1 Samuel 6:19 Meaning and Explanation
“And he smote the men of Bethshemesh, because they had looked into the ark of the LORD, even he smote of the people fifty thousand and threescore and ten men: and the people lamented, because the LORD had smitten many of the people with a great slaughter.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →When the men of Bethshemesh looked into the ark, the LORD struck many of them, and the people mourned the great loss.
What Does 1 Samuel 6:19 Mean?
Joy turns to grief. Some men of Bethshemesh look into the ark, presuming upon the holy object God had hedged about with strict commands, and they are struck down. The people, who had rejoiced at the ark's return, now lament a great loss in their midst. The same presence that blessed when honored brings sorrow when treated carelessly.
This sobering scene guards a truth easily forgotten in our gladness: God is holy, and His holiness is not to be handled lightly even by His own people. The Philistines suffered for capturing the ark; Israel suffers for irreverence toward it. Mercy never cancels reverence. The God who draws near in love remains the holy One, and we approach Him only as He has given us leave, never on our own presumptuous terms.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Samuel 6:19
What does 1 Samuel 6:19 mean?
When the men of Bethshemesh looked into the ark, the LORD struck many of them, and the people mourned the great loss.