1 Samuel 6:3

Contextual Overview

¹ And the ark of Yahweh was in the country of the Philistines seven months. ¹ The Ark of the Lord remained in Philistine territory seven months in all. ¹ And the ark of the LORD was in the country of the Philistines seven months. ¹ The Philistines kept the Ark of God in their land seven months. ¹ When the ark of the Lord had been in the land of the Philistines for seven months, ¹ And the ark of the LORD was in the country of the Philistines seven months. ¹ The ark of Yahweh was in the country of the Philistines seven months. ¹Now the ark of the LORD had been in the country of the Philistines for seven months. ¹ The ark of the Lord was in the country of the Philistines seven months. ¹ Therfor the arke of the Lord was in the cuntrei of Filisteis bi seuene monethis;

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

empty: Exodus 23:15, Exodus 34:20, Deuteronomy 16:16

a trespass: Leviticus 5:6, Leviticus 5:15-19, Leviticus 6:6, Leviticus 7:1-7

known: 1 Samuel 6:9, 1 Samuel 5:7, 1 Samuel 5:9, 1 Samuel 5:11, Job 10:2, Job 34:31, Job 34:32

Reciprocal: Exodus 8:19 - This is Jonah 1:11 - What

Cross-References

Genesis 6:1
When man began to multiply on the face of the land and daughters were born to them,

Genesis 6:1
And it came to pass, when man began to multiply on the face of the ground, and daughters were born to them,

Genesis 6:1
The number of people on earth began to grow, and daughters were born to them.

Genesis 6:1
When humankind began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born to them,

Genesis 6:1
And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born to them,

Genesis 6:1
It happened, when men began to multiply on the surface of the ground, and daughters were born to them,

Genesis 6:1
Now it happened, when men began to multiply on the face of the land, and daughters were born to them,

Genesis 6:1
And whanne men bigunnen to be multiplied on erthe, and hadden gendrid douytris,

Genesis 6:1
And it cometh to pass that mankind have begun to multiply on the face of the ground, and daughters have been born to them,

Genesis 6:1
Now when men began to multiply on the face of the earth and daughters were born to them,

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And they said, if ye send away the ark of the God of Israel, send it not empty,.... As they perceived they had either resolved upon, or at least were inclined to do; and which they also thought advisable and therefore would have them by no means send it away as it was, but with some presents along with it; for the meaning of this word "empty" is not that they should take care that all that were in it when taken should go with it, and nothing be taken out of it, or it be stripped of its contents; but that some gifts and offerings should be sent along with it: perhaps they might have some notion of, or respect unto a law in Israel, Exodus 23:15 or might say this from a common principle received among Heathens, that deities were to be appeased by gifts e:

but in any wise return him a trespass offering; here again they seem to have some notion of the sorts and kinds of sacrifice among the Israelites; and advise to a trespass offering, to make satisfaction and atonement for the offence they had committed in taking away the ark; and that they should make restoration not only by returning the ark, but by sending an expiatory offering along with it:

then ye shall be healed; of the disease with which they were smitten; for it seems it still continued on them, at least on many:

and it shall be known to you why his hand is not removed from you; which was because the ark was detained by them; but when that should be sent home, and they be healed upon it, then it would be a plain case that the reason why the disease was inflicted and continued was because of that.

e "Munera crede mihi", &c. Ovid. de arte amandi, l. 3.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Send it not empty - See the marginal references. The pagan idea of appeasing the gods with gifts, and the scriptural idea of expressing penitence, allegiance, or love to God, by gifts and offerings to His glory and to the comfort of our fellow worshippers, coincide in the practical result.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 1 Samuel 6:3. Send it not empty — As it appears ye have trespassed against him, send him an offering for this trespass.

Why his hand is not removed — The sense is, If you send him a trespass-offering, and ye be cured, then ye shall know why his judgments have not been taken away from you previously to this offering.

It is a common opinion, says Calmet, among all people, that although the Supreme Being needs nothing of his creatures, yet he requires that they should consecrate to him all that they have; for the same argument that proves his independence, infinitude, and self-sufficiency, proves our dependence, and the obligation we are under to acknowledge him by offering him due marks of our gratitude and submission. Such sentiments were common among all people; and God himself commands his people not to appear before him without an offering, Exodus 23:15: None shall appear before me empty.