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1 Samuel

Chapter 6
1
Phonetic (Hebrew): vayehi֧y 'aron-yehva֛h bּishsede֥h pelishshetּi֖ym shshibe'a֥h chodashshiֽym׃
Edified Edition (EDE)When the ark of the LORD had been in Philistine territory seven months,

וַיְהִ֧י אֲרוֹן־יְהוָ֛ה בִּשְׂדֵ֥ה פְלִשְׁתִּ֖ים שִׁבְעָ֥ה חֳדָשִֽׁים׃

2
Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּiqere'֣u pelishshetּi֗ym lakּohani֤ym velaqּoֽsemiym֙ le'mo֔r maֽh-nּa'ashse֖h la'ar֣on yehva֑h hodi'u֕nu bּamּe֖h neshshalּeche֥nּu limeqomֽo׃
Edified Edition (EDE)the Philistines called for the priests and the diviners and said, "What shall we do with the ark of the LORD? Tell us how we should send it back to its place."

וַיִּקְרְא֣וּ פְלִשְׁתִּ֗ים לַכֹּהֲנִ֤ים וְלַקֹּֽסְמִים֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר מַֽה־נַּעֲשֶׂ֖ה לַאֲר֣וֹן יְהוָ֑ה הוֹדִעֻ֕נוּ בַּמֶּ֖ה נְשַׁלְּחֶ֥נּוּ לִמְקוֹמֽוֹ׃

3
Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּo'mer֗u 'iֽm-meshshalּechi֞ym 'et-'ar֨on 'elohe֤y yishsera'el֙ 'al-tּeshshalּech֤u 'oto֙ reyqa֔m kּiֽy-hashshe֥b tּashshi֛ybu l֖o 'ashsha֑m 'a֤z tּeraֽpe'u֙ venoda֣ lake֔m la֛mּah lo'-tas֥ur yad֖o mikּeֽm׃
Edified Edition (EDE)They answered, "If you return the ark of the god of Israel, do not send it back to him empty, but by all means send a guilt offering to him. Then you will be healed, and you will know why his hand has not been lifted from you."

וַיֹּאמְר֗וּ אִֽם־מְשַׁלְּחִ֞ים אֶת־אֲר֨וֹן אֱלֹהֵ֤י יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ אַל־תְּשַׁלְּח֤וּ אֹתוֹ֙ רֵיקָ֔ם כִּֽי־הָשֵׁ֥ב תָּשִׁ֛יבוּ ל֖וֹ אָשָׁ֑ם אָ֤ז תֵּרָֽפְאוּ֙ וְנוֹדַ֣ע לָכֶ֔ם לָ֛מָּה לֹא־תָס֥וּר יָד֖וֹ מִכֶּֽם׃

4
Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּo'mer֗u ma֣h ha'ashsham֮ 'ashshe֣r nashshi֣yb lo֒ vayּo'mer֗u misepּar֙ sarene֣y pelishshetּi֔ym chamishshּah֙ 'ply techore֣y zaha֔b vachamishshּa֖h 'akebּere֣y zaha֑b kּiֽy-magּepa֥h 'acha֛t lekulּa֖m ulesareneykeֽm׃
Edified Edition (EDE)The Philistines asked, "What guilt offering should we send to him?" They replied, "Five gold tumours and five gold rats, according to the number of the Philistine rulers, because the same plague has struck both you and your rulers.

וַיֹּאמְר֗וּ מָ֣ה הָאָשָׁם֮ אֲשֶׁ֣ר נָשִׁ֣יב לוֹ֒ וַיֹּאמְר֗וּ מִסְפַּר֙ סַרְנֵ֣י פְלִשְׁתִּ֔ים חֲמִשָּׁה֙ עפלי טְחֹרֵ֣י זָהָ֔ב וַחֲמִשָּׁ֖ה עַכְבְּרֵ֣י זָהָ֑ב כִּֽי־מַגֵּפָ֥ה אַחַ֛ת לְכֻלָּ֖ם וּלְסַרְנֵיכֶֽם׃

