mh_parser/vol_split/9 - 1Samuel/Chapter 5.xml

<div2 id="iSam.vi" n="vi" next="iSam.vii" prev="iSam.v" progress="26.97%" title="Chapter V">
<h2 id="iSam.vi-p0.1">F I R S T   S A M U E L</h2>
<h3 id="iSam.vi-p0.2">CHAP. V.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="iSam.vi-p1">It is now time to enquire what has become of the
ark of God; we cannot but think that we shall hear more of that
sacred treasure. I should have thought the next news would have
been that all Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, had gathered together
as one man, with a resolution to bring it back, or die in the
attempt; but we find not any motion made of that kind, so little
was there of zeal or courage left among them. Nay, we do not find
that they desired a treaty with the Philistines about the ransom of
it, or offered any thing in lieu of it. "It is gone, and let it
go." Many have softness enough to lament the loss of the ark that
have not hardiness enough to take one step towards the recovery of
it, any more than Israel here. If the ark will help itself it may,
for they will not help it. Unworthy they were of the name of
Israelites that could thus tamely part with the glory of Israel.
God would therefore take the work into his own hands and plead his
own cause, since men would not appear for him. We are told in this
chapter, I. How the Philistines triumphed over the ark (<scripRef id="iSam.vi-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:2Sam.5.1-2Sam.5.2" parsed="|2Sam|5|1|5|2" passage="2Sa 5:1,2">ver. 1, 2</scripRef>), and, II. How the ark
triumphed over the Philistines, 1. Over Dagon their god, <scripRef id="iSam.vi-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:2Sam.5.3-2Sam.5.5" parsed="|2Sam|5|3|5|5" passage="2Sa 5:3-5">ver. 3-5</scripRef>. 2. Over the Philistines
themselves, who were sorely plagued with emerods, and made weary of
the ark; the men of Ashdod first (<scripRef id="iSam.vi-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:2Sam.5.6-2Sam.5.7" parsed="|2Sam|5|6|5|7" passage="2Sa 5:6,7">ver. 6, 7</scripRef>), then the men of Gath (<scripRef id="iSam.vi-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:2Sam.5.8-2Sam.5.9" parsed="|2Sam|5|8|5|9" passage="2Sa 5:8,9">ver. 8, 9</scripRef>), and lastly those of
Ekron, which forced them at length upon a resolution to send the
ark back to the land of Israel; for when God judgeth he will
overcome.</p>
<scripCom id="iSam.vi-p0.1_1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.5" parsed="|1Sam|5|0|0|0" passage="1Sa 5" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="iSam.vi-p0.2_1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.5.1-1Sam.5.5" parsed="|1Sam|5|1|5|5" passage="1Sa 5:1-5" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:1Sam.5.1-1Sam.5.5">
<h4 id="iSam.vi-p1.7">The Fall of Dagon. (<span class="smallcaps" id="iSam.vi-p1.8">b. c.</span> 1120.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="iSam.vi-p2">1 And the Philistines took the ark of God, and
brought it from Ebenezer unto Ashdod.   2 When the Philistines
took the ark of God, they brought it into the house of Dagon, and
set it by Dagon.   3 And when they of Ashdod arose early on
the morrow, behold, Dagon <i>was</i> fallen upon his face to the
earth before the ark of the <span class="smallcaps" id="iSam.vi-p2.1">Lord</span>.
And they took Dagon, and set him in his place again.   4 And
when they arose early on the morrow morning, behold, Dagon
<i>was</i> fallen upon his face to the ground before the ark of the
<span class="smallcaps" id="iSam.vi-p2.2">Lord</span>; and the head of Dagon and both
the palms of his hands <i>were</i> cut off upon the threshold; only
<i>the stump of</i> Dagon was left to him.   5 Therefore
neither the priests of Dagon, nor any that come into Dagon's house,
tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod unto this day.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.vi-p3">Here is, I. The Philistines' triumph over
the ark, which they were the more pleased, the more proud, to be
now masters of, because before the battle they were possessed with
a great fear of it, <scripRef id="iSam.vi-p3.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.4.7" parsed="|1Sam|4|7|0|0" passage="1Sa 4:7"><i>ch.</i> iv.
