1 Samuel 5:11
New International Version
So they called together all the rulers of the Philistines and said, “Send the ark of the god of Israel away; let it go back to its own place, or it will kill us and our people.” For death had filled the city with panic; God’s hand was very heavy on it.

New Living Translation
The people summoned the Philistine rulers again and begged them, “Please send the Ark of the God of Israel back to its own country, or it will kill us all.” For the deadly plague from God had already begun, and great fear was sweeping across the town.

English Standard Version
They sent therefore and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines and said, “Send away the ark of the God of Israel, and let it return to its own place, that it may not kill us and our people.” For there was a deathly panic throughout the whole city. The hand of God was very heavy there.

Berean Standard Bible
Then the Ekronites assembled all the rulers of the Philistines and said, “Send away the ark of the God of Israel. It must return to its place, so that it will not kill us and our people!” For a deadly confusion had pervaded the city; the hand of God was heavy upon it.

King James Bible
So they sent and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines, and said, Send away the ark of the God of Israel, and let it go again to his own place, that it slay us not, and our people: for there was a deadly destruction throughout all the city; the hand of God was very heavy there.

New King James Version
So they sent and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines, and said, “Send away the ark of the God of Israel, and let it go back to its own place, so that it does not kill us and our people.” For there was a deadly destruction throughout all the city; the hand of God was very heavy there.

New American Standard Bible
Therefore they sent word and gathered all the governors of the Philistines, and said, “Send away the ark of the God of Israel and let it return to its own place, so that it will not kill us and our people!” For there was a deadly panic throughout the city; the hand of God was very heavy there.

NASB 1995
They sent therefore and gathered all the lords of the Philistines and said, “Send away the ark of the God of Israel, and let it return to its own place, so that it will not kill us and our people.” For there was a deadly confusion throughout the city; the hand of God was very heavy there.

NASB 1977
They sent therefore and gathered all the lords of the Philistines and said, “Send away the ark of the God of Israel, and let it return to its own place, that it may not kill us and our people.” For there was a deadly confusion throughout the city; the hand of God was very heavy there.

Legacy Standard Bible
They sent therefore and gathered all the lords of the Philistines and said, “Send away the ark of the God of Israel, and let it return to its own place, so that it will not put us and our people to death.” For there was a deadly confusion throughout the city; the hand of God was very glorious there.

Amplified Bible
So they sent word and gathered all the lords of the Philistines and said, “Send away the ark of the God of Israel; let it be returned to its own place, so that it will not kill us and our people.” For there was a deadly panic throughout the city; the hand of God was very heavy (severe) there.

Christian Standard Bible
The Ekronites called all the Philistine rulers together. They said, “Send the ark of Israel’s God away. Let it return to its place so it won’t kill us and our people! ” For the fear of death pervaded the city; God’s hand was oppressing them.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The Ekronites called all the Philistine rulers together. They said, “Send the ark of Israel’s God away. It must return to its place so it won’t kill us and our people!” For the fear of death pervaded the city; God’s hand was oppressing them.

American Standard Version
They sent therefore and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines, and they said, Send away the ark of the God of Israel, and let it go again to its own place, that it slay us not, and our people. For there was a deadly discomfiture throughout all the city; the hand of God was very heavy there.

Contemporary English Version
The people of Ekron called for another meeting of the Philistine rulers and told them, "Send this chest back where it belongs. Then it won't kill us." Everyone was in a panic, because God was causing a lot of people to die,

English Revised Version
They sent therefore and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines, and they said, Send away the ark of the God of Israel, and let it go again to its own place, that it slay us not, and our people: for there was a deadly discomfiture throughout all the city, the hand of God was very heavy there.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
They called together all the Philistine rulers. "Send the ark of the God of Israel away," they said. "Let it go back to its own place so that it won't kill us or our people." There was a fear of death throughout the city, where God dealt [with them] very harshly.

Good News Translation
So again they sent for all the Philistine kings and said, "Send the Covenant Box of Israel back to its own place, so that it won't kill us and our families." There was panic throughout the city because God was punishing them so severely.

International Standard Version
They sent messengers and gathered together all the Philistine lords: "Send away the Ark of the God of Israel, and let it return to where it belongs so that it does not kill us and our people." Meanwhile, a deadly panic had spread all over the town, and God kept on pressuring them there.

Majority Standard Bible
Then the Ekronites assembled all the rulers of the Philistines and said, “Send away the ark of the God of Israel. It must return to its place, so that it will not kill us and our people!” For a deadly confusion had pervaded the city; the hand of God was heavy upon it.

NET Bible
So they assembled all the leaders of the Philistines and said, "Get the ark of the God of Israel out of here! Let it go back to its own place so that it won't kill us and our people!" The terror of death was throughout the entire city; God was attacking them very severely there.