5
Phonetic (Hebrew): va'ashsiytem֩ tzaleme֨y 'plykm techoreyke֜m vetzaleme֣y 'akebּereyke֗m hamּashshechiytim֙ 'et-ha'a֔retz unetatּe֛m le'lohe֥y yishsera'e֖l kּab֑od 'ula֗y yaqe֤l 'et-yado֙ meֽ'aleyke֔m ume'a֥l 'eloheyke֖m ume'a֥l 'aretzekeֽm׃
Edified Edition (EDE)Make models of the tumours and of the rats that are destroying the country, and give glory to Israel’s god. Perhaps he will lift his hand from you and your gods and your land.

וַעֲשִׂיתֶם֩ צַלְמֵ֨י עפליכם טְחֹרֵיכֶ֜ם וְצַלְמֵ֣י עַכְבְּרֵיכֶ֗ם הַמַּשְׁחִיתִם֙ אֶת־הָאָ֔רֶץ וּנְתַתֶּ֛ם לֵאלֹהֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל כָּב֑וֹד אוּלַ֗י יָקֵ֤ל אֶת־יָדוֹ֙ מֵֽעֲלֵיכֶ֔ם וּמֵעַ֥ל אֱלֹהֵיכֶ֖ם וּמֵעַ֥ל אַרְצְכֶֽם׃

6
Phonetic (Hebrew): vela֤mּah tekabּedu֙ 'et-lebabeke֔m kּa'ashshe֧r kּibּed֛u mitzera֥yim upare'o֖h 'et-libּa֑m halo'֙ kּa'ashshe֣r hite'alּe֣l bּahe֔m vֽayeshshalּech֖um vayּeleֽku׃
Edified Edition (EDE)Why do you harden your hearts as the Egyptians and Pharaoh did? When Israel’s god dealt harshly with them, did they not send the Israelites out so they could go on their way?

וְלָ֤מָּה תְכַבְּדוּ֙ אֶת־לְבַבְכֶ֔ם כַּאֲשֶׁ֧ר כִּבְּד֛וּ מִצְרַ֥יִם וּפַרְעֹ֖ה אֶת־לִבָּ֑ם הֲלוֹא֙ כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר הִתְעַלֵּ֣ל בָּהֶ֔ם וַֽיְשַׁלְּח֖וּם וַיֵּלֵֽכוּ׃

7
Phonetic (Hebrew): ve'atּa֗h qech֨u va'ashs֜u 'agala֤h chadashshah֙ 'echa֔t ushshetּe֤y parot֙ 'al֔ot 'ashshe֛r lo'-'ala֥h 'aleyhe֖m 'o֑l va'asaretּe֤m 'et-hapּarot֙ bּa'agala֔h vahashsheybote֧m bּeneyhe֛m me'achareyhe֖m habּaֽyetah׃
Edified Edition (EDE)"Now then, get a new cart ready, with two cows that have calved and have never been yoked. Hitch the cows to the cart, but take their calves away and pen them up.

וְעַתָּ֗ה קְח֨וּ וַעֲשׂ֜וּ עֲגָלָ֤ה חֲדָשָׁה֙ אֶחָ֔ת וּשְׁתֵּ֤י פָרוֹת֙ עָל֔וֹת אֲשֶׁ֛ר לֹא־עָלָ֥ה עֲלֵיהֶ֖ם עֹ֑ל וַאֲסַרְתֶּ֤ם אֶת־הַפָּרוֹת֙ בָּעֲגָלָ֔ה וַהֲשֵׁיבֹתֶ֧ם בְּנֵיהֶ֛ם מֵאַחֲרֵיהֶ֖ם הַבָּֽיְתָה׃

