ ื–ื” ื‘ืขืœ ื›ืจื—ื ืฉืœื—ื• ืืช ื‘ื ื™ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ื•ื”ืœื›ื• ืœื”ื, ื•ื›ืžื• ื›ืŸ ื™ื”ื™ื” ืกื•ืคื›ื:
ืจื“ืดืงRadak
", hebrewText: "ื•ืœืžื” ืชื›ื‘ื“ื•. ื–ื” ืœื‘ื“ื• ื ืžืฆื ืžื‘ื ื™ืŸ ื”ื“ื’ื•ืฉ ื‘ืœ' ื›ื‘ื“ื•ืช: ื”ืชืขืœืœ ื‘ื”ื. ืขืฉื” ืžืขืฉื” ื”ืฉื—ืชื” ื›ืžื• ืืช ืืฉืจ ื”ืชืขืœืœืชื™ ื‘ืžืฆืจื™ื:

ืคืกื•ืง ื–ืณ ยท Verse 7

Hebrew:

ื•ึฐืขึทืชึผึธึ—ื” ืงึฐื—ึจื•ึผ ื•ึทืขึฒืฉื‚ึœื•ึผ ืขึฒื’ึธืœึธึคื” ื—ึฒื“ึธืฉืึธื”ึ™ ืึถื—ึธึ”ืช ื•ึผืฉืึฐืชึผึตึคื™ ืคึธืจื•ึนืชึ™ ืขึธืœึ”ื•ึนืช ืึฒืฉืึถึ›ืจ ืœึนืึพืขึธืœึธึฅื” ืขึฒืœึตื™ื”ึถึ–ื ืขึนึ‘ืœ ื•ึทืึฒืกึทืจึฐืชึผึถึคื ืึถืชึพื”ึทืคึผึธืจื•ึนืชึ™ ื‘ึผึธืขึฒื’ึธืœึธึ”ื” ื•ึทื”ึฒืฉืึตื™ื‘ึนืชึถึงื ื‘ึผึฐื ึตื™ื”ึถึ›ื ืžึตืึทื—ึฒืจึตื™ื”ึถึ–ื ื”ึทื‘ึผึธึฝื™ึฐืชึธื”ืƒ

English:

Therefore, get a new cart ready and two milch cows that have not borne a yoke; harness the cows to the cart, but take back indoors the calves that follow them.

The priests design an ingenious theological experiment. As Rashi explains, every element is chosen to maximize the test: nursing cows will instinctively return to their calves, cows that have never borne a yoke will resist pulling, and the new cart ensures no prior conditioning. The Radak adds that the new cart and unyoked cows also honor the Ark's sanctity -- nothing previously used for mundane work should carry it. If these untrained, maternal animals nonetheless walk straight to Israelite territory, it will prove conclusively that the plagues were divine.
โ–ถCommentaries (3)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
Nursing cows. Nursing. Which have not borne a yoke. All this is for the test. Since these cows are not capable of pulling [a load], and furthermore, they will yearn for their young. If the Ark will have the power to enable them to pull it by themselves, we shall know that He brought this upon us.", hebrewText: "ืขึธืœื•ึนืช. ืžึฐื ึดื™ืงื•ึนืช: ืึฒืฉึถืืจ ืœึนื ืขึธืœึธื” ืขึฒืœึตื™ื”ึถื ืขึนืœ. ื›ึธึผืœ ื–ึถื” ืœึฐื ึดืกึธึผื™ื•ึนืŸ, ืฉึถืืึตื™ืŸ ืึตืœึผื•ึผ ืจึฐืื•ึผื™ื•ึนืช ืœึดืžึฐืฉืื•ึนืšึฐ, ื•ึฐืขื•ึนื“ ืฉึถืื’ึผื•ึนืขื•ึนืช ืึทื—ึทืจ ื‘ึฐึผื ึตื™ื”ึถื, ื•ึฐืึดื ื™ึฐื”ึตื ื›ึนึผื—ึท ื‘ึธึผืึธืจื•ึนืŸ ืฉึถืื™ึผื•ึนืœึดื™ื›ื•ึผ ืื•ึนืชื•ึน ืžึตืึฒืœึตื™ื”ึถื, ื ึตื“ึทืข ืฉึถืื”ื•ึผื ืขึธืฉึธื‚ื” ืœึธื ื•ึผ:
ืžืฆื•ื“ืช ื“ื•ื“Metzudat David
", hebrewText: "ื•ืขืชื” ืงื—ื•. ืจืฆื” ืœื•ืžืจ: ืงื—ื• ืขืฆื™ื ื•ืขืฉื• ืขื’ืœื” ื—ื“ืฉื” ืœื›ื‘ื•ื“ ื”ืืจื•ืŸ: ื•ืฉืชื™ ืคืจื•ืช ืขืœื•ืช. ืจืฆื” ืœื•ืžืจ: ื‘ื—ื ื• ื”ื“ื‘ืจ ืœื“ืขืช ืฉื”ืืžืช ืืชื ื•, ื•ื–ืืช ืขืฉื•. ืงื—ื• ืคืจื•ืช ืžื ื™ืงื•ืช ืืฉืจ ืœื ืžืฉื›ื• ืžืขื•ืœื ื‘ืขื•ืœ, ื•ืืกืจื• ืืชื”ืŸ ื‘ืขื’ืœื”, ื•ืงื—ื• ืืช ื‘ื ื™ื”ืŸ ืžื”ืŸ, ื•ื”ื ื” ืžื“ืจืš ื”ื ื”ื•ื’ ืœื ื™ื–ื•ื–ื• ืžืžืงื•ืžืŸ ืœืœื›ืช ืžื‘ื ื™ื”ืŸ, ื•ืžื›ืœ ืฉื›ืŸ ืฉื’ื ืœื ื”ื•ืจื’ืœื• ื‘ืžืฉื™ื›ืช ื”ืขื•ืœ:
ืจื“ืดืงRadak
", hebrewText: "ื—ื“ืฉื”. ืฉืœื ื ืขืฉื” ื‘ื” ืžืœืื›ื” ื‘ืขื‘ื•ืจ ืงื“ื•ืฉืช ื”ืืจื•ืŸ: ืขืœื•ืช. ืžื ื™ืงื•ืช ื›ืชืจื’ื•ืžื• ื•ื ืงืจืื• ืขืœื•ืช ืขืœ ืฉื ื”ื™ื•ื ืงื™ื ืฉื ืงืจืื• ืขื•ืœื™ื ื•ืขื•ืœืœื™ื ื•ืฆื•ื• ืœืงื—ืช ืคืจื•ืช ืขืœื•ืช ืœื”ืจืื•ืช ื”ืžื•ืค' ืฉืœื ืฉื‘ื• ื‘ืขื‘ื•ืจ ื‘ื ื™ื”ื: ืืฉืจ ืœื ืขืœื” ืขืœื™ื”ื ืขื•ืœ. ื–ื” ืืžืจื• ื‘ืขื‘ื•ืจ ืงื“ื•ืฉืช ื”ืืจื•ืŸ ืฉืœื ื ืขืฉื” ื‘ื”ื ืžืœืื›ื” ืื—ืจืช ื›ืžื• ืฉืืžืจื• ื’"ื› ืขื’ืœื” ื—ื“ืฉื”:

ืคืกื•ืง ื—ืณ ยท Verse 8

Hebrew:

ื•ึผืœึฐืงึทื—ึฐืชึผึถึžื ืึถืชึพืึฒืจึฃื•ึนืŸ ื™ึฐื”ึนื•ึธึ—ื” ื•ึผื ึฐืชึทืชึผึถึคื ืึนืชื•ึนึ™ ืึถืœึพื”ึธึฃืขึฒื’ึธืœึธึ”ื” ื•ึฐืึตึฃืชโ€‰ื€ ื›ึผึฐืœึตึฃื™ ื”ึทื–ึผึธื”ึธึ—ื‘ ืึฒืฉืึถึจืจ ื”ึฒืฉืึตื‘ึนืชึถึฅื ืœื•ึนึ™ ืึธืฉืึธึ”ื ืชึผึธืฉื‚ึดึฅื™ืžื•ึผ ื‘ึธืึทืจึฐื’ึผึทึ–ื– ืžึดืฆึผึดื“ึผึ‘ื•ึน ื•ึฐืฉืึดืœึผึทื—ึฐืชึผึถึฅื ืึนืชึ–ื•ึน ื•ึฐื”ึธืœึธึฝืšึฐืƒ

English:

Take the Ark of GOD and place it on the cart; and put next to it in a chest the gold objects you are paying as indemnity. Send it off, and let it go its own way.

