19 And he slew some of the men of Beth-she'mesh, because they looked into the ark of the Lord; he slew seventy men of them, and the people mourned because the Lord had made a great slaughter among the people. 20 Then the men of Beth-she'mesh 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 Kir'iath-je'arim, saying, "The Philistines have returned the ark of the Lord. Come down and take it up to you."
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.