The writer now began to stress the major theme in the ark narrative: the hand [1] of the Lord. [2] There are nine occurrences of this anthropomorphic phrase in this section of1Samuel ( 1 Samuel 5:6-70; 1 Samuel 5:12; 1 Samuel 5:9; 1 Samuel 5:11; 1 Samuel 6:3; 1 Samuel 6:5; 1 Samuel 6:9; 1 Samuel 7:13). The hand of the Lord represents Yahweh in action (cf. Exodus 9:3; Jeremiah 21:5-6). In the biblical world, people spoke of sickness and death as the bad effects of the "hand" of some god. [3] This was the conclusion of Ashdod"s leaders who attributed their recent calamities to Yahweh ( 1 Samuel 5:7). God afflicted the Philistines with tumors, swellings caused by new tissue growth. [source][source][source]
Evidently the men of Ashdod believed that it was particularly with their city that Yahweh felt displeasure. So they moved the ark to Gath (lit. winepress), which lay about12miles southeast of Ashdod. Dagon could not prevent the tumors (lit. buboes) and death with which Yahweh afflicted the Philistines ( 1 Samuel 5:6; 1 Samuel 5:9-12). The people of Ashdod should have turned from worshipping Dagon and put their trust in Yahweh. Death followed because they chose to continue in unbelief in spite of their confession of Yahweh"s superiority ( 1 Samuel 5:7). [source][source][source]
The Hebrew word translated "broke out" occurs only here in the Old Testament ( 1 Samuel 5:9). The Septuagint translators interpreted it accurately as "groin." These tumors were apparently most prominent in the groin area, hence the English translation "hemorrhoids." Tumors in the groin are a symptom of bubonic plague. Since the Philistines associated mice with this plague ( 1 Samuel 6:4-5), and mice carry bubonic plague, it seems clear that the hand of Yahweh sent this particular affliction on them. [source][source][source]
Ekron stood about6 miles north of Gath. [4] The reputation of the ark preceded it to that town, and its residents did not welcome it as a trophy of war. They saw it instead as a divine instrument of death (cf. Exodus 2:23; Exodus 11:6; Exodus 12:30). The Philistines repeatedly acknowledged Yahweh"s superior power over themselves and Dagon ( 1 Samuel 5:7-12; cf. 1 Samuel 2:6; cf. 1 Samuel 2:25; Exodus 10:7; Exodus 12:31-33). This is another testimony to Yahweh"s sovereignty in the narrative. The cry that went up to heaven from Philistia ( 1 Samuel 5:12) recalls the death cry that went up to heaven earlier from Egypt when God afflicted that enemy ( Exodus 12:30; cf. 1 Samuel 4:8). Through the seven months that the ark was in Philistia ( 1 Samuel 6:1) the Philistines learned what the Israelites had not: Yahweh is the sovereign God. Yet they refused to bow before Him and so experienced death, though the Lord mixed mercy with judgment and did not kill all the Philistines ( 1715299606_49). [source][source][source]
Chapters4,5 both testify to God"s sovereignty. Neither Israel, in chapter4 , nor the Philistines, in chapter5 , could control or resist His will. We cannot manipulate God. We must follow Him rather than expecting Him to follow us. Had the Israelites learned this lesson they probably would not have demanded a king like the other nations ( 1 Samuel 8:5) but waited for Him to provide His choice for them. [source][source][source]