7</scripRef>. When they had it in their hands God restrained them,
that they did not offer any violence to it, did not break it to
pieces, as the Israelites were ordered to do by the idols of the
heathen, but showed some respect to it, and carefully carried it to
a place of safety. Whether their curiosity led them to open it, and
to read what was written with the finger of God on the two tables
of stone that were in it, we are not told; perhaps they looked no
further than the golden outside and the cherubim that covered it,
like children that are more affected with the fine binding of their
bibles than with the precious matter contained in them. They
carried it to Ashdod, one of their five cities, and that in which
Dagon's temple was; there they placed the ark of God, <i>by
Dagon</i> (<scripRef id="iSam.vi-p3.2" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.5.2" parsed="|1Sam|5|2|0|0" passage="1Sa 5:2"><i>v.</i> 2</scripRef>),
either 1. As a sacred thing, which they designed to pay some
religious respect to, in conjunction with Dagon; for the gods of
the heathen were never looked upon as averse to partners. Though
the nations would not change their gods, yet they would multiply
them and add to them. But they were mistaken in the God of Israel
when, in putting his ark by Dagon's image, they intended to do him
honour; for he is not worshipped at all if he is not worshipped
alone. <i>The Lord our God is one Lord.</i> Or rather, 2. They
placed it there as a trophy of victory, in honour of Dagon their
god, to whom no doubt they intended to offer a great sacrifice, as
they had done when they had taken Samson (<scripRef id="iSam.vi-p3.3" osisRef="Bible:Judg.16.23-Judg.16.24" parsed="|Judg|16|23|16|24" passage="Jdg 16:23,24">Judg. xvi. 23, 24</scripRef>), boasting that as then
they had triumphed over Israel's champion so now over Israel's God.
What a reproach was this to God's great name! what a <i>disgrace to
the throne of his glory!</i> Shall the ark, the symbol of God's
presence, be a prisoner to Dagon, a dunghill deity? (1.) So it is,
because God will show of how little account the ark of the covenant
is if the covenant itself be broken and neglected; even sacred
signs are not things that either he is tied to or we can trust to.
(2.) So it is for a time, that God may have so much the more glory,
in reckoning with those that thus affront him, and get him honour
upon them. Having punished Israel, that betrayed the ark, by giving
it into the hands of the Philistines, he will next deal with those
that abused it, and will fetch it out of their hands again. Thus
even the <i>wrath of man shall praise him;</i> and he is bringing
about his own glory even when he seems to neglect it, <scripRef id="iSam.vi-p3.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.76.10" parsed="|Ps|76|10|0|0" passage="Ps 76:10">Ps. lxxvi. 10</scripRef>. Out of the eater shall
come forth meat.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.vi-p4">II. The ark's triumph over Dagon. Once and
again Dagon was made to fall before it. If they designed to do
honour to the ark, God thereby showed that he valued not their
honour, nor would he accept it; for he will be worshipped, not
<i>with</i> any god, but <i>above</i> all gods. <i>He owes a
shame</i> (as bishop Hall expresses it) <i>to those who will be
making matches betwixt himself and Belial.</i> But they really
designed to affront it, and though for some hours Dagon stood by
the ark, and it is likely stood above it (the ark, as its
footstool), yet the next morning, when the worshippers of Dagon
came to pay their devotions to his shrine, they found their
triumphing short, <scripRef id="iSam.vi-p4.1" osisRef="Bible:Job.20.5" parsed="|Job|20|5|0|0" passage="Job 20:5">Job xx.
5</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.vi-p5">1. Dagon, that is, the image (for that was
all the god), had <i>fallen upon his face to the earth before the
ark,</i> <scripRef id="iSam.vi-p5.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.5.3" parsed="|1Sam|5|3|0|0" passage="1Sa 5:3"><i>v.</i> 3</scripRef>. God
had seemed to forget the ark, but see how the Psalmist speaks of
his appearing, at last, to vindicate his own honour. When he had
delivered his strength into captivity, and all seemed going to
ruin, <i>then the Lord awaked as one out of sleep, and like a
mighty man that shouteth by reason of wine,</i> <scripRef id="iSam.vi-p5.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.78.59-Ps.78.65" parsed="|Ps|78|59|78|65" passage="Ps 78:59-65">Ps. lxxviii. 59-65</scripRef>. And therefore he
prevented the utter desolations of the Jewish church, because he
<i>feared the wrath of the enemy,</i> <scripRef id="iSam.vi-p5.3" osisRef="Bible:Deut.32.26-Deut.32.27" parsed="|Deut|32|26|32|27" passage="De 32:26,27">Deut. xxxii. 26, 27</scripRef>. Great care was taken,
in setting up the images of their gods, to fix them. The prophet
takes notice of it, <scripRef id="iSam.vi-p5.4" osisRef="Bible:Isa.41.7" parsed="|Isa|41|7|0|0" passage="Isa 41:7">Isa. xli.