The instructions continue: place the Ark on the cart with the golden guilt offerings in a separate chest (argaz) beside it, then release the cows without a driver. Rashi identifies the argaz as a type of coffer. The Metzudat David emphasizes the critical detail 'let it go its own way' -- no human must guide the animals, as the entire point of the experiment depends on the cows navigating by themselves. The Radak discusses the preposition 'el' (to/on), noting its flexible usage in biblical Hebrew.
โ–ถCommentaries (3)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
In the box. Escrin in O. F.", hebrewText: "ื‘ึธืึทืจึฐื’ึธึผื–. ืฉืงืจื™ื ื™ื™ืดื• ื‘ืœืขืดื–:
ืžืฆื•ื“ืช ื“ื•ื“Metzudat David
", hebrewText: "ื•ื”ืœืš. ืจืฆื” ืœื•ืžืจ ื”ื ื™ื—ื• ืœืœื›ืช ืžืขืฆืžื•, ืœื‘ืœ ื™ื ื”ื’ ืžื™ ืืช ื”ืคืจื•ืช:
ืจื“ืดืงRadak
", hebrewText: "ืืœ ื”ืขื’ืœื”. ื›ืžื• ืขืœ ื”ืขื’ืœื” ื•ื›ืŸ ื•ื™ืš ืืช ื”ืคืœืฉืชื™ ืืœ ืžืฆื—ื• ื›ืžื• ืขืœ ืžืฆื—ื• ืื• ื”ื•ื ื›ืžื• ื‘ืขื’ืœื” ื•ื›ืŸ ื•ืืœ ื”ืืจื•ืŸ ืชืชืŸ ืฉื”ื•ื ื›ืžื• ื•ื‘ืืจื•ืŸ ื•ื›ืช"ื™ ื‘ืขื’ืœืชื: ื‘ืืจื’ื–. ื‘ืชื™ื‘ื” ื›ืชืจื’ื•ืžื• ื‘ืชื™ื‘ื•ืชื:

ืคืกื•ืง ื˜ืณ ยท Verse 9

Hebrew:

ื•ึผืจึฐืึดื™ืชึถึ—ื ืึดืึพื“ึผึถึจืจึถืšึฐ ื’ึผึฐื‘ื•ึผืœึคื•ึน ื™ึทึฝืขึฒืœึถื”ึ™ ื‘ึผึตึฃื™ืช ืฉืึถึ”ืžึถืฉื ื”ึšื•ึผื ืขึธึฃืฉื‚ึธื” ืœึธึ”ื ื•ึผ ืึถืชึพื”ึธืจึธืขึธึฅื” ื”ึทื’ึผึฐื“ื•ึนืœึธึ–ื” ื”ึทื–ึผึนึ‘ืืช ื•ึฐืึดืึพืœึนึ—ื ื•ึฐื™ึธื“ึทึ™ืขึฐื ื•ึผึ™ ื›ึผึดึฃื™ ืœึนึคื ื™ึธื“ื•ึนึ™ ื ึธึฃื’ึฐืขึธื” ื‘ึผึธึ”ื ื•ึผ ืžึดืงึฐืจึถึฅื” ื”ึ–ื•ึผื ื”ึธึฅื™ึธื” ืœึธึฝื ื•ึผืƒ

English:

Then watch: If it goes up the road to Beth-shemesh, to this territory, we will know that he has inflicted this great harm on us. But if not, we shall know that it was not his hand that struck us; it just happened to us by chance.โ€

This verse articulates the binary outcome of the test: if the cows go to Beth-shemesh (an Israelite town on the border), the plagues were divine; if not, they were mere coincidence. The Metzudat David explains that Beth-shemesh was chosen because it lay in the direction of Israelite territory -- the cows choosing that route against all natural instinct would be decisive proof. The word 'mikreh' (chance) is significant: the Philistines are open to the possibility that their suffering was random, but the test they devise is rigorous enough to rule it out.
โ–ถCommentaries (1)
ืžืฆื•ื“ืช ื“ื•ื“Metzudat David
", hebrewText: "ื•ืจืื™ืชื. ื•ืื– ืชืจืื•, ืื ืžืขืฆืžื• ื™ืขืœื” ื”ืืจื•ืŸ ื“ืจืš ื’ื‘ื•ืœ ืืจืฆื• ืืœ ื‘ื™ืช ืฉืžืฉ, ืื– ื‘ื•ื“ืื™ ื‘ืขื‘ื•ืจื• ื‘ืื” ื”ืจืขื”, ื•ืื ืœื ื™ืขืœื” ืžืขืฆืžื• ื“ืจืš ื’ื‘ื•ืœื•, ืื– ื ื•ื“ืข ืฉื‘ืžืงืจื” ื‘ืื” ื”ืจืขื”:

ืคืกื•ืง ื™ืด ยท Verse 10

Hebrew:

ื•ึทื™ึผึทืขึฒืฉื‚ึคื•ึผ ื”ึธืึฒื ึธืฉืึดื™ืึ™ ื›ึผึตึ”ืŸ ื•ึทื™ึผึดืงึฐื—ึ—ื•ึผ ืฉืึฐืชึผึตึคื™ ืคึธืจื•ึนืชึ™ ืขึธืœึ”ื•ึนืช ื•ึทื™ึผึทืึทืกึฐืจึ–ื•ึผื ื‘ึผึธืขึฒื’ึธืœึธึ‘ื” ื•ึฐืึถืชึพื‘ึผึฐื ึตื™ื”ึถึ–ื ื›ึผึธืœึฅื•ึผ ื‘ึทื‘ึผึธึฝื™ึดืชืƒ

English:

The PhilistinesfThe Philistines Heb. โ€œThose involvedโ€; cf. v. 2. did so. They took two milch cows and harnessed them to the cart, and shut up their calves indoors.

The Philistines carry out the priests' instructions precisely, demonstrating both their desperation and their willingness to submit to the test. Rashi explains that 'kalu' (confined) derives from the root meaning imprisonment -- the calves were locked away to ensure the nursing cows would have every natural reason to turn back. The Radak elaborates that without the calves following behind, the cows' only instinct would be to return home to them, making any forward progress toward Beth-shemesh all the more miraculous.
โ–ถCommentaries (2)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
Confined in the house. 'ื›ึผึธืœื•ึผ' is an expression of 'ื›ึผึถืœึถื' [imprisonment].", hebrewText: "ื›ึธึผืœื•ึผ ื‘ึทื‘ึธึผื™ึดืช. ืœึฐืฉืื•ึนืŸ ื›ึถึผืœึถื:
ืจื“ืดืงRadak
", hebrewText: "ื›ืœื• ื‘ื‘ื™ืช. ื›ืžื• ื›ืœืื• ื•ื”ื•ื ืžื‘ืขืœื™ ื”ื”"ื ื›ืžื• ืœื ื›ืœื” ืžืžืš ืืฉืจ ื›ืœืชื ื™ ื”ื™ื•ื ื”ื–ื” ืื• ื”ื•ื ืžื‘ืขืœื™ ื”ืืœ"ืฃ ื•ื‘ื ื›ื“ืจืš ื‘ืขืœื™ ื”ื”"ื ื•ื›ืŸ ืžืœื• ืชื•ื›ืš ื—ืžืก ื›ืžื• ืžืœืื• ื•ื ืฉื• ืืช ื›ืœืžืชื ื›ืžื• ื•ื ืฉืื• ื›ื™ ื›ื‘ืจ ื ืฉืชืžืฉื• ื‘ื–ื” ื”ืขื ื™ืŸ ื‘ืฉืชื™ ืœืฉื•ื ื•ืช ื‘ื”"ื ื•ื‘ืืœ"ืฃ ืœืคื™ ืฉื“ืจื›ื ืœื”ืžื™ืจ ื–ื” ื‘ื–ื”, ื•ื˜ืขื ืœื”ืฉื™ื‘ ืืช ื‘ื ื™ื”ื ืžืื—ืจื™ื”ื ื•ืœื›ืœื•ื ืื•ืชื ื‘ื‘ื™ืช ืœืคื™ ืฉืœื•ืœื™ ื“ื‘ืจ ื”ืืจื•ืŸ ื”ื™ื• ืฉื‘ื•ืช ืืœ ื‘ื ื™ื”ื ืื—ืจ ืฉืœื ื”ื™ื• ื‘ื ื™ื”ื ื”ื•ืœื›ื™ื ืื—ืจื™ื”ื:

