1 Samuel 6:19
And he smote the men of Beth-shemesh, 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.
Original Language Analysis
הִכָּ֧ה
And he smote
H5221
הִכָּ֧ה
And he smote
Strong's:
H5221
Word #:
1 of 23
to strike (lightly or severely, literally or figuratively)
בְּאַנְשֵׁ֣י
men
H582
בְּאַנְשֵׁ֣י
men
Strong's:
H582
Word #:
2 of 23
properly, a mortal (and thus differing from the more dignified h0120); hence, a man in general (singly or collectively)
כִּ֤י
H3588
כִּ֤י
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
5 of 23
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
רָאוּ֙
because they had looked
H7200
רָאוּ֙
because they had looked
Strong's:
H7200
Word #:
6 of 23
to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative)
יְהוָ֛ה
because the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֛ה
because the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
8 of 23
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
הִכָּ֧ה
And he smote
H5221
הִכָּ֧ה
And he smote
Strong's:
H5221
Word #:
9 of 23
to strike (lightly or severely, literally or figuratively)
בָּעָ֖ם
and the people
H5971
בָּעָ֖ם
and the people
Strong's:
H5971
Word #:
10 of 23
a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock
אִ֑ישׁ
the men
H376
אִ֑ישׁ
the men
Strong's:
H376
Word #:
12 of 23
a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)
אֶ֖לֶף
thousand
H505
אֶ֖לֶף
thousand
Strong's:
H505
Word #:
14 of 23
hence (the ox's head being the first letter of the alphabet, and this eventually used as a numeral) a thousand
אִ֑ישׁ
the men
H376
אִ֑ישׁ
the men
Strong's:
H376
Word #:
15 of 23
a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)
בָּעָ֖ם
and the people
H5971
בָּעָ֖ם
and the people
Strong's:
H5971
Word #:
17 of 23
a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock
כִּֽי
H3588
כִּֽי
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
18 of 23
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
הִכָּ֧ה
And he smote
H5221
הִכָּ֧ה
And he smote
Strong's:
H5221
Word #:
19 of 23
to strike (lightly or severely, literally or figuratively)
יְהוָ֛ה
because the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֛ה
because the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
20 of 23
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
בָּעָ֖ם
and the people
H5971
בָּעָ֖ם
and the people
Strong's:
H5971
Word #:
21 of 23
a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock
Cross References
Numbers 4:20But they shall not go in to see when the holy things are covered, lest they die.Exodus 19:21And the LORD said unto Moses, Go down, charge the people, lest they break through unto the LORD to gaze, and many of them perish.Numbers 4:15And when Aaron and his sons have made an end of covering the sanctuary, and all the vessels of the sanctuary, as the camp is to set forward; after that, the sons of Kohath shall come to bear it: but they shall not touch any holy thing, lest they die. These things are the burden of the sons of Kohath in the tabernacle of the congregation.2 Samuel 6:7And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there for his error; and there he died by the ark of God.Colossians 2:18Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,
Historical Context
Beth-shemesh was a modest town; population estimates for Israelite villages rarely exceed a few thousand. The textual difficulty with the number has generated various solutions: scribal error, idiomatic expression, or cumulative plague deaths over time. The Septuagint omits 'fifty thousand,' reading simply 'seventy men.'
Questions for Reflection
- What does this judgment teach about the relationship between God's grace and His holiness?
- How do believers today sometimes treat sacred things with dangerous casualness?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
And he smote the men of Beth-shemesh, 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.
The narrative takes a devastating turn. The Hebrew 'ra'ah' (to look, gaze) combined with the preposition 'be' (into) suggests more than casual glancing - this was intrusive inspection, perhaps opening the Ark to view its contents. Such presumption violated explicit commands (Numbers 4:20) that even Levites must not look upon holy objects. The number 'fifty thousand and seventy' has puzzled interpreters - Beth-shemesh likely could not have supported such a population. Some Hebrew manuscripts read 'seventy men, fifty of a thousand' (seventy leading men), while others suggest textual corruption. Regardless of the exact count, the 'great slaughter' (makkah gedolah) demonstrated that proximity to holiness without proper reverence brings death, not blessing. The same Ark that defeated Dagon now strikes Israelites who treat it casually.