Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version So they called together all the rulers of the Philistines and asked them, “What shall we do with the ark of the god of Israel?” They answered, “Have the ark of the god of Israel moved to Gath.” So they moved the ark of the God of Israel. New Living Translation So they called together the rulers of the Philistine towns and asked, “What should we do with the Ark of the God of Israel?” The rulers discussed it and replied, “Move it to the town of Gath.” So they moved the Ark of the God of Israel to Gath. English Standard Version So they sent and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines and said, “What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel?” They answered, “Let the ark of the God of Israel be brought around to Gath.” So they brought the ark of the God of Israel there. Berean Standard Bible So they called together all the rulers of the Philistines and asked, “What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel?” “It must be moved to Gath,” they replied. So they carried away the ark of the God of Israel. Berean Literal Bible And they sent and gathered all the lords of the Philistines to themselves and said, “What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel?” And they answered, “Let the ark of the God of Israel be carried away to Gath.” And they carried away the ark of the God of Israel. King James Bible They sent therefore and gathered all the lords of the Philistines unto them, and said, What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel? And they answered, Let the ark of the God of Israel be carried about unto Gath. And they carried the ark of the God of Israel about thither. New King James Version Therefore they sent and gathered to themselves all the lords of the Philistines, and said, “What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel?” And they answered, “Let the ark of the God of Israel be carried away to Gath.” So they carried the ark of the God of Israel away. New American Standard Bible So they sent word and gathered all the governors of the Philistines to them, and said, “What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel?” And they said, “Have the ark of the God of Israel brought to Gath.” So they took the ark of the God of Israel away. NASB 1995 So they sent and gathered all the lords of the Philistines to them and said, “What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel?” And they said, “Let the ark of the God of Israel be brought around to Gath.” And they brought the ark of the God of Israel around. NASB 1977 So they sent and gathered all the lords of the Philistines to them and said, “What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel?” And they said, “Let the ark of the God of Israel be brought around to Gath.” And they brought the ark of the God of Israel around. Legacy Standard Bible So they sent and gathered all the lords of the Philistines to them and said, “What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel?” And they said, “Let the ark of the God of Israel be brought around to Gath.” And they brought the ark of the God of Israel around. Amplified Bible So they sent word and gathered all the lords (governors) of the Philistines to them and said, “What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel?” They answered, “Let the ark of the God of Israel be brought around to Gath.” So they took the ark of the God of Israel there. Berean Annotated Bible So they called together all the rulers of the Philistines (immigrants) and asked, “What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel (he wrestles with God)?” “It must be moved to Gath (winepress), they replied. So they carried away the ark of the God {Elohe} of Israel. Christian Standard Bible So they called all the Philistine rulers together and asked, “What should we do with the ark of Israel’s God? ” “The ark of Israel’s God should be moved to Gath,” they replied. So they moved the ark of Israel’s God. Holman Christian Standard Bible So they called all the Philistine rulers together and asked, “What should we do with the ark of Israel’s God?” “The ark of Israel’s God should be moved to Gath,” they replied. So the men of Ashdod moved the ark. American Standard Version They sent therefore and gathered all the lords of the Philistines unto them, and said, What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel? And they answered, Let the ark of the God of Israel be carried about unto Gath. And they carried the ark of the God of Israel thither. Contemporary English Version The people of Ashdod invited all the Philistine rulers to come to Ashdod, and they asked them, "What can we do with the sacred chest that belongs to the God of Israel?" "Send it to Gath," the rulers answered. But after they took it there, English Revised Version They sent therefore and gathered all the lords of the Philistines unto them, and said, What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel? And they answered, Let the ark of the God of Israel be carried about unto Gath. And they carried the ark of the God of Israel about thither. GOD'S WORD® Translation The people of Ashdod called together all the Philistine rulers. "What should we do with the ark of the God of Israel?" they asked. "The ark of the God of Israel must be taken to Gath," the rulers said. So the people took the ark of the God of Israel there. Good News Translation So they sent messengers and called together all five of the Philistine kings and asked them, "What shall we do with the Covenant Box of the God of Israel?" "Take it over to Gath," they answered; so they took it