ืคืกื•ืง ื™ืดื ยท Verse 11

Hebrew:

ื•ึทื™ึผึธืฉื‚ึดึ›ืžื•ึผ ืึถืชึพืึฒืจึฅื•ึนืŸ ื™ึฐื”ึนื•ึธึ–ื” ืึถืœึพื”ึธืขึฒื’ึธืœึธึ‘ื” ื•ึฐืึตึฃืช ื”ึธืึทืจึฐื’ึผึทึ—ื– ื•ึฐืึตืชึ™ ืขึทื›ึฐื‘ึผึฐืจึตึฃื™ ื”ึทื–ึผึธื”ึธึ”ื‘ ื•ึฐืึตึ–ืช ืฆึทืœึฐืžึตึฅื™ ื˜ึฐื—ึนืจึตื™ื”ึถึฝืืƒ

English:

They placed the Ark of GOD on the cart together with the chest, the golden mice, and the figures of their hemorrhoids.

The Ark is loaded onto the cart alongside the chest of golden offerings. The Metzudat David notes the term 'techoreihem' (their hemorrhoids) -- the golden images were fashioned to resemble the specific affliction they suffered. This verse marks the moment of release: after seven months, the Philistines are finally parting with the captured Ark, though not out of reverence but out of desperate self-preservation.
โ–ถCommentaries (1)
ืžืฆื•ื“ืช ื“ื•ื“Metzudat David
", hebrewText: "ื˜ื—ื•ืจื™ื”ื. ื”ื ื”ืขืคื•ืœื™ื ืฉื”ื™ื• ื“ื•ืžื™ื ื‘ืฆื“ ืžื” ืœื˜ื—ื•ืจื™ื:

ืคืกื•ืง ื™ืดื‘ ยท Verse 12

Hebrew:

ื•ึทื™ึผึดืฉืึผึทึจืจึฐื ึธื” ื”ึทืคึผึธืจึœื•ึนืช ื‘ึผึทื“ึผึถึ—ืจึถืšึฐ ืขึทืœึพื“ึผึถึ™ืจึถืšึฐึ™ ื‘ึผึตึฃื™ืช ืฉืึถึ”ืžึถืฉื ื‘ึผึดืžึฐืกึดืœึผึธึฃื” ืึทื—ึทึ—ืช ื”ึธืœึฐื›ึคื•ึผ ื”ึธืœึนืšึฐึ™ ื•ึฐื’ึธืขึ”ื•ึน ื•ึฐืœึนืึพืกึธึ–ืจื•ึผ ื™ึธืžึดึฃื™ืŸ ื•ึผืฉื‚ึฐืžึนึ‘ืื•ืœ ื•ึฐืกึทืจึฐื ึตึคื™ ืคึฐืœึดืฉืึฐืชึผึดื™ืึ™ ื”ึนืœึฐ๏ฟฝ๏ฟฝึดึฃื™ื ืึทื—ึฒืจึตื™ื”ึถึ”ื ืขึทื“ึพื’ึผึฐื‘ึ–ื•ึผืœ ื‘ึผึตึฅื™ืช ืฉืึธึฝืžึถืฉืืƒ

English:

The cows went straight ahead along the road to Beth-shemesh. They went along a single highroad, lowing as they went, and turning off neither to the right nor to the left; and the lords of the Philistines walked behind them as far as the border of Beth-shemesh.

This is the climactic moment of the chapter's first half: the cows walk straight toward Beth-shemesh, lowing for their calves but never deviating. Rashi brings a remarkable midrash that the word 'va-yisharnah' is grammatically androgynous (mixing masculine and feminine forms), hinting that even the calves sang a song of praise as the Ark departed. The Metzudat David focuses on the plain meaning: despite crying out in distress for their young, the cows did not turn right or left. The five Philistine lords follow behind as witnesses, confirming the test's result with their own eyes.
โ–ถCommentaries (3)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
Set on a straight course. This word is a grammatical hermaphrodite.2The "ื™" of ื•ึทื™ึดืฉึผืึทืจึฐื ึธื” is the masculine form and the "ื ื”" is indicative of the feminine form. This teaches us that even the young recited a song,3 And, therefore, the combination of the masculine and feminine forms. "Sing aloud, sing aloud, O Ark of acacia wood! Exalt yourselfโ€ฆ" as stated in Maseches Avodah Zorah.4 24b. The cows literally sang an intelligible praise to 'ื”. They were given the miraculous power to sing just as Bilam's donkey was given the power of speech in Bamidbar 22:28-30. According to its simple meaning, 'ื•ึทื™ึดืฉืึผึทืจึฐื ึธื”' is an expression meaning 'straight,' i.e. they followed a straight path. Lowing as they walked. This is an expression of the cry [ื’ึผึฐืขึดื™ึธื”] of cattle. Beis Shemesh. Yisroel was there.5Although ื‘ึผึตื™ืช ืฉืึถืžึถืฉื was one of the cities belonging to kohanim [Yehosua 21:16], nonetheless man Bnei Yisroel lived there and in adjacent areas.โ€”Da'as Sofrim", hebrewText: "ื•ึทื™ึดึผืฉึทึผืืจึฐื ึธื”. ื”ึฒืจึตื™ ืชึตึผื‘ึธื” ื–ื•ึน ืึทื ึฐื“ึฐึผืจื•ึนื’ึดื™ื ื•ึนืก, ืžึฐืœึทืžึตึผื“ ืฉึถืืึทืฃ ื”ึทื•ึฐึผืœึธื“ื•ึนืช ื”ึธื™ื•ึผ ืื•ึนืžึฐืจึดื™ื ืฉึดืื™ืจึธื”: ืจึนื ึดึผื™ ืจึนื ึดึผื™ ื”ึทืฉึดึผืื˜ึธึผื” ื”ึดืชึฐื ื•ึนืคึฐืคึดื™ ื•ื›ื•ืณ, ื›ึดึผื“ึฐืึดื™ืชึธื ื‘ึฐึผืžึทืกึถึผื›ึถืช ืขึฒื‘ื•ึนื“ึธื” ื–ึธืจึธื” (ื›ื“ ื‘). ื•ึผืœึฐืคึดื™ ืคึฐืฉืื•ึผื˜ื•ึน, ืณื•ึทื™ึดึผืฉึทึผืืจึฐื ึธื”ืณ, ืœึฐืฉืื•ึนืŸ ืณื™ึฐืฉึทืืจ ื“ึถึผืจึถืšึฐืณ, ื™ึธืฉึธืืจ ื”ึธื™ื•ึผ ื”ื•ึนืœึฐื›ื•ึนืช: ื”ึธืœึนืšึฐ ื•ึฐื’ึธืขื•ึน. ืœึฐืฉืื•ึนืŸ ืฆึทืขึฒืงึทืช ื‘ึธึผืงึธืจ, ื’ึฐึผืขึดื™ึธึผื”: ื‘ึตึผื™ืช ืฉึถืืžึถืฉื. ื™ึดืฉึฐื‚ืจึธืึตืœ ื”ึธื™ื•ึผ ืฉึธืื:
ืžืฆื•ื“ืช ื“ื•ื“Metzudat David
", hebrewText: "ื•ื™ืฉืจื ื” ื”ืคืจื•ืช. ื”ืœื›ื• ื‘ื“ืจืš ื”ื™ืฉืจ, ืœื“ืจืš ื”ืขื•ืœื” ื‘ื™ืช ืฉืžืฉ: ื‘ืžืกืœื” ืื—ืช. ื•ืœื ื”ื˜ื• ื™ืžื™ืŸ ื•ืฉืžืื•ืœ: ื”ืœื•ืš ื•ื’ืขื•. ืจืฆื” ืœื•ืžืจ: ืขื ื›ื™ ื”ืœื›ื• ื•ืฆืขืงื• ื‘ืขื‘ื•ืจ ื—ืกืจื•ืŸ ื‘ื ื™ื”ืŸ, ืžื›ืœ ืžืงื•ื ืœื ืกืจื• ื™ืžื™ืŸ ื•ืฉืžืื•ืœ:
ืจื“ืดืงRadak
", hebrewText: "ื•ื™ืฉืจื ื” ื”ืคืจื•ืช. ื›ืชืจื’ื•ืžื• ื•ืื›ื•ื™ื ื ืชื•ืจืชื ืจ"ืœ ื›ื•ื•ื ื• ื“ืจืš ื‘ื™ืช ืฉืžืฉ ื•ื”ืœื›ื• ื“ืจืš ื™ืฉืจื” ืœื ืกืจื• ื™ืžื™ืŸ ื•ืฉืžืืœ ื•ื‘ื ื‘ืกื™ืžืŸ ืื—ื“ ืฉืœ ื ืงื‘ื” ืœื‘ื“ ื›ืžื• ื•ื™ื—ืžื ื” ื‘ื‘ื•ืืŸ ืœืฉืชื•ืช ื•ื“ื’ืฉ ื”ืฉื™"ืŸ ื‘ื—ืกืจื•ืŸ ื”ื™ื•"ื“ ืค"ื ื”ืคื•ืขืœ ื•ื‘ืžืœืช ื•ื™ื—ืžื ื” ื‘ื ื ื— ื”ืฆื™ืจ"ื™ ืชืžื•ืจืช ื”ื™ื•"ื“ ืค"ื ื”ืคื•ืขืœ: ื”ืœื•ืš ื•ื’ืขื•. ื”ื™ื• ื’ืขื•ืช ื‘ืขื‘ื•ืจ ื‘ื ื™ื”ื ืฆืขืงืช ื”ื‘ืงืจ ืชืงืจื ื’ืขื™ื™ื” ื›ืžื• ืื ื™ื’ืขื” ืฉื•ืจ ื•ื‘ื“ืจืฉ ืฉืืžืจื• ืฉื™ืจื” ื”ื•ืฆื™ืื• ื•ื™ืฉืจื ื” ืžืœืฉื•ืŸ ืฉื™ืจื”:

ืคืกื•ืง ื™ืดื’ ยท Verse 13

Hebrew:

ื•ึผื‘ึตึฃื™ืช ืฉืึถึ”ืžึถืฉื ืงึนืฆึฐืจึดึฅื™ื ืงึฐืฆึดื™ืจึพื—ึดื˜ึผึดึ–ื™ื ื‘ึผึธืขึตึ‘ืžึถืง ื•ึทื™ึผึดืฉื‚ึฐืึฃื•ึผ ืึถืชึพืขึตื™ื ึตื™ื”ึถึ—ื ื•ึทื™ึผึดืจึฐืื•ึผึ™ ืึถืชึพื”ึธึฃืึธืจึ”ื•ึนืŸ ื•ึทึฝื™ึผึดืฉื‚ึฐืžึฐื—ึ–ื•ึผ ืœึดืจึฐืึฝื•ึนืชืƒ

English:

The people of Beth-shemesh were reaping their wheat harvest in the valley. They looked up and saw the Ark, and they rejoiced when they saw it.gwhen they saw it Septuagint reads โ€œAs they met it.โ€

The scene shifts to a luminous pastoral image: the people of Beth-shemesh are harvesting wheat when they look up and see the Ark approaching. Their immediate joy, however, contains the seeds of the disaster to come. Rashi warns that their 'rejoicing to see' turned into levity -- they gazed at the Ark without proper awe or reverence. The Radak is more specific: their excessive joy led them to open the Ark and look inside, violating the prohibition of Numbers 4:20, which is why they were later struck down.
โ–ถCommentaries (3)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
And they rejoiced to see. They were going to see how it came alone, and out of their joy, they behaved with levity, for they did not gaze at it with awe and respect.6They violated the commandment "and they shall not come in to see when the holy is being covered and [they will not] die," in Bamidbar 4:20.", hebrewText: "ื•ึทื™ึดึผืฉึฐื‚ืžึฐื—ื•ึผ ืœึดืจึฐืื•ึนืช. ื”ึธื™ื•ึผ ืžึดืกึฐืชึทึผื›ึฐึผืœึดื™ืŸ ื”ึตื™ืึทืšึฐ ื”ื•ึผื ื‘ึธึผื ืœึฐื‘ึทื“ึผื•ึน, ื•ึผืžึดืฉึดึผื‚ืžึฐื—ึธืชึธื ื ึธื”ึฒื’ื•ึผ ื‘ึผื•ึน ืงึทืœึผื•ึผืช ืจึนืืฉื, ืฉึถืืœึนึผื ื”ึธื™ื•ึผ ืžึดืกึฐืชึทึผื›ึฐึผืœึดื™ืŸ ื‘ึผื•ึน ื‘ึฐึผืึตื™ืžึธื” ื•ึฐื“ึถืจึถืšึฐ ื›ึธึผื‘ื•ึนื“:
ืžืฆื•ื“ืช ื“ื•ื“Metzudat David
", hebrewText: "ื•ื™ืฉืžื—ื• ืœืจืื•ืช. ืœืคื™ ืฉืื—ืจื™ ื–ื” ื”ืชืื‘ืœื• ื‘ืกื‘ืช ื”ืืจื•ืŸ, ืืžืจ ืขืชื” ื‘ืขืช ืจืื•ืชื, ืฉืžื—ื•:
ืจื“ืดืงRadak
", hebrewText: "ื•ื™ืฉืžื—ื• ืœืจืื•ืช. ืขื“ ืฉืžืจื•ื‘ ืฉืžื—ื” ืคืจืฆื• ืœืจืื•ืช ื‘ืืจื•ืŸ ื•ืคืชื—ื• ื•ืจืื• ืžื” ืฉื‘ืชื•ื›ื• ืœืคื™ื›ืš ื ืขื ืฉื• ื›ืžื• ืฉื›ืชื•ื‘ ื•ืœื ื™ื‘ื•ืื• ืœืจืื•ืช ื›ื‘ืœืข ืืช ื”ืงื“ืฉ ื•ืžืชื•:

ืคืกื•ืง ื™ืดื“ ยท Verse 14

Hebrew:

ื•ึฐื”ึธืขึฒื’ึธืœึธึกื” ื‘ึผึธึ ืึธื” ืึถืœึพืฉื‚ึฐื“ึตึจื” ื™ึฐื”ื•ึนืฉืึปึคืขึท ื‘ึผึตึฝื™ืชึพื”ึทืฉืึผึดืžึฐืฉืึดื™ึ™ ื•ึทืชึผึทืขึฒืžึนึฃื“ ืฉืึธึ”ื ื•ึฐืฉืึธึ–ื ืึถึฃื‘ึถืŸ ื’ึผึฐื“ื•ึนืœึธึ‘ื” ื•ึทึฝื™ึฐื‘ึทืงึผึฐืขื•ึผึ™ ืึถืชึพืขึฒืฆึตึฃื™ ื”ึธืขึฒื’ึธืœึธึ”ื” ื•ึฐืึถึจืชึพื”ึทืคึผึธืจึ”ื•ึนืช ื”ึถืขึฑืœึฅื•ึผ ืขึนืœึธึ–ื” ืœึทื™ื”ึนื•ึธึฝื”ืƒย {ืก}ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย 

English:

The cart came into the field of Joshua of Beth-shemesh and it stopped there. They split up the wood of the cart and presented the cows as a burnt offering to GOD. A large stone was there;