7</scripRef>, <i>He fastened it with nails that it should not be
moved;</i> and again, <scripRef id="iSam.vi-p5.5" osisRef="Bible:Isa.46.7" parsed="|Isa|46|7|0|0" passage="Isa 46:7">Isa. xlvi.
7</scripRef>. And yet Dagon's fastenings stood him in no stead. The
ark of God triumphs over him upon his own dunghill, in his own
temple. Down he comes before the ark, directly towards it (though
the ark was set on one side of him), as it were, pointing to the
conqueror, to whom he is constrained to yield and do homage. Note,
The kingdom of Satan will certainly fall before the kingdom of
Christ, error before truth, profaneness before godliness, and
corruption before grace in the hearts of the faithful. When the
interests of religion seem to be run down and ready to sink, yet
even then we may be confident that the day of their triumph will
come. Great is the truth, and will prevail. Dagon by falling
prostrate before the ark of God, which was a posture of adoration,
did as it were direct his worshippers to pay their homage to the
God of Israel, as <i>greater than all gods.</i> See <scripRef id="iSam.vi-p5.6" osisRef="Bible:Exod.18.11" parsed="|Exod|18|11|0|0" passage="Ex 18:11">Exod. xviii. 11</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.vi-p6">2. The priests, finding their idol on the
floor, make all the haste they can, before it be known, to set him
in his place again. A sorry silly thing it was to make a god of,
which, when it was down, wanted help to get up again; and sottish
wretches those were that could pray for help from that idol that
needed, and in effect implored, their help. How could they
attribute their victory to the power of Dagon when Dagon himself
could not keep his own ground before the ark? But they are resolved
Dagon shall be their god still, and therefore set him in his place.
Bishop Hall observes hence, It is just with God that those who want
grace shall want wit too; and it is the work of superstition to
turn men into the stocks and stones they worship. <i>Those that
make them are like unto them.</i> What is it that the great
upholders of the antichristian kingdom are doing at this day but
heaving Dagon up, and labouring to set him in his place again, and
healing the deadly wound that has been given to the beast? but if
the reformation be the cause of God, before which it has begun to
fall, it shall not prevail, but shall surely fall before it.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.vi-p7">3. The next night Dagon fell the second
time, <scripRef id="iSam.vi-p7.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.5.4" parsed="|1Sam|5|4|0|0" passage="1Sa 5:4"><i>v.</i> 4</scripRef>. They rose
early, either, as usual, to make their addresses to their god, or
earlier than usual, being impatient to know whether Dagon had kept
his standing this night; and, to their great confusion, they find
his case worse now than before. Whether the matter of which the
image was made was apt to break or no, so it was that the head and
hands were <i>cut off upon the threshold,</i> so that nothing
remained but the stump, or, as the margin reads it, <i>the fishy
part of</i> Dagon; for (as many learned men conjecture) the upper
part of this image was in a human shape, the lower in the shape of
a fish, as mermaids are painted. Such strong delusions were
idolaters given up to, so vain were they in their imaginations, and
so wretchedly darkened were their foolish hearts, as to worship the
images, not only of creatures, but of nonentities, the mere
figments of fancy. Well, the misshapen monster is by this fall made
to appear, (1.) Very ridiculous, and worthy to be despised. A
pretty figure Dagon made now, when the fall had anatomized him, and
shown how the human part and the fishy part were artificially put
together, which perhaps the ignorant devotees had been made to
believe was done by miracle! (2.) Very impotent, and unworthy to be
prayed to or trusted in; for his losing his head and hands proved
him utterly destitute both of wisdom and power, and for ever
disabled either to advise or act for his worshippers. This they got
by setting Dagon in his place again; they had better have let him
alone when he was down. But those can speed no better that contend
with God, and will set up that which he is throwing down, <scripRef id="iSam.vi-p7.2" osisRef="Bible:Mal.1.4" parsed="|Mal|1|4|0|0" passage="Mal 1:4">Mal. i. 4</scripRef>. God, by this, magnified his
ark and made it honourable, when they vilified and made it
contemptible. He also showed what will be the end of all that which
is set up in opposition to him. <i>Gird yourselves,</i> but <i>you
shall be broken to pieces,</i> <scripRef id="iSam.vi-p7.3" osisRef="Bible:Isa.8.9" parsed="|Isa|8|9|0|0" passage="Isa 8:9">Isa.