to Gath, another Philistine city. International Standard Version They sent messengers and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines and asked, "What are we to do with the Ark of the God of Israel?" They said, "Let the Ark of the God of Israel move to Gath." So they moved the Ark of the God of Israel. NET Bible So they assembled all the leaders of the Philistines and asked, "What should we do with the ark of the God of Israel?" They replied, "The ark of the God of Israel should be moved to Gath." So they moved the ark of the God of Israel. New Heart English Bible So they sent and gathered all the lords of the Philistines to them, and said, "What shall we do with the ark of God?" Then the Gittites answered, "Let the ark of God be carried over to us. "So they brought the ark of God to Gath. Webster's Bible Translation They sent therefore, and gathered all the lords of the Philistines to them, and said, What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel? And they answered, Let the ark of the God of Israel be carried about to Gath. And they carried the ark of the God of Israel thither. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleSo they called together all the rulers of the Philistines and asked, “What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel?” “It must be moved to Gath,” they replied. So they carried away the ark of the God of Israel. World English Bible They sent therefore and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines, and said, “What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel?” They answered, “Let the ark of the God of Israel be carried over to Gath.” They carried the ark of the God of Israel there. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd they send and gather all the princes of the Philistines to them, and say, “What do we do to the Ark of the God of Israel?” And they say, “Let the Ark of the God of Israel be brought around to Gath”; and they bring around the Ark of the God of Israel; Berean Literal Bible And they sent and gathered all the lords of the Philistines to themselves and said, “What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel?” And they answered, “Let the ark of the God of Israel be carried away to Gath.” And they carried away the ark of the God of Israel. Young's Literal Translation And they send and gather all the princes of the Philistines unto them, and say, 'What do we do to the ark of the God of Israel?' and they say, 'To Gath let the ark of the God of Israel be brought round;' and they bring round the ark of the God of Israel; Smith's Literal Translation And they will send and gather all the princes of Philisteim to them, and they will say, What shall we do to the ark of the God of Israel? And they will say, To Gath shall the ark of the God of Israel be turned about: and they will turn the ark of the God of Israel about. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd sending, they gathered together all the lords of the Philistines to them, and said: What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel? And the Gethrites answered: Let the ark of the God of Israel be carried about. And they carried the ark of the God of Israel about. Catholic Public Domain Version And sending, they gathered together all the princes of the Philistines to them, and they said, “What shall we do about the ark of the God of Israel?” And the Gathites responded, “Let the ark of the God of Israel be led around.” And they led the ark of the God of Israel around. New American Bible So they summoned all the Philistine leaders and inquired of them, “What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel?” The people of Gath replied, “Let them move the ark of the God of Israel to us.” So they moved the ark of the God of Israel to Gath. New Revised Standard Version So they sent and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines, and said, “What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel?” The inhabitants of Gath replied, “Let the ark of God be moved on to us.” So they moved the ark of the God of Israel to Gath. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleThey sent therefore and gathered all the lords of the Philistines to them, and said, What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel? And they answered, Let the ark of the God of Israel be returned to Gath. So they took back the ark of the God of Israel there. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And they sent and they gathered all the Tyrants of the Philistines to themselves and they said: “What shall we do with the Ark of LORD JEHOVAH God of Israel?” And they said: “You will return the Ark of LORD JEHOVAH God of Israel to Gath”, and they returned the Ark of LORD JEHOVAH, the God of Israel OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917They sent therefore and gathered all the lords of the Philistines unto them, and said: 'What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel?' And they answered: 'Let the ark of the God of Israel be carried about unto Gath.' And they carried the ark of the God of Israel about thither. Brenton Septuagint Translation And they send and gather the lords of the Philistines to them, and say, What shall we do to the ark of the God of Israel? and the Gittites say, Let the ark of God come over to us; and the ark of the God of Israel came to Geth. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context The Ark Afflicts the Philistines…7And when the men of Ashdod saw what was happening, they said, “The ark of the God of Israel must not stay here with us, because His hand is heavy upon us and upon our god Dagon.” 