The cart stops providentially in the field of Joshua of Beth-shemesh beside a great stone, and the people spontaneously offer the cows as a burnt offering, using the cart's wood as fuel. The Radak raises a halachic difficulty: the high places (bamot) were permitted at this time since Shiloh had been destroyed, allowing such sacrifices outside the Tabernacle. He also cites a rabbinic debate about whether Israelites or the Philistine lords themselves performed this offering, since Rabbi Eliezer holds one may not sacrifice animals belonging to idolaters.
โ–ถCommentaries (1)
ืจื“ืดืงRadak
", hebrewText: "ื•ืืช ื”ืคืจื•ืช ื”ืขืœื• ืขื•ืœื”. ืื ืฉื™ ื‘ื™ืช ืฉืžืฉ ื‘ืงืขื• ืขืฆื™ ื”ืขื’ืœื” ื•ื”ืขืœื• ื”ืคืจื•ืช ืขื•ืœ' ื›ื™ ื”ื•ืชืจื• ื”ื‘ืžื•ืช ืžืฉื—ืจื‘ื” ืฉื™ืœื” ื•ื ืงื‘ื” ื›ืฉื™ืจื” ื‘ื‘ืžืช ื™ื—ื™ื“, ื•ื™ืฉ ื‘ื“ืจืฉ ืžืจื‘ื•ืชื™ื ื• ื–"ืœ ื›ื™ ืกืจื ื™ ืคืœืฉืชื™ื ื”ืขืœื• ืื•ืชื ื›ื™ ืจื‘ื™ ืืœื™ืขื–ืจ ืื•ืžืจ ื›ื™ ืื™ืŸ ืžืงืจื™ื‘ื™ืŸ ืžื‘ื”ืžื•ืช ืขื•ื‘ื“ื™ ื’ืœื•ืœื™ื ื•ื”ืงืฉื• ืœื• ื–ื” ื”ืคืกื•ืง ื•ืชื™ืจืฅ ื•ื›ื™ ืžืกืจื ื™ ืคืœืฉืชื™ื ืื ื• ืœืžื“ื™ืŸ ื•ื‘ืžืงื•ื ืื—ืจ ืืžืจื• ื”ื•ืจืืช ืฉืขื” ื”ื™ืชื” ื–ื”ื• ืœื“ืขืช ืจื‘ื™ ืืœื™ืขื–ืจ ืื ื™ืฉืจืืœ ื”ืงืจื™ื‘ื•ื:

ืคืกื•ืง ื˜ืดื• ยท Verse 15

Hebrew:

ื•ึฐื”ึทืœึฐื•ึดื™ึผึดึžื ื”ื•ึนืจึดึฃื™ื“ื•ึผโ€‰ื€ ืึถืชึพืึฒืจึฃื•ึนืŸ ื™ึฐื”ึนื•ึธึ—ื” ื•ึฐืึถืชึพื”ึธืึทืจึฐื’ึผึทึคื– ืึฒืฉืึถืจึพืึดืชึผื•ึนึ™ ืึฒืฉืึถืจึพื‘ึผึฃื•ึน ื›ึฐืœึตึฝื™ึพื–ึธื”ึธึ”ื‘ ื•ึทื™ึผึธืฉื‚ึดึ–ืžื•ึผ ืึถืœึพื”ึธืึถึฃื‘ึถืŸ ื”ึทื’ึผึฐื“ื•ึนืœึธึ‘ื” ื•ึฐืึทื ึฐืฉืึตึฃื™ ื‘ึตึฝื™ืชึพืฉืึถึ—ืžึถืฉื ื”ึถืขึฑืœึจื•ึผ ืขึนืœึœื•ึนืช ื•ึทึฝื™ึผึดื–ึฐื‘ึผึฐื—ึงื•ึผ ื–ึฐื‘ึธื—ึดึ›ื™ื ื‘ึผึทื™ึผึฅื•ึนื ื”ึทื”ึ–ื•ึผื ืœึทื™ื”ึนื•ึธึฝื”ืƒ

English:

and the Levites took down the Ark of GOD and the chest beside it containing the gold objects and placed them on the large stone. Then the inhabitants of Beth-shemesh presented burnt offerings and other sacrifices to GOD that day.

The Levites -- who had proper authority to handle the Ark -- remove it from the cart and place it with the golden offerings on the great stone. The people of Beth-shemesh then offer additional burnt offerings and sacrifices beyond the initial cows. The Metzudat David clarifies that these were separate from the cow offering described in verse 14. This verse shows the initial response was proper and reverent; the catastrophe of verse 19 came from a separate act of irreverence that followed.
โ–ถCommentaries (1)
ืžืฆื•ื“ืช ื“ื•ื“Metzudat David
", hebrewText: "ื”ืขืœื• ืขื•ืœื•ืช. ืœื‘ื“ ื”ืคืจื•ืช ื”ืืžื•ืจ ืœืžืขืœื”:

ืคืกื•ืง ื˜ืดื– ยท Verse 16

Hebrew:

ื•ึทื—ึฒืžึดืฉืึผึธึฅื” ืกึทืจึฐื ึตึฝื™ึพืคึฐืœึดืฉืึฐืช๏ฟฝ๏ฟฝึดึ–ื™ื ืจึธืึ‘ื•ึผ ื•ึทื™ึผึธืฉืึปึฅื‘ื•ึผ ืขึถืงึฐืจึ–ื•ึนืŸ ื‘ึผึทื™ึผึฅื•ึนื ื”ึทื”ึฝื•ึผืืƒย {ืก}ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย 

English:

The five lords of the Philistines saw this and returned the same day to Ekron.

Having witnessed the decisive result of their test -- the cows walking straight to Beth-shemesh against every natural instinct -- the five Philistine lords return home to Ekron the same day. The Metzudat David notes that 'they saw' means they confirmed the experiment's outcome: the plagues were indeed divine punishment for holding the Ark. Their swift departure underscores the finality of the moment; the Philistines have no further business with the Ark and are eager to be rid of the entire affair.
โ–ถCommentaries (1)
ืžืฆื•ื“ืช ื“ื•ื“Metzudat David
", hebrewText: "ืจืื•. ืฉื ื‘ื—ืŸ ื”ื“ื‘ืจ ื•ื ืžืฆื ื›ืŸ:

ืคืกื•ืง ื™ืดื– ยท Verse 17

Hebrew:

ื•ึฐืึตึ™ืœึผึถื”ึ™ ื˜ึฐื—ึนืจึตึฃื™ ื”ึทื–ึผึธื”ึธึ”ื‘ ืึฒืฉืึถึจืจ ื”ึตืฉืึดึงื™ื‘ื•ึผ ืคึฐืœึดืฉืึฐืชึผึดึ›ื™ื ืึธืฉืึธึ–ื ืœึทื™ื”ึนื•ึธึ‘ื”ย {ืก}ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ืœึฐืึทืฉืึฐื“ึผึจื•ึนื“ ืึถื—ึธึœื“ย {ืก}ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ืœึฐืขึทื–ึผึธึคื” ืึถื—ึธื“ึ™ย {ืก}ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ืœึฐืึทืฉืึฐืงึฐืœึฃื•ึนืŸ ืึถื—ึธึ”ื“ย {ืก}ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ืœึฐื’ึทึฅืช ืึถื—ึธึ–ื“ย {ืก}ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ืœึฐืขึถืงึฐืจึฅื•ึนืŸ ืึถื—ึธึฝื“ืƒย {ืก}ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย 

English:

The following were the golden hemorrhoids that the Philistines paid as an indemnity to GOD: For Ashdod, one; for Gaza, one; for Ashkelon, one; for Gath, one; for Ekron, one.

