And see, if it goeth up by the way of his own coast to Bethshemesh, then he hath done us this great evil: but if not, then we shall know that it is not his hand that smote us: it was a chance that happened to us.
My Notes
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
Gill's Exposition
And see if it goeth up by the way of its own coast to Bethshemesh,.... The nearest city to the land of the Philistines, which lay on their borders, and the borders of the tribe of Judah; see Gill on…
Barnes' Notes
Bethshemesh was the first Israelite town they would come to, being on the border of Judah. (See the marginal reference.)
Adam Clarke
A chance that happened to us - The word מקרה mikreh, from קרה karah, to meet or coalesce, signifies an event that naturally arises from such concurring causes as, in the order and nature of things,…
The first words of the chapter tell us how long the captivity of the ark continued - it was in the country of the Philistines seven months. In the field of the Philistines (so it is in the original),…
Cambridge Bible
his own coast His own border, as in 1Sa 6:6. See ch. 1Sa 5:6, note. "His" refers to the Ark. The neuter possessive pronoun "its" is not found in the original edition of the E. V. See The Bible…
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