8 So they called together all the rulers of the Philistines and asked, “What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel?” “It must be moved to Gath,” they replied. So they carried away the ark of the God of Israel. 9But after they had moved the ark to Gath, the LORD’s hand was also against that city, throwing it into great confusion and afflicting the men of the city, both young and old, with an outbreak of tumors.… Cross References So they called together all the rulers of the Philistines and asked, Joshua 13:3 from the Shihor east of Egypt to the territory of Ekron on the north (considered to be Canaanite territory)—that of the five Philistine rulers of Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron, as well as that of the Avvites; Judges 16:5 The lords of the Philistines went to her and said, “Entice him and find out the source of his great strength and how we can overpower him to tie him up and subdue him. Then each one of us will give you eleven hundred shekels of silver.” 1 Samuel 29:6 So Achish summoned David and told him, “As surely as the LORD lives, you have been upright, and it seems right in my sight that you should march in and out with me in the army, because I have found no fault in you from the day you came to me until this day. But you are not good in the sight of the leaders. “What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel?” 1 Samuel 6:2 the Philistines summoned the priests and diviners, saying, “What shall we do with the ark of the LORD? Tell us how to send it back to its place.” 2 Samuel 6:9 That day David feared the LORD and asked, “How can the ark of the LORD ever come to me?” 1 Chronicles 13:12 That day David feared God and asked, “How can I ever bring the ark of God to me?” “It must be moved to Gath,” they replied. 1 Samuel 17:23 And as he was speaking with them, suddenly the champion named Goliath, the Philistine from Gath, came forward from the ranks of the Philistines and shouted his usual words, which David also heard. 1 Samuel 21:10 That day David fled from Saul and went to Achish king of Gath. 2 Samuel 1:20 Tell it not in Gath; proclaim it not in the streets of Ashkelon, lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, and the daughters of the uncircumcised exult. So they carried away the ark of the God of Israel. 1 Samuel 6:8 Take the ark of the LORD, set it on the cart, and in a chest beside it put the gold objects you are sending back to Him as a guilt offering. Then send the ark on its way, 2 Samuel 6:2 And he and all his troops set out for Baale of Judah to bring up from there the ark of God, which is called by the Name—the name of the LORD of Hosts, who is enthroned between the cherubim that are on it. 1 Chronicles 13:7 So they carried the ark of God from the house of Abinadab on a new cart, with Uzzah and Ahio guiding the cart. Exodus 12:12 On that night I will pass through the land of Egypt and strike down every firstborn male, both man and beast, and I will execute judgment against all the gods of Egypt. I am the LORD. 1 Chronicles 13:5-14 So David assembled all Israel, from the River Shihor in Egypt to Lebo-hamath, to bring the ark of God from Kiriath-jearim. / David and all Israel went up to Baalah of Judah (that is, Kiriath-jearim) to bring up from there the ark of God the LORD, who is enthroned between the cherubim—the ark that is called by the Name. / So they carried the ark of God from the house of Abinadab on a new cart, with Uzzah and Ahio guiding the cart. … 1 Chronicles 15:25-29 So David, the elders of Israel, and the commanders of thousands went with rejoicing to bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD from the house of Obed-edom. / And because God helped the Levites who were carrying the ark of the covenant of the LORD, they sacrificed seven bulls and seven rams. / Now David was dressed in a robe of fine linen, as were all the Levites who were carrying the ark, as well as the singers and Chenaniah, the director of music for the singers. David also wore a linen ephod. … 1 Chronicles 16:1-6 So they brought the ark of God and placed it inside the tent that David had pitched for it. And they presented burnt offerings and peace offerings before God. / When David had finished sacrificing the burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD. / Then he distributed to every man and woman of Israel a loaf of bread, a date cake, and a raisin cake. … Treasury of Scripture They sent therefore and gathered all the lords of the Philistines to them, and said, What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel? And they answered, Let the ark of the God of Israel be carried about to Gath. And they carried the ark of the God of Israel about thither. What shall Zechariah 12:3 And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it. Gath 1 Samuel 17:4 And there went out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span. Amos 6:2 Pass ye unto Calneh, and see; and from thence go ye to Hamath the great: then go down to Gath of the Philistines: be they better than these kingdoms? or their border greater than your border? Jump to Previous Ark Carried Israel Lords Philistines Thither TogetherJump to Next Ark Carried Israel Lords Philistines Thither Together1 Samuel 5 1. The Philistines having brought the ark into Ashdod, set it in the house Dagon3. Dagon is smitten down and cut and cut in pieces, 5. and they of Ashdod smitten with tumors 8. So God deals with them of Gath, when it was brought thither 10. and so with them of Ekron, when it was brought thither So they called together all the rulers of the Philistines and asked The Philistines were a confederation of city-states, each ruled by its own leader or "seren." These rulers were responsible for making decisions that affected the entire Philistine territory. The calling together of these rulers indicates the seriousness of the situation. The Philistines had captured the Ark of the Covenant, a significant religious artifact for the Israelites, and were experiencing calamities as a result. This gathering reflects a common ancient Near Eastern practice of consulting leaders or diviners in times of crisis. “What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel?” “It must be moved to Gath,” they replied. So they carried away the ark of the God of Israel. Persons / Places / Events 1. PhilistinesA group of people who were enemies of Israel and had captured the Ark of the Covenant. 