"And he smote the men of Bethshemesh, because they had looked into the ark of the LORD, even he smote of the people fifty…" — 1 Samuel 6:19

1 Samuel 6:19 · KJV

“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.”

— 1 Samuel 6:19

Verse 18

And the golden mice, {according to} the number of all the cities of the Philistines {belonging} to the five lords, {both} of fenced cities, and of country villages, even unto the great {stone of} Abel, whereon they set down the ark of the LORD: {which stone remaineth} unto this day in the field of Joshua, the Bethshemite. {great...: or, great stone}

Verse 20

And the men of Bethshemesh said, Who is able to stand before this holy LORD God? and to whom shall he go up from us?

1 Samuel 6 — Context

And these {are} the golden emerods which the Philistines returned {for} a trespass offering unto the LORD; for Ashdod one, for Gaza one, for Askelon one, for Gath one, for Ekron one;

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.

And the men of Bethshemesh said, Who is able to stand before this holy LORD God? and to whom shall he go up from us?

And they sent messengers to the inhabitants of Kirjathjearim, saying, The Philistines have brought again the ark of the LORD; come ye down, {and} fetch it up to you.

Cross References

Numbers 4:20

But they shall not go in to see when the holy things are covered, lest they die.

Exodus 19:21

And the LORD said unto Moses, Go down, charge the people, lest they break through unto the LORD to gaze, and many of them perish. {charge: Heb. contest}

Numbers 4:15

And 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 6:7

And 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. {error: or, rashness}

Colossians 2:18

Let 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, {beguile...: or, judge against you} {in a...: Gr. being a voluntary in humility}

1 Peter 4:17

For the time {is come} that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if {it} first {begin} at us, what shall the end {be} of them that obey not the gospel of God?

Deuteronomy 29:29

The secret {things belong} unto the LORD our God: but those {things which are} revealed {belong} unto us and to our children for ever, that {we} may do all the words of this law.

Numbers 4:4-5

This {shall be} the service of the sons of Kohath in the tabernacle of the congregation, {about} the most holy things:

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