New Heart English Bible
And they sent and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines, and they said, "Send away the ark of the God of Israel, and let it go again to its own place, so that it will not kill us and our people." For there was a panic throughout all the city when the ark of God arrived there.

Webster's Bible Translation
So they sent and convened all the lords of the Philistines, and said, Send away the ark of the God of Israel, and let it go again to its own place, that it slay us not, and our people: for there was a deadly destruction throughout all the city; the hand of God was very heavy there.

World English Bible
They sent therefore and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines, and they said, “Send the ark of the God of Israel away, and let it go again to its own place, that it not kill us and our people.” For there was a deadly panic throughout all the city. The hand of God was very heavy there.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And they send and gather all the princes of the Philistines, and say, “Send the Ark of the God of Israel away, and it turns back to its place, and it does not put us and our people to death”; for there has been a deadly destruction throughout all the city, the hand of God has been very heavy there,

Young's Literal Translation
And they send and gather all the princes of the Philistines, and say, 'Send away the ark of the God of Israel, and it turneth back to its place, and it doth not put us to death -- and our people;' for there hath been a deadly destruction throughout all the city, very heavy hath the hand of God been there,

Smith's Literal Translation
And they will send and gather all the princes of Philisteim, and they will say, Send away the ark of the God of Israel, and it shall turn back to its place, and it shall not slay me and my people: for the consternation of death was in all the city; the hand of God was greatly heavy there.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
They sent therefore and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines: and they said: Send away the ark of the God of Israel, and let it return into its own place, and not kill us and our people.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And so they sent and gathered together all the princes of the Philistines, and they said: “Release the ark of the God of Israel, and return it to its own place. And let it not kill us, with our people.”

New American Bible
Then they, too, sent a summons to all the Philistine leaders and pleaded: “Send away the ark of the God of Israel. Send it back to its place so it does not kill us and our kindred.” A deadly panic had seized the whole city, since the hand of God lay heavy upon it.

New Revised Standard Version
They sent therefore and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines, and said, “Send away the ark of the God of Israel, and let it return to its own place, that it may not kill us and our people.” For there was a deathly panic throughout the whole city. The hand of God was very heavy there;
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
So they sent and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines, and said, Send away the ark of the God of Israel, and let it return to its own place, that it may not slay us and our people. For the fear of death caused a panic that spread throughout all the city; the hand of God was very heavy there.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And they sent and they gathered all the Tyrants of the Philistines and they said: “Send the Ark of God of Israel and return it to its place, that it will not kill us and our people!”, because the danger of death was in all the city and the hand of God was very severe there
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
They sent therefore and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines, and they said: 'Send away the ark of the God of Israel, and let it go back to its own place, that it slay us not, and our people'; for there was a deadly discomfiture throughout all the city; the hand of God was very heavy there.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And they send and gather the lords of the Philistines, and they said, Send away the ark of the God of Israel, and let it lodge in its place; and let it not slay us and our people.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Ark Afflicts the Philistines
10So they sent the ark of God to Ekron, but as it arrived, the Ekronites cried out, “They have brought us the ark of the God of Israel in order to kill us and our people!” 11 Then the Ekronites assembled all the rulers of the Philistines and said, “Send away the ark of the God of Israel. It must return to its place, so that it will not kill us and our people!” For a deadly confusion had pervaded the city; the hand of God was heavy upon it. 12Those who did not die were afflicted with tumors, and the outcry of the city went up to heaven.…

Cross References
Exodus 9:3-6
then the hand of the LORD will bring a severe plague on your livestock in the field—on your horses, donkeys, camels, herds, and flocks. / But the LORD will make a distinction between the livestock of Israel and the livestock of Egypt, so that no animal belonging to the Israelites will die.’” / The LORD set a time, saying, “Tomorrow the LORD will do this in the land.” ...

Exodus 12:29-30
Now at midnight the LORD struck down every firstborn male in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh, who sat on his throne, to the firstborn of the prisoner in the dungeon, as well as all the firstborn among the livestock. / During the night Pharaoh got up—he and all his officials and all the Egyptians—and there was loud wailing in Egypt; for there was no house without someone dead.

1 Samuel 6:5
Make images of your tumors and of the rats that are ravaging the land. Give glory to the God of Israel, and perhaps He will lift His hand from you and your gods and your land.

1 Samuel 4:7-8
the Philistines were afraid. “The gods have entered their camp!” they said. “Woe to us, for nothing like this has happened before. / Woe to us! Who will deliver us from the hand of these mighty gods? These are the gods who struck the Egyptians with all kinds of plagues in the wilderness.