2. Rulers of the Philistines Leaders who were responsible for making decisions regarding the Ark. 3. Ark of the God of Israel The sacred chest that held the Ten Commandments, representing God's presence and covenant with Israel. 4. Gath One of the five major cities of the Philistines, to which the Ark was moved. 5. Israel The nation chosen by God, whose Ark had been captured by the Philistines. Teaching Points Reverence for God's PresenceThe Ark symbolized God's presence, and the Philistines' mishandling of it led to dire consequences. We must approach God with reverence and respect. Consequences of Disobedience The capture of the Ark was a result of Israel's disobedience. This serves as a reminder that turning away from God can lead to spiritual defeat. God's Sovereignty Despite the Philistines' attempts to control the Ark, God's power and sovereignty were evident. We can trust in God's ultimate authority over all circumstances. Seeking Godly Wisdom The Philistines sought counsel from their rulers, but lacked divine wisdom. In our decisions, we should seek guidance from God and His Word. The Importance of Repentance The eventual return of the Ark to Israel underscores the need for repentance and restoration in our relationship with God. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of 1 Samuel 5:8?2. How does 1 Samuel 5:8 demonstrate God's power over false gods and idols? 3. What can we learn about God's sovereignty from 1 Samuel 5:8? 4. How does 1 Samuel 5:8 connect with Exodus 20:3 about worshiping other gods? 5. How should we respond when faced with challenges to God's authority in our lives? 6. What steps can we take to ensure God remains central in our community? 7. Why did the Philistines move the Ark of the God of Israel to Gath? 8. What does 1 Samuel 5:8 reveal about the Philistines' understanding of God's power? 9. How does the decision to move the Ark reflect on the Philistines' leadership? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from 1 Samuel 5? 11. 1 Samuel 5 - How do we reconcile this account with other biblical passages that attribute different outcomes to the Ark's captivity? 12. Is there any archaeological evidence to support the Philistines' capture of the Ark in 1 Samuel 4? 13. What is Ashdod's biblical significance? 14. Does the mention of Calneh, Hamath, and Gath in Amos 6:2 conflict with known historical records of these cities? What Does 1 Samuel 5:8 Mean So they called together all the rulers of the Philistines and asked• The Philistines recognize the situation is beyond the competence of any one city; they summon their five rulers, the same leaders who assembled in 1 Samuel 5:11 and later in 6:2. • Scripture shows pagan nations often consult their leaders when confronted with God’s power (Exodus 7:11; Jonah 3:6). Here the urgency underscores that the plagues striking Ashdod (1 Samuel 5:6) are unmistakably divine. • God’s sovereignty presses even His enemies into conference, echoing Psalm 2:2 and Acts 4:26, where “the rulers gather together against the LORD.” “What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel?” • Their question admits the ark is no ordinary trophy. Earlier they exulted over capturing it (1 Samuel 4:7–8); now they fear it. • This shift mirrors Pharaoh’s servants pleading with him, “How long will this man be a snare to us?” (Exodus 10:7). Human pride melts when confronted by the living God. • Notice they do not ask how to repent, only how to manage the ark. The concern is relief, not righteousness—a pattern repeated in Revelation 16:11 where people “did not repent of their deeds.” “It must be moved to Gath,” they replied. • The consensus is relocation, not return. Fear of Israel’s God does not yet translate to submission. Like the demoniacs begging Jesus to leave their region (Matthew 8:34), the Philistines simply want the threat gone. • Gath, another principal city, likely feels spared so far and assumes distance will solve the problem. This mirrors sinful logic: shift blame, relocate consequences (Numbers 16:26). • God allows the move, demonstrating He can strike any place (1 Samuel 5:9). The ark’s holiness is not confined by geography. So they carried away the ark of the God of Israel. • Action follows deliberation; the ark departs Ashdod exactly as leaders ordered. Yet the next verse records Gath’s torment, proving human plans cannot evade divine judgment (Proverbs 19:21). • The phrase “of the God of Israel” is repeated, emphasizing identity. Though in enemy hands, the ark still belongs to the covenant God, foreshadowing how He keeps His property and people (1 Chronicles 13:6; 2 Samuel 6:3). • Their physical movement without spiritual change anticipates later Philistine efforts until they finally return the ark with offerings (1 Samuel 6:1–12). summary The Philistines convene their rulers, confess the ark’s fearful power, and attempt a practical fix by relocating it to Gath. God’s holiness exposes human attempts to control or contain Him. Moving the ark reshuffles judgment but never removes it; only submission to the LORD ends the plague. 