The text catalogs the five golden hemorrhoid images, one from each of the five Philistine city-states. The Metzudat David notes that for the hemorrhoid images, the Philistines followed the priests' instructions exactly -- five, no more. This enumeration serves as a narrative summary and also emphasizes the unity of Philistine political structure: five lords governing five cities, each bearing equal responsibility for the Ark's captivity and each contributing equally to the indemnity.
โ–ถCommentaries (1)
ืžืฆื•ื“ืช ื“ื•ื“Metzudat David
", hebrewText: "ื•ืืœื” ื˜ื—ื•ืจื™. ืจืฆื” ืœื•ืžืจ: ื‘ืืœื• ืœื ื”ื•ืกื™ืคื• ืขืœ ืžื” ืฉืืžืจื• ื”ืงื•ืกืžื™ื ื•ื”ื›ื”ื ื™ื: ืœืืฉื“ื•ื“ ืื—ื“. ืจืฆื” ืœื•ืžืจ: ื‘ืขื‘ื•ืจ ืฉืจ ืืฉื“ื•ื“ ืื—ื“, ื•ื›ืŸ ื›ื•ืœื:

ืคืกื•ืง ื™ืดื— ยท Verse 18

Hebrew:

ื•ึฐืขึทื›ึฐื‘ึผึฐืจึตึฃื™ ื”ึทื–ึผึธื”ึธึ—ื‘ ืžึดืกึฐืคึผึทึžืจ ื›ึผื‡ืœึพืขึธืจึตึคื™ ืคึฐืœึดืฉืึฐืชึผึดื™ืึ™ ืœึทื—ึฒืžึตึฃืฉืึถืช ื”ึทืกึผึฐืจึธื ึดึ”ื™ื ืžึตืขึดึฃื™ืจ ืžึดื‘ึฐืฆึธึ”ืจ ื•ึฐืขึทึ–ื“ ื›ึผึนึฃืคึถืจ ื”ึทืคึผึฐืจึธื–ึดึ‘ื™ ื•ึฐืขึทึฃื“โ€‰ื€ ืึธื‘ึตึฃืœ ื”ึทื’ึผึฐื“ื•ึนืœึธึ—ื” ืึฒืฉืึถึจืจ ื”ึดื ึผึดึคื™ื—ื•ึผ ืขึธืœึถึ™ื™ื”ึธึ™ ืึตึšืช ืึฒืจึฃื•ึนืŸ ื™ึฐื”ึนื•ึธึ”ื” ืขึทึšื“ ื”ึทื™ึผึฃื•ึนื ื”ึทื–ึผึถึ”ื” ื‘ึผึดืฉื‚ึฐื“ึตึฅื” ื™ึฐื”ื•ึนืฉืึปึ–ืขึท ื‘ึผึตึฅื™ืช ื”ึทืฉืึผึดืžึฐืฉืึดึฝื™ืƒ

English:

hMeaning of vv. 18 and 19 uncertain in part. As for the golden mice, their number accorded with all the Philistine towns that belonged to the five lordsโ€”both fortified towns and unwalled villages, as far asivillages, as far as Emendation yields โ€œvillages, as witness there is.โ€ the great stonejstone Reading สผeben with some Heb. mss., Septuagint, and Targum; most mss. and editions สผabel, โ€œmeadow [?].โ€ on which the Ark of GOD was set down, to this day, in the field of Joshua of Beth-shemesh.

Unlike the hemorrhoid images which numbered exactly five, the golden mice were far more numerous -- one for every Philistine town and village, both fortified and unwalled. The Radak explains that the Philistines went beyond the priests' original instructions out of lingering fear, adding mice for every settlement. Rashi identifies the 'great abel' as the same great stone mentioned earlier, noting the letter lamed replaces nun; the site was later called 'abel' (mourning) because of the tragedy that befell the people there. The verse's reference 'to this day' anchors the narrative in the author's own time.
โ–ถCommentaries (3)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
Open village. A village without a wall. The large rock. This is the large rock previously mentioned, for the 'ืœ' comes in place of the 'ื ' [in the word 'ืึธื‘ึตืœ'], similar to 'ื ึดืฉืึฐื›ึผึธื”' instead of 'ืœึดืฉืึฐื›ึผึธื”' [chamber], in the book of Nechemyah.7 13:7. And because they experienced mourning there,8 See below verse 19. they called it 'ืึธื‘ึตืœ'.", hebrewText: "ื›ึฐึผืคึทืจ ื”ึทืคึฐึผืจึธื–ึดื™. ื›ึฐึผืคึธืจ ืฉึถืืึตื™ืŸ ืœื•ึน ื—ื•ึนืžึธื”: ืึธื‘ึตืœ ื”ึทื’ึฐึผื“ื•ึนืœึธื”. ื”ึดื™ื ื”ึธืึถื‘ึถืŸ ื”ึทื’ึฐึผื“ื•ึนืœึธื” ื”ึธืึฒืžื•ึผืจึธื” ืœึฐืžึทืขึฐืœึธื”, ืฉึถืื”ึทืœึธึผืžึถืดื“ ื‘ึธึผืึธื” ื‘ึดึผืžึฐืงื•ึนื ื ื•ึผืดืŸ, ื•ึฐื›ึตืŸ ืณื ึดืฉึฐืื›ึธึผื”ืณ ื‘ึดึผืžึฐืงื•ึนื ืณืœึดืฉึฐืื›ึธึผื”ืณ, ื‘ึฐึผืกึตืคึถืจ ื ึฐื—ึถืžึฐื™ึธื” (ื™ื’:ื–), ื•ึผืžึดืคึฐึผื ึตื™ ืฉึถืืึตืจึทืข ืœึธื”ึถื ืึฒื‘ึตืœื•ึผืช ื‘ึทึผื“ึธึผื‘ึธืจ, ืงึฐืจึธืึธื”ึผ ืึธื‘ึตืœ:
ืžืฆื•ื“ืช ื“ื•ื“Metzudat David
", hebrewText: "ื•ืขื›ื‘ืจื™ ื•ื›ื•ืณ. ืื‘ืœ ืขืœ ืขื›ื‘ืจื™ ื”ื–ื”ื‘ ื”ื•ืกื™ืคื•, ื•ื”ื‘ื™ืื• ืื—ื“ ืžื•ืœ ื›ืœ ืขื™ืจ, ื•ืœื ื—ืžืฉื” ืœื‘ื“ ื›ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ืงื•ืกืžื™ื: ืœื—ืžืฉืช. ืืฉืจ ื”ื ืœื—ืžืฉืช ื”ืกืจื ื™ื ื•ืชื—ืช ืžืžืฉืœืชื: ืžืขื™ืจ ืžื‘ืฆืจ. ื‘ื™ืŸ ืžื•ืœ ืขื™ืจ ืžื‘ืฆืจ, ื‘ื™ืŸ ืžื•ืœ ื›ืคืจ ืคืจื•ื– ืžื‘ืœื™ ื—ื•ืžื” ืกื‘ื™ื‘: ื•ืขื“ ืื‘ืœ ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœื”. ื”ื™ื ื”ืื‘ืŸ ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœื” ื”ืืžื•ืจ ืœืžืขืœื”, ื•ืงืจืื• ืณืื‘ืœืณ, ืœืคื™ ืฉื”ืขื ื”ืชืื‘ืœื• ืฉื ืขืœ ืืฉืจ ื”ื›ื” ื”ืณ ื‘ื”ื ื›ืžื• ืฉื›ืชื•ื‘ ืœืžื˜ื”, ื•ืจืฆื” ืœื•ืžืจ, ืื™ืŸ ื–ื” ืกื•ืฃ ื”ื“ื‘ืจ ืืฉืจ ื ื›ืจ ื•ื ื•ื“ืข ืขื“ ื”ื™ื•ื ื”ื–ื” ืฉื“ื” ื™ื”ื•ืฉืข, ื›ื™ ืืคื™ืœื• ื”ืื‘ืŸ ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœื” ื•ื›ื•ืณ ื ื›ืจ ื”ื•ื ืขื“ ื”ื™ื•ื ื”ื–ื” ื‘ืฉื“ื” ื™ื”ื•ืฉืข ื‘ื™ืช ื”ืฉืžืฉื™:
ืจื“ืดืงRadak
", hebrewText: "ื•ืขื›ื‘ืจื™ ื”ื–ื”ื‘. ื›ืžื• ืฉื”ื™ื• ื˜ื—ื•ืจื™ ื–ื”ื‘ ื‘ืžืกืคืจ ื”ืขืจื™ื ื—ืžืฉื” ื›ืŸ ื”ื™ื• ื”ืขื›ื‘ืจื™ื ืžืกืคืจ ื›ืœ ืขืจื™ ืคืœืฉืชื™ื ืฉื”ื ื—ืžืฉื” ื”ื ื–ื›ืจื™ื ื•ื›ืŸ ื”ื™ื• ื—ืžืฉื” ื‘ืขื‘ื•ืจ ื—ืžืฉืช ื”ืกืจื ื™ื ื›ืœื•ืžืจ ืฉื”ื™ื• ื›ืคืจื” ืœื›ื•ืœืŸ ื›ืžื• ืฉืืžืจ ืœืžืขืœื” ื›ื™ ืžื’ืคื” ืื—ืช ืœื›ืœื ื•ืœืกืจื ื™ื›ื, ื•ืžื” ืฉืืžืจ ืžืขื™ืจ ืžื‘ืฆืจ ืขื“ ื›ืคืจ ื”ืคืจื–ื™ ื—ืกืจ ื•ื™"ื• ืžืขื™ืจ ืžื‘ืฆืจ ื›ืœื•ืžืจ ืืฃ ืขืœ ืคื™ ืฉืœื ื”ื™ืชื” ืžืฆื•ืช ื”ืงื•ืกืžื™ื ื•ื”ื›ื”ื ื™ื ืœืขืฉื•ืช ืืœื ื—ืžืฉืช ื˜ื—ื•ืจื™ ื–ื”ื‘ ื•ื—ืžืฉื” ืขื›ื‘ืจื™ ื–ื”ื‘ ืœืžืกืคืจ ื”ืกืจื ื™ื ื•ื”ืขื™ื™ืจื•ืช ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœื•ืช ืฉื”ื ืืฉื“ื•ื“ ื•ืขื–ื” ื•ืืฉืงืœื•ืŸ ื•ื’ืช ื•ืขืงืจื•ืŸ ื”ื ืขืฉื• ืžืขืฆืžื ื™ื•ืชืจ ื˜ื—ื•ืจื™ ื–ื”ื‘ ื•ืขื›ื‘ืจื™ื ื›ื™ ื”ื™ื• ื™ืจืื™ื ืขื“ื™ื™ืŸ ื•ืขืฉื• ืžื›ืœ ื”ืขืจื™ื ื•ื”ื›ืคืจื™ื ืฉื”ื ืขืจื™ ื”ืคืจื–ื•ืช ื›ืœ ืขื™ืจ ื•ื›ืœ ื›ืคืจ ืขืฉื• ื˜ื—ื•ืจ ื–ื”ื‘ ื•ืขื›ื‘ืจ ื–ื”ื‘ ื‘ื›ืœ ื”ืžืงื•ืžื•ืช ืฉื”ื™ื• ื™ื•ืฉื‘ื™ื ืฉื ืคืœืฉืชื™ื: ื•ืขื“ ืื‘ืœ ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœื” ืืฉืจ ื”ื ื™ื—ื• ืขืœื™ื” ืืช ืืจื•ืŸ ื”'. ื›ืœื•ืžืจ ื›ื™ ืกืžื•ืš ืœืื•ืชื• ืžืงื•ื ื”ื™ื• ืคืจื–ื•ืช ืคืœืฉืชื™ื, ื•ืžื” ืฉืืžืจ ืขื“ ื”ื™ื•ื ื”ื–ื” ื‘ืฉื“ื” ื™ื”ื•ืฉืข ืืžืจ ืฉื”ื ื™ื— ืขืœื™ื” ื”ืืจื•ืŸ ืฉื”ื™ื ืขื“ ื”ื™ื•ื ื”ื–ื” ื‘ืฉื“ื” ื™ื”ื•ืฉืข ื•ื ืงืจืืช ื”ืื‘ืŸ ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœื” ืื‘ืœ ืขืœ ื”ืื‘ืœ ืฉื ืขืฉื” ื‘ื• ื›ืžื• ืฉืืžืจ ื•ื™ืชืื‘ืœื• ื”ืขื ื•ื™"ืช ืื‘ืœ ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœื” ืื‘ื ื ืจื‘ืชื:

ืคืกื•ืง ื™ืดื˜ ยท Verse 19

Hebrew:

ื•ึทื™ึผึทึžืšึฐ ื‘ึผึฐืึทื ึฐืฉืึตึฃื™ ื‘ึตึฝื™ืชึพืฉืึถึ—ืžึถืฉื ื›ึผึดึคื™ ืจึธืื•ึผึ™ ื‘ึผึทืึฒืจึฃื•ึนืŸ ื™ึฐื”ึนื•ึธึ”ื” ื•ึทื™ึผึทึคืšึฐ ื‘ึผึธืขึธืึ™ ืฉืึดื‘ึฐืขึดึฃื™ื ืึดึ”ื™ืฉื ื—ึฒืžึดืฉืึผึดึฅื™ื ืึถึ–ืœึถืฃ ืึดึ‘ื™ืฉื ื•ึทื™ึผึดึฝืชึฐืึทื‘ึผึฐืœึฃื•ึผ ื”ึธืขึธึ”ื ื›ึผึดึฝื™ึพื”ึดื›ึผึธึงื” ื™ึฐื”ึนื•ึธึ›ื” ื‘ึผึธืขึธึ–ื ืžึทื›ึผึธึฅื” ื’ึฐื“ื•ึนืœึธึฝื”ืƒ

English:

[GOD] struck at the inhabitants of Beth-shemesh because they looked into the Ark of GODโ€”striking down seventy from among the people [and] fifty thousand.kthey looked โ€ฆ fifty thousand Force of Heb. uncertain. The people mourned, for a great slaughter had been inflicted upon the population.

