1 Samuel 6:19-21

¹⁹ But God struck down some of the inhabitants of Beth Shemesh, putting seventy [1] of them to death because they looked into the ark of the Lord. The people mourned because of the heavy blow the Lord had dealt them. ²⁰ And the people of Beth Shemesh asked, "Who can stand in the presence of the Lord, this holy God? To whom will the ark go up from here?" ²¹ Then they sent messengers to the people of Kiriath Jearim, saying, "The Philistines have returned the ark of the Lord. Come down and take it up to your town."

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Other Translations of 1 Samuel 6:19-21

King James Version

¹⁹ 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. 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? ²¹ 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.

English Standard Version

¹⁹ And he struck some of the men of Beth-shemesh, because they looked upon the ark of the Lord. He struck seventy men of them,Hebrew of the people seventy men, fifty thousand men and the people mourned because the Lord had struck the people with a great blow. ²⁰ Then the men of Beth-shemesh said, "Who is able to stand before the Lord, this holy God? And to whom shall he go up away from us?" ²¹ So they sent messengers to the inhabitants of Kiriath-jearim, saying, "The Philistines have returned the ark of the Lord. Come down and take it up to you."

The Message

¹⁹ God struck some of the men of Beth Shemesh who, out of curiosity, irreverently peeked into the Chest of God. Seventy died. The whole town was in mourning, reeling under the hard blow from God, ²⁰ and questioning, "Who can stand before God, this holy God? And who can we get to take this Chest off our hands?" ²¹ They sent emissaries to Kiriath Jearim, saying, "The Philistines have returned the Chest of God. Come down and get it."

New King James Version

¹⁹ Then He struck the men of Beth Shemesh, because they had looked into the ark of the Lord. He struck fifty thousand and seventy men of the people, and the people lamented because the Lord had struck the people with a great slaughter. ²⁰ And the men of Beth Shemesh said, "Who is able to stand before this holy Lord God? And to whom shall it go up from us?" ²¹ So they sent messengers to the inhabitants of Kirjath Jearim, saying, "The Philistines have brought back the ark of the Lord; come down and take it up with you."

New Living Translation

¹⁹ But the Lord killed seventy men from Beth-shemesh because they looked into the Ark of the Lord . And the people mourned greatly because of what the Lord had done. ²⁰ "Who is able to stand in the presence of the Lord, this holy God?" they cried out. "Where can we send the Ark from here?" ²¹ So they sent messengers to the people at Kiriath-jearim and told them, "The Philistines have returned the Ark of the Lord . Come here and get it!"

Matthew Henry's Commentary on 1 Samuel 6:19-21

Commentary on 1 Samuel 6:19-21

(Read 1 Samuel 6:19-21)

It is a great affront to God, for vain men to pry into, and meddle with the secret things which belong not to them, Micah 6:6,7. Thus, when the word of God works with terror on sinners' consciences, they, instead of taking the blame and shame to themselves, quarrel with the word, and put that from them. Many stifle their convictions, and put salvation away from them.