1 Samuel 5:8 thus teaches that God’s presence demands reverence, and any strategy short of repentance merely transfers the consequences of resisting Him. (8) Gathered all the lords of the Philistines unto them.--The Philistine federation seems to have been a very powerful one, and owing to the disinclination of the Israelites to maritime pursuits and foreign commerce--[the foreign commercial expeditions of King Solomon were apparently quite exceptional]--held in their hands a large proportion of the Mediterranean trade--the Mediterranean being the great highway between Eastern and Western nations; hence, no doubt, the worship of Dagon, the fish-god. It seems to have been something more than mere "Nature worship," the devotion of the Ph?nician settlers on the sea-board of Syria and Canaan to a marine deity. The constitution of Philistia was oligarchical: that is, the government was in the hands of a College of Princes, whose decision no individual could oppose. The princes (seranim) are the heads of the several city districts, which formed a confederation, each one of the five chief cities holding a number of places, country cities, or "daughter" cities, as its special district. (See Erdmann in Lange's Commentary.) Dr. Payne Smith (Dean of Canterbury) has an ingenious and scholarly derivation for the titular designation of these lords (Hebrew, seranim), in which, rejecting the usual root sar, a prince, he connects the word with seren, a hinge; "just," he says, "as the cardinals of the Church of Rome take their name from cardo, which has the same meaning."Verse 8. - The lords of the Philistines. Philistia was governed by a council of five princes, but whether they were elective or hereditary in the several towns is by no means clear. They are called "seranim," from seren, "a hinge," just as the cardinals of the Church of Rome take their name from the Latin word cardo, which has the same meaning. There is no ground for connecting the word with sar, "a prince." When Ewald did so he probably forgot that the two words begin with different letters - seren with samech, and sar with shin. Seranim is the word constantly used of the lords of the Philistines (Joshua 13:3; Judges 3:3; Judges 16:5, 8, etc.; 1 Chronicles 12:9), though after being correctly so styled in 1 Samuel 29:2, they are popularly called in vers. 3, 4, 9, sarim, "princes." Let the ark of the God of Israel be carried about unto Gath. Unwilling to part with so signal a proof of their victory, the lords of the Philistines determine to remove the ark to another locality, but thereby only made the miraculous nature of what was taking place more evident to all. Of Gath but little is known; but Jerome describes it as still a large village in his days, and as situated near the border of Judaea, on the road from Eleutheropolis to Gaza.Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew So they called togetherוַיַּאַסְפוּ֩ (way·ya·’as·p̄ū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural Strong's 622: To gather for, any purpose, to receive, take away, remove all כָּל־ (kāl-) Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every the rulers סַרְנֵ֨י (sar·nê) Noun - masculine plural construct Strong's 5633: An axle, a peer of the Philistines פְלִשְׁתִּ֜ים (p̄ə·liš·tîm) Noun - proper - masculine plural Strong's 6430: Philistines -- inhabitants of Philistia and asked, וַיֹּֽאמְרוּ֙ (way·yō·mə·rū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural Strong's 559: To utter, say “What מַֽה־ (mah-) Interrogative Strong's 4100: What?, what!, indefinitely what shall we do נַּעֲשֶׂ֗ה (na·‘ă·śeh) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common plural Strong's 6213: To do, make with the ark לַֽאֲרוֹן֙ (la·’ă·rō·wn) Preposition-l | Noun - common singular construct Strong's 727: A chest, ark of the God of אֱלֹהֵ֣י (’ĕ·lō·hê) Noun - masculine plural construct Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative Israel?” יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (yiś·rā·’êl) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc “[It] אֲר֖וֹן (’ă·rō·wn) Noun - common singular construct Strong's 727: A chest, ark must be moved יִסֹּ֔ב (yis·sōḇ) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 5437: To turn about, go around, surround to Gath,” גַּ֣ת (gaṯ) Noun - proper - feminine singular Strong's 1661: Gath -- 'wine press', a Philistine city they replied. וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ (way·yō·mə·rū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural Strong's 559: To utter, say So they carried away וַיַּסֵּ֕בּוּ (way·yas·sêb·bū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural Strong's 5437: To turn about, go around, surround the ark אֲר֖וֹן (’ă·rō·wn) Noun - common singular construct Strong's 727: A chest, ark of the God אֱלֹהֵ֥י (’ĕ·lō·hê) Noun - masculine plural construct Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative of Israel. יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ (yiś·rā·’êl) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc Links 1 Samuel 5:8 NIV1 Samuel 5:8 NLT 1 Samuel 5:8 ESV 1 Samuel 5:8 NASB 1 Samuel 5:8 KJV 1 Samuel 5:8 BibleApps.com 1 Samuel 5:8 Biblia Paralela 1 Samuel 5:8 Chinese Bible 1 Samuel 5:8 French Bible 1 Samuel 5:8 Catholic Bible OT History: 1 Samuel 5:8 They sent therefore and gathered all (1Sa iSam 1 Sam i sa) |
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