viii. 9</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.vi-p8">4. The threshold of Dagon's temple was ever
looked upon as sacred, and not to be trodden on, <scripRef id="iSam.vi-p8.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.5.5" parsed="|1Sam|5|5|0|0" passage="1Sa 5:5"><i>v.</i> 5</scripRef>. Some think that reference is had
to this superstitious usage of Dagon's worshippers in <scripRef id="iSam.vi-p8.2" osisRef="Bible:Zeph.1.9" parsed="|Zeph|1|9|0|0" passage="Zep 1:9">Zeph. i. 9</scripRef>, where God threatens to
punish those who, in imitation of them, leaped over the threshold.
One would have thought that this incontestable proof of the ark's
victory over Dagon would convince the Philistines of their folly in
worshipping such a senseless thing, and that henceforward they
would pay their homage to the conqueror; but, instead of being
reformed, they were hardened in their idolatry, and, as evil men
and seducers are wont to do, became worse and worse, <scripRef id="iSam.vi-p8.3" osisRef="Bible:2Tim.3.13" parsed="|2Tim|3|13|0|0" passage="2Ti 3:13">2 Tim. iii. 13</scripRef>. Instead of despising
Dagon, for the threshold's sake that beheaded him, they were almost
ready to worship the threshold because it was the block on which he
was beheaded, and will never set their feet on that on which Dagon
lost his head, shaming those who <i>tread under foot the blood of
the covenant</i> and trample on things truly sacred. Yet this piece
of superstition would help to perpetuate the remembrance of Dagon's
disgrace; for, with the custom, the reason would be transmitted to
posterity, and the children that should be born, enquiring why the
threshold of Dagon's temple must not be trodden on, would be told
that Dagon fell before the ark of the Lord. Thus God would have
honour even out of their superstition. We are not told that they
repaired the broken image; it is probable that they sent the art of
God away first, and then they patched it up again, and set it in
its place; for, it seems, they <i>cannot deliver their souls, nor
say, Is there not a lie in our right hand?</i> <scripRef id="iSam.vi-p8.4" osisRef="Bible:Isa.44.20" parsed="|Isa|44|20|0|0" passage="Isa 44:20">Isa. xliv. 20</scripRef>.</p>
</div><scripCom id="iSam.vi-p0.3" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.5.6-1Sam.5.12" parsed="|1Sam|5|6|5|12" passage="1Sa 5:6-12" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:1Sam.5.6-1Sam.5.12">
<h4 id="iSam.vi-p8.6">The Distress of the
Philistines. (<span class="smallcaps" id="iSam.vi-p8.7">b. c.</span> 1120.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="iSam.vi-p9">6 But the hand of the <span class="smallcaps" id="iSam.vi-p9.1">Lord</span> was heavy upon them of Ashdod, and he
destroyed them, and smote them with emerods, <i>even</i> Ashdod and
the coasts thereof.   7 And when the men of Ashdod saw that
<i>it was</i> so, they said, The ark of the God of Israel shall not
abide with us: for his hand is sore upon us, and upon Dagon our
god.   8 They sent therefore and gathered all the lords of the
Philistines unto them, and said, What shall we do with the ark of
the God of Israel? And they answered, Let the ark of the God of
Israel be carried about unto Gath. And they carried the ark of the
God of Israel about <i>thither.</i>   9 And it was <i>so,</i>
that, after they had carried it about, the hand of the <span class="smallcaps" id="iSam.vi-p9.2">Lord</span> was against the city with a very great
destruction: and he smote the men of the city, both small and
great, and they had emerods in their secret parts.   10
Therefore they sent the ark of God to Ekron. And it came to pass,
as the ark of God came to Ekron, that the Ekronites cried out,
saying, They have brought about the ark of the God of Israel to us,
to slay us and our people.   11 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.   12 And the men that died not were smitten with the
emerods: and the cry of the city went up to heaven.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.vi-p10">The downfall of Dagon (if the people had
made a good use of it, and had been brought by it to repent of
their idolatries and to humble themselves before the God of Israel
and seek his face) might have prevented the vengeance which God
here proceeds to take upon them for the indignities done to his
ark, and their obstinate adherence to their idol, in defiance of
the plainest conviction. <i>Lord, when thy hand is lifted up they
