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.
What does 1 Samuel 6:19 mean?
It is a great affront to God, for vain men to pry into, and meddle with the secret things which belong not to them, De 29:29; Col 2:18 . Man was ruined by desiring forbidden knowledge.
Key themes
HopeWisdomLeadershipAnointing
Read with
Keep this verse inside 1 Samuel 6:19-20 and alongside a few nearby related passages.
Glossary
- Ark Object
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Noah’s ark, a building of gopher-wood, and covered with pitch, 300 cubits long, 50 cubits broad, and 30 cubits high.
- Beth-shemesh Place
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Biblical settlement. Modern identification: Tel Bet Shemesh.