2 Samuel 6:9-12
That day David feared the LORD and asked, “How can the ark of the LORD ever come to me?” / So he was unwilling to move the ark of the LORD to the City of David; instead, he took it aside to the house of Obed-edom the Gittite. / Thus the ark of the LORD remained in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite for three months, and the LORD blessed him and all his household. ...

1 Chronicles 13:11-14
Then David became angry because the LORD had burst forth against Uzzah. So he named that place Perez-uzzah, as it is called to this day. / That day David feared God and asked, “How can I ever bring the ark of God to me?” / So he did not move the ark with him to the City of David; instead, he took it aside to the house of Obed-edom the Gittite. ...

1 Chronicles 15:13-15
It was because you Levites were not with us the first time that the LORD our God burst forth in anger against us. For we did not consult Him about the proper order.” / So the priests and Levites consecrated themselves to bring up the ark of the LORD, the God of Israel. / And the Levites carried the ark of God on their shoulders with the poles, as Moses had commanded in accordance with the word of the LORD.

Isaiah 45:7
I form the light and create the darkness; I bring prosperity and create calamity. I, the LORD, do all these things.

Jeremiah 25:29
For behold, I am beginning to bring disaster on the city that bears My Name, so how could you possibly go unpunished? You will not go unpunished, for I am calling down a sword upon all the inhabitants of the earth, declares the LORD of Hosts.’

Ezekiel 7:3-4
The end is now upon you, and I will unleash My anger against you. I will judge you according to your ways and repay you for all your abominations. / I will not look on you with pity, nor will I spare you, but I will punish you for your ways and for the abominations among you. Then you will know that I am the LORD.’

Amos 3:6
If a ram’s horn sounds in a city, do the people not tremble? If calamity comes to a city, has not the LORD caused it?

Matthew 8:29
“What do You want with us, Son of God?” they shouted. “Have You come here to torture us before the appointed time?”

Mark 5:7
And he shouted in a loud voice, “What do You want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg You before God not to torture me!”

Luke 8:28
When the man saw Jesus, he cried out and fell down before Him, shouting in a loud voice, “What do You want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg You not to torture me!”

Acts 5:11
And great fear came over the whole church and all who heard about these events.


Treasury of Scripture

So they sent and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines, and said, Send away the ark of the God of Israel, and let it go again to his own place, that it slay us not, and our people: for there was a deadly destruction throughout all the city; the hand of God was very heavy there.

Isaiah 13:7-9
Therefore shall all hands be faint, and every man's heart shall melt: …

Jeremiah 48:42-44
And Moab shall be destroyed from being a people, because he hath magnified himself against the LORD…

the hand

1 Samuel 5:6,9
But the hand of the LORD was heavy upon them of Ashdod, and he destroyed them, and smote them with emerods, even Ashdod and the coasts thereof…

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Ark City Confusion Deadly Hand Israel Kill Lords Philistines Slay Throughout Together
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Ark City Confusion Deadly Hand Israel Kill Lords Philistines Slay Throughout Together
1 Samuel 5
1. The Philistines having brought the ark into Ashdod, set it in the house Dagon
3. Dagon is smitten down and cut and cut in pieces,
5. and they of Ashdod smitten with tumors
8. So God deals with them of Gath, when it was brought thither
10. and so with them of Ekron, when it was brought thither














So they assembled all the rulers of the Philistines
The Philistines were a confederation of city-states, each ruled by its own leader. The term "assembled" indicates a gathering of significant importance, suggesting a crisis that required collective decision-making. Historically, the Philistines were known for their military prowess and their pantheon of gods, yet here they are depicted as recognizing a power greater than their own. This assembly underscores the gravity of the situation and the desperation of the Philistines in dealing with the Ark of the Covenant.

and said, 'Send the ark of the God of Israel away
The Ark of the Covenant, representing the presence and power of Yahweh, was a source of fear for the Philistines. The phrase "send the ark" reflects their acknowledgment of its divine power and their inability to control or contain it. Theologically, this moment highlights the sovereignty of God over all nations and the futility of opposing His will. The Philistines' decision to send the Ark away is an act of submission to the God of Israel, albeit out of fear rather than faith.

Let it return to its own place
The desire for the Ark to "return to its own place" signifies a recognition of boundaries and the sacredness of the Ark's rightful dwelling among the Israelites. This phrase suggests a respect, albeit reluctant, for the divine order established by God. It also reflects a historical understanding of territorial deities, where gods were believed to have power primarily within their own lands. The Philistines' wish for the Ark to return underscores their hope to restore peace and order by respecting the divine boundaries.

so that it will not kill us and our people
The fear of death and destruction is palpable in this phrase. The Philistines had experienced the severe consequences of possessing the Ark, which they attributed to the wrath of the God of Israel. This acknowledgment of divine judgment serves as a reminder of the holiness and justice of God, who cannot be mocked or manipulated. The phrase also highlights the communal aspect of divine retribution, affecting not just individuals but entire communities.