will not see, but they shall see,</i> <scripRef id="iSam.vi-p10.1" osisRef="Bible:Isa.26.11" parsed="|Isa|26|11|0|0" passage="Isa 26:11">Isa. xxvi. 11</scripRef>. And, if they will not see the
glory, they shall feel the weight, of God's hand, for so the
Philistines did. <i>The hand of the Lord was heavy upon them</i>
(<scripRef id="iSam.vi-p10.2" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.5.6" parsed="|1Sam|5|6|0|0" passage="1Sa 5:6"><i>v.</i> 6</scripRef>), and he not
only convinced them of their folly, but severely chastised their
insolence. 1. <i>He destroyed them,</i> that is, cut many of them
off by sudden death, those, we may suppose, that had most triumphed
in the captivity of the ark. This is distinguished from the disease
with which others were smitten. At Gath it is called <i>a great
destruction</i> (<scripRef id="iSam.vi-p10.3" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.5.9" parsed="|1Sam|5|9|0|0" passage="1Sa 5:9"><i>v.</i>
9</scripRef>), <i>a deadly destruction,</i> <scripRef id="iSam.vi-p10.4" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.5.11" parsed="|1Sam|5|11|0|0" passage="1Sa 5:11"><i>v.</i> 11</scripRef>. And it is expressly said
(<scripRef id="iSam.vi-p10.5" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.5.12" parsed="|1Sam|5|12|0|0" passage="1Sa 5:12"><i>v.</i> 12</scripRef>) that those
who were <i>smitten with the emerods were the men that died not</i>
by the other <i>destruction,</i> which probably was the pestilence.
They boasted of the great slaughter which their sword had made
among the Israelites, <scripRef id="iSam.vi-p10.6" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.4.10" parsed="|1Sam|4|10|0|0" passage="1Sa 4:10"><i>ch.</i> iv.
10</scripRef>. But God lets them know that though he does not see
fit to draw Israel's sword against them (they were unworthy to be
employed), yet God had a sword of his own, with which he could make
a no less dreadful execution among them, which if he whet, and
<i>his hand take hold on judgment, he will render vengeance to his
enemies,</i> <scripRef id="iSam.vi-p10.7" osisRef="Bible:Deut.32.41-Deut.32.42" parsed="|Deut|32|41|32|42" passage="De 32:41,42">Deut. xxxii. 41,
42</scripRef>. Note, Those that contend with God, his ark, and his
Israel, will infallibly be ruined at last. If conviction conquer
not, destruction shall. 2. Those that were not destroyed <i>he
smote with emerods</i> (<scripRef id="iSam.vi-p10.8" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.5.6" parsed="|1Sam|5|6|0|0" passage="1Sa 5:6"><i>v.</i>
6</scripRef>), <i>in their secret parts</i> (<scripRef id="iSam.vi-p10.9" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.5.9" parsed="|1Sam|5|9|0|0" passage="1Sa 5:9"><i>v.</i> 9</scripRef>), so grievous that (<scripRef id="iSam.vi-p10.10" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.5.12" parsed="|1Sam|5|12|0|0" passage="1Sa 5:12"><i>v.</i> 12</scripRef>) the <i>cry went up to
heaven,</i> that is, it might be heard a great way off, and
perhaps, in the extremity of their pain and misery, they cried, not
to Dagon, but to the God of heaven. The Psalmist, speaking of this
sore judgment upon the Philistines, describes it thus: God <i>smote
his enemies in the hinder parts,</i> and <i>put them to a perpetual
reproach,</i> <scripRef id="iSam.vi-p10.11" osisRef="Bible:Ps.78.66" parsed="|Ps|78|66|0|0" passage="Ps 78:66">Ps. lxxviii.
66</scripRef>. The emerods (which we call the piles, and perhaps it
was then a more grievous disease than it is now) is threatened
among the judgments that would be the fruit of the curse, <scripRef id="iSam.vi-p10.12" osisRef="Bible:Deut.28.27" parsed="|Deut|28|27|0|0" passage="De 28:27">Deut. xxviii. 27</scripRef>. It was both a
painful and shameful disease; a vile disease for vile deserts. By
it God would humble their pride, and put contempt upon them, as
they had done upon his ark. The disease was epidemical, and
perhaps, among them, a new disease. <i>Ashdod was smitten, and the
coasts thereof,</i> the country round. For contempt of God's
ordinances, <i>many are weak and sick, and many sleep,</i>
<scripRef id="iSam.vi-p10.13" osisRef="Bible:1Cor.11.30" parsed="|1Cor|11|30|0|0" passage="1Co 11:30">1 Cor. xi. 30</scripRef>. 3. The men
of Ashdod were soon aware that it was <i>the hand of God, the God
of Israel,</i> <scripRef id="iSam.vi-p10.14" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.5.7" parsed="|1Sam|5|7|0|0" passage="1Sa 5:7"><i>v.</i> 7</scripRef>.