8
Phonetic (Hebrew): uleqachetּe֞m 'et-'ar֣on yehva֗h unetatּe֤m 'oto֙ 'el-ha֣'agala֔h ve'e֣t ׀ kּele֣y hazּaha֗b 'ashshe֨r hashshebote֥m lo֙ 'ashsha֔m tּashsi֥ymu ba'aregּa֖z mitzּidּ֑o veshshilּachetּe֥m 'ot֖o vehalaֽke׃
Edified Edition (EDE)Take the ark of the LORD and put it on the cart, and in a chest beside it put the gold objects you are sending him as a guilt offering. Send it on its way,

וּלְקַחְתֶּ֞ם אֶת־אֲר֣וֹן יְהוָ֗ה וּנְתַתֶּ֤ם אֹתוֹ֙ אֶל־הָ֣עֲגָלָ֔ה וְאֵ֣ת ׀ כְּלֵ֣י הַזָּהָ֗ב אֲשֶׁ֨ר הֲשֵׁבֹתֶ֥ם לוֹ֙ אָשָׁ֔ם תָּשִׂ֥ימוּ בָאַרְגַּ֖ז מִצִּדּ֑וֹ וְשִׁלַּחְתֶּ֥ם אֹת֖וֹ וְהָלָֽךְ׃

9
Phonetic (Hebrew): ure'iyte֗m 'im-dּe֨reke gּebul֤o yaֽ'aleh֙ bּe֣yt shshe֔meshsh h֚u 'a֣shsah la֔nu 'et-hara'a֥h hagּedola֖h hazּo֑'t ve'im-lo֗ veyada֨'enu֙ kּi֣y lo֤ yado֙ na֣ge'ah bּa֔nu miqere֥h h֖u ha֥yah laֽnu׃
Edified Edition (EDE)but keep watching it. If it goes up to its own territory, toward Beth Shemesh, then the LORD has brought this great disaster on us. But if it does not, then we will know that it was not his hand that struck us but that it happened to us by chance."

וּרְאִיתֶ֗ם אִם־דֶּ֨רֶךְ גְּבוּל֤וֹ יַֽעֲלֶה֙ בֵּ֣ית שֶׁ֔מֶשׁ ה֚וּא עָ֣שָׂה לָ֔נוּ אֶת־הָרָעָ֥ה הַגְּדוֹלָ֖ה הַזֹּ֑את וְאִם־לֹ֗א וְיָדַ֨עְנוּ֙ כִּ֣י לֹ֤א יָדוֹ֙ נָ֣גְעָה בָּ֔נוּ מִקְרֶ֥ה ה֖וּא הָ֥יָה לָֽנוּ׃

10
Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּa'ashs֤u ha'anashshiym֙ kּe֔n vayּiqech֗u shshetּe֤y parot֙ 'al֔ot vayּa'aser֖um bּa'agala֑h ve'et-bּeneyhe֖m kּal֥u babּaֽyit׃
Edified Edition (EDE)So the people did this. They took two such cows and hitched them to the cart and penned up their calves.

וַיַּעֲשׂ֤וּ הָאֲנָשִׁים֙ כֵּ֔ן וַיִּקְח֗וּ שְׁתֵּ֤י פָרוֹת֙ עָל֔וֹת וַיַּאַסְר֖וּם בָּעֲגָלָ֑ה וְאֶת־בְּנֵיהֶ֖ם כָּל֥וּ בַבָּֽיִת׃

11
Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּashsi֛mu 'et-'ar֥on yehva֖h 'el-ha'agala֑h ve'e֣t ha'aregּa֗z ve'et֙ 'akebּere֣y hazּaha֔b ve'e֖t tzaleme֥y techoreyheֽm׃
Edified Edition (EDE)They placed the ark of the LORD on the cart and along with it the chest containing the gold rats and the models of the tumours.