The chapter's dramatic reversal: God strikes the people of Beth-shemesh for looking into the Ark, turning celebration into mourning. The numbers are debated -- Rashi cites Targum Yonatan who reads seventy elders and fifty thousand common people, while the Talmud (Sotah 35b) suggests seventy men each equivalent to fifty thousand, or vice versa. The Radak explains that their sin was opening the Ark to see its contents, violating the prohibition of Numbers 4:20. This devastating punishment mirrors the Philistine experience: holiness demands reverence from Israelites no less than from pagans.
โ–ถCommentaries (3)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
Seventy men, fifty thousand men.9 Targum Yonoson renders, 'And He killed of the elders of the people seventy men, and of the community fifty thousand men.'9Another opinion is that this figure also includes the number of Philistines that were killed as a result of their irreverence towards the Ark. Our Rabbis, however said, 'Seventy men, each of whom was equal to fifty thousand, or fifty thousand men each of whom was equal to the seventy of Sanhedrin.'10Maseches Sotah 35b.", hebrewText: "ืฉึดืื‘ึฐืขึดื™ื ืึดื™ืฉื ื—ึฒืžึดืฉึดึผืื™ื ืึถืœึถืฃ ืึดื™ืฉื. ืชึดึผืจึฐื’ึตึผื ื™ื•ึนื ึธืชึธืŸ: ืดื•ึผืงึฐื˜ึทืœ ื‘ึฐึผืกึธื‘ึตื™ ืขึทืžึธึผื ืฉึดืื‘ึฐืขึดื™ืŸ ื’ึทึผื‘ึฐืจึธื, ื•ึผื‘ึฐืงึทื”ึฒืœึธื ื—ึทืžึฐืฉึดืื™ืŸ ืึทืœึฐืคึตื™ ื’ึทึผื‘ึฐืจึธืืด. ื•ึฐืจึทื‘ึผื•ึนืชึตื™ื ื•ึผ ืึธืžึฐืจื•ึผ (ืกื•ื˜ื” ืœื” ื‘): ืฉึดืื‘ึฐืขึดื™ื ืึดื™ืฉื, ืฉึถืื›ึธึผืœ ืึถื—ึธื“ ื”ึธื™ึธื” ืฉึธืืงื•ึผืœ ื›ึทึผื—ึฒืžึดืฉึดึผืื™ื ืึถืœึถืฃ, ืื•ึน ื—ึฒืžึดืฉึดึผืื™ื ืึถืœึถืฃ ืึดื™ืฉื, ืฉึถืื›ึธึผืœ ืึถื—ึธื“ ืฉึธืืงื•ึผืœ ื›ึฐึผืฉึดืื‘ึฐืขึดื™ื ืกึทื ึฐื”ึถื“ึฐืจึดื™ืŸ:
ืžืฆื•ื“ืช ื“ื•ื“Metzudat David
", hebrewText: "ื•ื™ืš. ื”ืณ ื”ื›ื” ื‘ื”ื ืขืœ ืฉืคืชื—ื• ื”ืืจื•ืŸ ื•ืจืื• ื‘ื• ื‘ืคื ื™ื, ื•ืœื–ื” ื”ื›ื” ื‘ืขื ืฉื‘ืขื™ื ืื™ืฉ ืžื’ื“ื•ืœื™ ื”ืขื™ืจ, ื•ื”ื™ื• ืฉืงื•ืœื™ื ื›ื—ืžืฉื™ื ืืœืฃ ืื™ืฉ (ืกื•ื˜ื” ืœื” ื‘):
ืจื“ืดืงRadak
", hebrewText: "ื›ื™ ืจืื• ื‘ืืจื•ืŸ. ืช"ื™ ืขืœ ื“ื—ื“ื™ืื• ื•ื“ื—ื–ื• ื™ืช ืืจื•ื ื ื“ื”' ื›ืžื• ืฉืืžืจ ื•ื™ืฉืžื—ื• ืœืจืื•ืช ื•ื‘ื“ื‘ืจื™ ืจื‘ื•ืชื™ื ื• ื–"ืœ ืžืฉื•ื ื“ื—ื–ื• ื•ื™ืš ื‘ืื ืฉื™ ื‘ื™ืช ืฉืžืฉ ื•ื ื—ืœืงื• ื‘ื–ื” ืžื”ื ืืžืจื• ืฉื”ื™ื• ืงื•ืฆืจื™ื ื•ืžืฉืชื—ื•ื™ื ื›ืœื•ืžืจ ืฉืœื ื”ื ื™ื—ื• ืžืœืื›ืชื ื‘ืขื‘ื•ืจื• ื•ืžื”ื ืืžืจื• ืฉืืžืจื• ื“ื‘ืจื™ื ืืฉืจ ืœื ื›ืŸ ื›ื ื’ื“ ื”ืืจื•ืŸ ื•ืืžืจื• ืžืืŸ ืืžืจื™ื™ืš ื“ืืžืจื™ืช ื•ืžืืŸ ืคื™ื™ืกืš ื“ืคื™ื™ืกื™ืช ื•ื‘ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ื“ืจืฉ ื”ื–ื” ื™ื”ื™ื” ืคื™ืจื•ืฉ ืจืื• ื›ืžื• ืœืจืื•ืช ื‘ืš ื•ื”ื“ื•ืžื™ื ืœื• ืฉืžืคืจืฉื™ื ืื•ืชื ืœืฉื•ืŸ ื‘ื–ื™ื•ืŸ ื•ื”ื ื›ื•ืŸ ืžื” ืฉืคื™ืจืฉื ื• ืฉืคืชื—ื• ืื•ืชื• ื•ืจืื• ืžื” ืฉื‘ืชื•ื›ื• ืœืคื™ื›ืš ืืžืจ ื‘ืืจื•ืŸ ื•ืœื ืืžืจ ืืจื•ืŸ: ืฉื‘ืขื™ื ืื™ืฉ ื—ืžืฉื™ื ืืœืฃ ืื™ืฉ. ื—ืกืจ ื•ื™"ื• ื”ืฉืžื•ืฉ ื•ื—ืžืฉื™ื ืืœืฃ ืื™ืฉ ื›ืžื• ืฉืžืฉ ื™ืจื— ืจืื•ื‘ืŸ ืฉืžืขื•ืŸ ื•ื”ื“ื•ืžื™ื ืœื”ื ื•ื™"ืช ื•ืงื˜ืœ ื‘ืกื‘ื™ ืขืžื ืฉื‘ืขื™ื ื’ื‘ืจื ื•ื‘ืงื”ืœื ื—ืžืฉื™ืŸ ืืœืคื™ ื’ื‘ืจื, ื•ื‘ื“ื‘ืจื™ ืจื‘ื•ืชื™ื ื• ื–"ืœ ืฉื‘ืขื™ื ืื™ืฉ ืฉื›ืœ ืื—ื“ ืฉืงื•ืœ ื›ื—ืžืฉื™ื ืืœืฃ ืื™ืฉ ื•ื™"ื ื—ืžืฉื™ื ืฉื›ืœ ืื—ื“ ืฉืงื•ืœ ื›ืข' ืกื ื”ื“ืจื™ืŸ:

ืคืกื•ืง ื›ืณ ยท Verse 20

Hebrew:

ื•ึทื™ึผึนึฝืืžึฐืจื•ึผึ™ ืึทื ึฐืฉืึตึฃื™ ื‘ึตึฝื™ืชึพืฉืึถึ”ืžึถืฉื ืžึดึšื™ ื™ื•ึผื›ึทึฃืœ ืœึทืขึฒืžึนึ”ื“ ืœึดืคึฐื ึตึจื™ ื™ึฐื”ึนื•ึธึงื” ื”ึธืึฑืœึนื”ึดึ›ื™ื ื”ึทืงึผึธื“ึ–ื•ึนืฉื ื”ึทื–ึผึถึ‘ื” ื•ึฐืึถืœึพืžึดึ–ื™ ื™ึทืขึฒืœึถึฅื” ืžึตืขึธืœึตึฝื™ื ื•ึผืƒ

English:

And the people of Beth-shemeshlthe people of Beth-shemesh Cf. note at 5.7. asked, โ€œWho can stand in attendance on the ETERNAL, this holy God? And to whom shall this go up from us?โ€

The survivors cry out in terror: 'Who can stand before the Lord, this holy God?' -- one of the most powerful theological declarations in the entire Ark narrative. The Metzudat David explains their reasoning: their greatest men have perished, so who among the remaining people is worthy enough to guard the Ark with proper reverence? Their second question -- 'to whom shall it go up from us?' -- reveals their desperate desire to pass the Ark to someone else, recognizing they cannot bear the weight of its holiness.
โ–ถCommentaries (1)
ืžืฆื•ื“ืช ื“ื•ื“Metzudat David
", hebrewText: "ืžื™ ื™ื•ื›ืœ ืœืขืžื“ ื•ื›ื•ืณ. ืจืฆื” ืœื•ืžืจ: ื”ืœื ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœื™ื ืฉื‘ื ื• ืžืชื•, ื•ืžื™ ื”ื•ื ื”ื ืฉืืจ ืืฉืจ ื™ื•ื›ืœ ืœืขืžื•ื“ ืœืคื ื™ ืืจื•ืŸ ื”ืณ, ืœืฉืžืจื• ื•ืœื”ื–ื”ืจ ื‘ืงื“ื•ืฉืชื•:

ืคืกื•ืง ื›ืดื ยท Verse 21

Hebrew:

ื•ึทึฝื™ึผึดืฉืึฐืœึฐื—ื•ึผึ™ ืžึทืœึฐืึธื›ึดึ”ื™ื ืึถืœึพื™ื•ึนืฉืึฐื‘ึตึฅื™ ืงึดืจึฐื™ึทืชึพื™ึฐืขึธืจึดึ–ื™ื ืœึตืืžึนึ‘ืจ ื”ึตืฉืึดึคื‘ื•ึผ ืคึฐืœึดืฉืึฐืชึผึดื™ืึ™ ืึถืชึพืึฒืจึฃื•ึนืŸ ื™ึฐื”ึนื•ึธึ”ื” ืจึฐื“ึ•ื•ึผ ื”ึทืขึฒืœึฅื•ึผ ืึนืชึ–ื•ึน ืึฒืœึตื™ื›ึถึฝืืƒ

English:

They sent messengers to the inhabitants of Kiriath-jearim to say, โ€œThe Philistines have sent back the Ark of GOD. Come down and take it into your keeping.โ€

Beth-shemesh sends messengers to Kiriath-jearim, asking them to come take the Ark. The Metzudat David explains the phrase 'come down and bring it up' -- the messengers ask Kiriath-jearim's inhabitants to descend to Beth-shemesh and then carry the Ark up to their city. The Ark will remain in Kiriath-jearim for approximately twenty years (I Samuel 7:2) until David eventually brings it to Jerusalem. This final verse marks the end of the Ark narrative that began in chapter 4 and signals the complete collapse of the old religious center at Shiloh.
โ–ถCommentaries (1)
ืžืฆื•ื“ืช ื“ื•ื“Metzudat David
", hebrewText: "ืจื“ื• ื”ืขืœื•. ืจื“ื• ืืœื™ื ื• ื•ื”ืขืœื• ืืœื™ื›ื:

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