For a deadly plague had filled the city with panic
The "deadly plague" is a manifestation of God's judgment upon the Philistines for capturing the Ark. Historically, plagues were often seen as divine punishment, and this particular plague caused widespread panic. The use of the word "panic" indicates a state of chaos and fear, reflecting the powerlessness of the Philistines in the face of divine wrath. This serves as a powerful reminder of the consequences of defying God and the need for reverence and obedience.

the hand of God was heavy upon it
The "hand of God" is a biblical metaphor for God's power and intervention in human affairs. The phrase "heavy upon it" conveys the intensity and severity of God's judgment. In the Hebrew context, the hand symbolizes strength and authority, and here it illustrates God's active role in bringing about justice. This phrase serves as a sobering reminder of God's omnipotence and the reality of His judgment against those who oppose His will. It calls believers to recognize the seriousness of sin and the necessity of aligning with God's purposes.

(11) Send away the ark.--The lords of the Philistines were a long time before they could make up their minds to get rid of this deadly trophy of their victory. They had grown up with an undefined awe of the "golden chest," which, as they supposed, had so often in the days of the famous Hebrew conqueror, Joshua, led the armies of Israel to victory; and now at last it was their own. It was indeed a sore trouble for them to yield it up to their enemies again; to see the historical sacred treasure of Israel, so long veiled in awful mystery, at the feet of their fish-god idol, was a perpetual renewal for Philistia of the glorious triumph of Aphek, which avenged so many years of bitter humiliation. The plague and misery which afflicted the cities of Philistia in the day when the sacred Ark dwelt an unhonoured guest in their midst suggest many and grave thoughts. Is there not an unseen power ever protecting God's institutions, His ordinances, and His ritual, the sacred House dedicated to His solemn worship, the vessels of the sanctuary, the very lands and gold consecrated to His service, even though all these things, owing to the faults and errors of His servants, have lost apparently their holy and beneficial influence over the hearts and homes of men?

Does not this old loved story warn rash and careless souls against laying rough hands on any ark of the Lord, though the ark in question seem to be abandoned by God, and destitute of power and dignity?



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Then [the Ekronites] assembled
וַיַּאַסְפ֜וּ (way·ya·’as·p̄ū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 622: To gather for, any purpose, to receive, take away, remove

all
כָּל־ (kāl-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

the rulers
סַרְנֵ֣י (sar·nê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 5633: An axle, a peer

of the Philistines
פְלִשְׁתִּ֗ים (p̄ə·liš·tîm)
Noun - proper - masculine plural
Strong's 6430: Philistines -- inhabitants of Philistia

and said,
וַיֹּֽאמְרוּ֙ (way·yō·mə·rū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“Send away
וַיִּשְׁלְח֨וּ (way·yiš·lə·ḥū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 7971: To send away, for, out

the ark
אֲר֨וֹן (’ă·rō·wn)
Noun - common singular construct
Strong's 727: A chest, ark

of the God
אֱלֹהֵ֤י (’ĕ·lō·hê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

of Israel.
יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ (yiś·rā·’êl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc

It must return
וְיָשֹׁ֣ב (wə·yā·šōḇ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect Jussive - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7725: To turn back, in, to retreat, again

to its place,
לִמְקֹמ֔וֹ (lim·qō·mōw)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 4725: A standing, a spot, a condition

so that it will not
וְלֹֽא־ (wə·lō-)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

kill
יָמִ֥ית (yā·mîṯ)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 4191: To die, to kill

us
אֹתִ֖י (’ō·ṯî)
Direct object marker | first person common singular
Strong's 853: Untranslatable mark of the accusative case

and our people!”
עַמִּ֑י (‘am·mî)
Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock

For
כִּֽי־ (kî-)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

a deadly
מָ֙וֶת֙ (mā·weṯ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4194: Death, the dead, their place, state, pestilence, ruin

confusion
מְהֽוּמַת־ (mə·hū·maṯ-)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 4103: Tumult, confusion, disquietude, discomfiture

had pervaded
הָיְתָ֤ה (hā·yə·ṯāh)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

the city;
הָעִ֔יר (hā·‘îr)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 5892: Excitement

the hand
יַ֥ד (yaḏ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 3027: A hand

of God
הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים (hā·’ĕ·lō·hîm)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

was heavy
כָּבְדָ֥ה (kā·ḇə·ḏāh)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 3513: To be heavy, weighty, or burdensome

upon it.
שָֽׁם׃ (šām)
Adverb
Strong's 8033: There, then, thither


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OT History: 1 Samuel 5:11 They sent therefore and gathered together all (1Sa iSam 1 Sam i sa)
1 Samuel 5:10
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