וַיָּשִׂ֛מוּ אֶת־אֲר֥וֹן יְהוָ֖ה אֶל־הָעֲגָלָ֑ה וְאֵ֣ת הָאַרְגַּ֗ז וְאֵת֙ עַכְבְּרֵ֣י הַזָּהָ֔ב וְאֵ֖ת צַלְמֵ֥י טְחֹרֵיהֶֽם׃

12
Phonetic (Hebrew): vayishshּa֨renah hapּar֜ot bּadּe֗reke 'al-dּe֨reke֙ bּe֣yt shshe֔meshsh bּimesilּa֣h 'acha֗t halek֤u haloke֙ vega'֔o velo'-sa֖ru yami֣yn ushsemo֑'vl vesarene֤y pelishshetּiym֙ holeki֣ym 'achareyhe֔m 'ad-gּeb֖ul bּe֥yt shshaֽmeshsh׃
Edified Edition (EDE)Then the cows went straight toward Beth Shemesh, keeping on the road and lowing all the way; they did not turn to the right or to the left. The rulers of the Philistines followed them as far as the border of Beth Shemesh.

וַיִשַּׁ֨רְנָה הַפָּר֜וֹת בַּדֶּ֗רֶךְ עַל־דֶּ֨רֶךְ֙ בֵּ֣ית שֶׁ֔מֶשׁ בִּמְסִלָּ֣ה אַחַ֗ת הָלְכ֤וּ הָלֹךְ֙ וְגָע֔וֹ וְלֹא־סָ֖רוּ יָמִ֣ין וּשְׂמֹ֑אול וְסַרְנֵ֤י פְלִשְׁתִּים֙ הֹלְכִ֣ים אַחֲרֵיהֶ֔ם עַד־גְּב֖וּל בֵּ֥ית שָֽׁמֶשׁ׃

13
Phonetic (Hebrew): ube֣yt shshe֔meshsh qotzeri֥ym qetziyr-chitּi֖ym bּa'e֑meq vayּishse'֣u 'et-'eyneyhe֗m vayּire'u֙ 'et-ha֣'ar֔on vaֽyּishsemech֖u lire'ֽot׃
Edified Edition (EDE)Now the people of Beth Shemesh were harvesting their wheat in the valley, and when they looked up and saw the ark, they rejoiced at the sight.

וּבֵ֣ית שֶׁ֔מֶשׁ קֹצְרִ֥ים קְצִיר־חִטִּ֖ים בָּעֵ֑מֶק וַיִּשְׂא֣וּ אֶת־עֵינֵיהֶ֗ם וַיִּרְאוּ֙ אֶת־הָ֣אָר֔וֹן וַֽיִּשְׂמְח֖וּ לִרְאֽוֹת׃

14
Phonetic (Hebrew): veha'agala֡h bּa֠'ah 'el-shsede֨h yehoshshu֤'a bּeֽyt-hashshּimeshshiy֙ vatּa'amo֣d shsha֔m veshsha֖m 'e֣ben gּedola֑h vaֽyebaqּe'u֙ 'et-'atze֣y ha'agala֔h ve'et-ha֨pּar֔ot he'el֥u 'ola֖h layhvaֽh׃s
Edified Edition (EDE)The cart came to the field of Joshua of Beth Shemesh, and there it stopped beside a large rock. The people chopped up the wood of the cart and sacrificed the cows as a burnt offering to the LORD.

וְהָעֲגָלָ֡ה בָּ֠אָה אֶל־שְׂדֵ֨ה יְהוֹשֻׁ֤עַ בֵּֽית־הַשִּׁמְשִׁי֙ וַתַּעֲמֹ֣ד שָׁ֔ם וְשָׁ֖ם אֶ֣בֶן גְּדוֹלָ֑ה וַֽיְבַקְּעוּ֙ אֶת־עֲצֵ֣י הָעֲגָלָ֔ה וְאֶת־הַ֨פָּר֔וֹת הֶעֱל֥וּ עֹלָ֖ה לַיהוָֽה׃ס

15
Phonetic (Hebrew): vehaleviyּi֞m hori֣ydu ׀ 'et-'ar֣on yehva֗h ve'et-ha'aregּa֤z 'ashsher-'itּo֙ 'ashsher-bּ֣o keleֽy-zaha֔b vayּashsi֖mu 'el-ha'e֣ben hagּedola֑h ve'aneshshe֣y beֽyt-shshe֗meshsh he'el֨u 'ol֜ot vֽayּizebּech֧u zebachi֛ym bּayּ֥om hah֖u laֽyhvaֽh׃
Edified Edition (EDE)The Levites took down the ark of the LORD, together with the chest containing the gold objects, and placed them on the large rock. On that day the people of Beth Shemesh offered burnt offerings and made sacrifices to the LORD.