Thus they were constrained to acknowledge his power and dominion,
and confess themselves within his jurisdiction, and yet they would
not renounce Dagon and submit to Jehovah; but rather, now that he
touched their bone and their flesh, and in a tender part, they were
ready to curse him to his face, and instead of making their peace
with him, and courting the stay of his ark upon better terms, they
desired to get clear of it, as the Gadarenes, who, when they had
lost their swine, desired Christ to <i>depart out of their
coasts.</i> Carnal hearts, when they smart under the judgments of
God, would rather, if it were possible, put him far from them than
enter into covenant and communion with him, and make him their
friend. Thus the men of Ashdod resolve, <i>The ark of the God of
Israel shall not abide with us.</i> 4. It is resolved to change the
place of its imprisonment. A great council was called, and the
question proposed to all the lords was, "What shall be we with the
ark?" And at last it was agreed that it should be carried to Gath,
<scripRef id="iSam.vi-p10.15" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.5.8" parsed="|1Sam|5|8|0|0" passage="1Sa 5:8"><i>v.</i> 8</scripRef>. Some
superstitious conceit they had that the fault was in the place, and
that the ark would be better pleased with another lodging, further
off from Dagon's temple; and therefore, instead of returning it, as
they should have done, to its own place, they contrive to send it
to another place. <i>Gath</i> is pitched upon, a place famed for a
race of giants, but their strength and stature are no fence against
the pestilence and the emerods: the men of that city were smitten,
<i>both great and small</i> <scripRef id="iSam.vi-p10.16" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.5.9" parsed="|1Sam|5|9|0|0" passage="1Sa 5:9">(<i>v.</i>
9</scripRef>), both dwarfs and giants, all alike to God's
judgments; none so great as to over-top them, none so small as to
be over-looked by them. 5. They were all at last weary of the ark,
and very willing to get rid of it. It was sent from Gath to Ekron,
and, coming by order of council, the Ekronites could not refuse it,
but were much exasperated against their great men for sending them
such a fatal present (<scripRef id="iSam.vi-p10.17" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.5.10" parsed="|1Sam|5|10|0|0" passage="1Sa 5:10"><i>v.</i>
10</scripRef>): <i>They have sent it to us to slay us and our
people.</i> The ark had the tables of the law in it; and nothing
more welcome to faithful Israelites than the word of God (to them
it is <i>a savour of life unto life</i>), but to uncircumcised
Philistines, that persist in enmity to God, nothing more dreadful
nor unwelcome: to them it is <i>a savour of death unto death.</i> A
general assembly is instantly called, to advise about <i>sending
the ark again to its place,</i> <scripRef id="iSam.vi-p10.18" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.5.11" parsed="|1Sam|5|11|0|0" passage="1Sa 5:11"><i>v.</i> 11</scripRef>. While they are consulting about
it, the hand of God is doing execution; and their contrivances to
evade the judgment do but spread it. Many drop down dead among
them. Many more are raging ill of the emerods, <scripRef id="iSam.vi-p10.19" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.5.12" parsed="|1Sam|5|12|0|0" passage="1Sa 5:12"><i>v.</i> 12</scripRef>. What shall they do? Their
triumphs in the captivity of the ark are soon turned into
lamentations, and they are as eager to quit it as ever they had
been to seize it. Note, God can easily make Jerusalem a burdensome
stone to all that heave at it, <scripRef id="iSam.vi-p10.20" osisRef="Bible:Zech.12.3" parsed="|Zech|12|3|0|0" passage="Zec 12:3">Zech.
xii. 3</scripRef>. Those that fight against God will soon have
enough of it, and, first or last, will be made to know that none
ever hardened their hearts against him and prospered. The wealth
that is got by fraud and injustice, especially that which is got by
sacrilege and robbing God, though swallowed greedily, and rolled
under the tongue as a sweet morsel, must be vomited up again; for,
till it be, the sinner shall not <i>feel quietness in his
belly,</i> <scripRef id="iSam.vi-p10.21" osisRef="Bible:Job.20.15-Job.20.20" parsed="|Job|20|15|20|20" passage="Job 20:15-20">Job xx.
15-20</scripRef>.</p>
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