וְהַלְוִיִּ֞ם הוֹרִ֣ידוּ ׀ אֶת־אֲר֣וֹן יְהוָ֗ה וְאֶת־הָאַרְגַּ֤ז אֲשֶׁר־אִתּוֹ֙ אֲשֶׁר־בּ֣וֹ כְלֵֽי־זָהָ֔ב וַיָּשִׂ֖מוּ אֶל־הָאֶ֣בֶן הַגְּדוֹלָ֑ה וְאַנְשֵׁ֣י בֵֽית־שֶׁ֗מֶשׁ הֶעֱל֨וּ עֹל֜וֹת וַֽיִּזְבְּח֧וּ זְבָחִ֛ים בַּיּ֥וֹם הַה֖וּא לַֽיהוָֽה׃

16
Phonetic (Hebrew): vachamishshּa֥h sareneֽy-pelishshetּi֖ym ra'֑u vayּashshu֥bu 'eqer֖on bּayּ֥om hahֽu'׃s
Edified Edition (EDE)The five rulers of the Philistines saw all this and then returned that same day to Ekron.

וַחֲמִשָּׁ֥ה סַרְנֵֽי־פְלִשְׁתִּ֖ים רָא֑וּ וַיָּשֻׁ֥בוּ עֶקְר֖וֹן בַּיּ֥וֹם הַהֽוּא׃ס

17
Phonetic (Hebrew): ve'e֨lּeh֙ techore֣y hazּaha֔b 'ashshe֨r heshshi֧ybu pelishshetּi֛ym 'ashsha֖m laֽyhva֑h le'ashshedּ֨od 'echa֜d le'azּa֤h 'echad֙ le'ashsheqel֣on 'echa֔d lega֥t 'echa֖d le'eqer֥on 'echaֽd׃s
Edified Edition (EDE)These are the gold tumours the Philistines sent as a guilt offering to the LORD, one each for Ashdod, Gaza, Ashkelon, Gath and Ekron.

וְאֵ֨לֶּה֙ טְחֹרֵ֣י הַזָּהָ֔ב אֲשֶׁ֨ר הֵשִׁ֧יבוּ פְלִשְׁתִּ֛ים אָשָׁ֖ם לַֽיהוָ֑ה לְאַשְׁדּ֨וֹד אֶחָ֜ד לְעַזָּ֤ה אֶחָד֙ לְאַשְׁקְל֣וֹן אֶחָ֔ד לְגַ֥ת אֶחָ֖ד לְעֶקְר֥וֹן אֶחָֽד׃ס

18
Phonetic (Hebrew): ve'akebּere֣y hazּaha֗b misepּa֞r kּal-'are֤y pelishshetּiym֙ lachame֣shshet hasּerani֔ym me'i֣yr mibetza֔r ve'a֖d kּo֣per hapּerazi֑y ve'a֣d ׀ 'abe֣l hagּedola֗h 'ashshe֨r hinּi֤ychu 'ale֨yha֙ 'e֚t 'ar֣on yehva֔h 'a֚d hayּ֣om hazּe֔h bּishsede֥h yehoshshu֖'a bּeֽyt-hashshּimeshshiֽy׃
Edified Edition (EDE)And the number of the gold rats was according to the number of Philistine towns belonging to the five rulers, the fortified towns with their surrounding villages. The large rock on which the Levites set the ark of the LORD is a witness to this day in the field of Joshua of Beth Shemesh.

וְעַכְבְּרֵ֣י הַזָּהָ֗ב מִסְפַּ֞ר כָּל־עָרֵ֤י פְלִשְׁתִּים֙ לַחֲמֵ֣שֶׁת הַסְּרָנִ֔ים מֵעִ֣יר מִבְצָ֔ר וְעַ֖ד כֹּ֣פֶר הַפְּרָזִ֑י וְעַ֣ד ׀ אָבֵ֣ל הַגְּדוֹלָ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר הִנִּ֤יחוּ עָלֶ֨יהָ֙ אֵ֚ת אֲר֣וֹן יְהוָ֔ה עַ֚ד הַיּ֣וֹם הַזֶּ֔ה בִּשְׂדֵ֥ה יְהוֹשֻׁ֖עַ בֵּֽית־הַשִּׁמְשִֽׁי׃

19
Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּa֞ke bּe'aneshshe֣y beֽyt-shshe֗meshsh kּi֤y ra'u֙ bּa'ar֣on yehva֔h vayּa֤ke bּa'am֙ shshibe'i֣ym 'i֔yshsh chamishshּi֥ym 'e֖lep 'i֑yshsh vayּiֽte'abּel֣u ha'a֔m kּiֽy-hikּa֧h yehva֛h bּa'a֖m makּa֥h gedolaֽh
Edified Edition (EDE)But God struck down some of the inhabitants of Beth Shemesh, putting seventy of them to death, because they looked into the ark of the LORD. The people mourned because of the heavy blow the LORD had dealt them.

וַיַּ֞ךְ בְּאַנְשֵׁ֣י בֵֽית־שֶׁ֗מֶשׁ כִּ֤י רָאוּ֙ בַּאֲר֣וֹן יְהוָ֔ה וַיַּ֤ךְ בָּעָם֙ שִׁבְעִ֣ים אִ֔ישׁ חֲמִשִּׁ֥ים אֶ֖לֶף אִ֑ישׁ וַיִּֽתְאַבְּל֣וּ הָעָ֔ם כִּֽי־הִכָּ֧ה יְהוָ֛ה בָּעָ֖ם מַכָּ֥ה גְדוֹלָֽה

20
Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּoֽ'meru֙ 'aneshshe֣y beֽyt-shshe֔meshsh mi֚y yuka֣l la'amo֔d lipene֨y yehva֧h ha'elohi֛ym haqּad֖oshsh hazּe֑h ve'el-mi֖y ya'ale֥h me'aleֽynu׃s
Edified Edition (EDE)And the people of Beth Shemesh asked, "Who can stand in the presence of the LORD, this holy God? To whom will the ark go up from here?"

וַיֹּֽאמְרוּ֙ אַנְשֵׁ֣י בֵֽית־שֶׁ֔מֶשׁ מִ֚י יוּכַ֣ל לַעֲמֹ֔ד לִפְנֵ֨י יְהוָ֧ה הָאֱלֹהִ֛ים הַקָּד֖וֹשׁ הַזֶּ֑ה וְאֶל־מִ֖י יַעֲלֶ֥ה מֵעָלֵֽינוּ׃ס

21
Phonetic (Hebrew): vaֽyּishshelechu֙ male'aki֔ym 'el-yoshshebe֥y qireyat-ye'ari֖ym le'mo֑r heshshi֤bu pelishshetּiym֙ 'et-'ar֣on yehva֔h red֕u ha'al֥u 'ot֖o 'aleykeֽm׃
Edified Edition (EDE)Then they sent messengers to the people of Kiriath Jearim, saying, "The Philistines have returned the ark of the LORD. Come down and take it up to your town."

וַֽיִּשְׁלְחוּ֙ מַלְאָכִ֔ים אֶל־יוֹשְׁבֵ֥י קִרְיַת־יְעָרִ֖ים לֵאמֹ֑ר הֵשִׁ֤בוּ פְלִשְׁתִּים֙ אֶת־אֲר֣וֹן יְהוָ֔ה רְד֕וּ הַעֲל֥וּ אֹת֖וֹ אֲלֵיכֶֽם׃