1 Samuel 6:4
“Then they said, “What should the trespass offering be which we shall return to him?” They said, “Five golden tumors, and five golden mice, for the number of the lords of the Philistines; for one plague was on you all, and on your lords.”
What does 1 Samuel 6:4 mean?
The Philistines had stolen Israel's sacred Ark of the Covenant and were suffering plagues as a result, so they decided to send it back. But returning stolen goods required a guilt offering, and they weren't sure what would be appropriate, so they asked their priests and diviners for guidance. Their advisors told them to craft five golden replicas each of the tumors and mice that had plagued them, one set for each of the five Philistine rulers. This wasn't just about restitution; it was a way of acknowledging that the God of Israel had brought this suffering on them all equally, from the greatest lords to the common people. By fashioning these images and sending them along with the Ark, they were essentially saying, "We recognize your power, and we're doing what we can to make this right." It's a humbling moment where a powerful pagan nation admits they've been beaten by an invisible God and seeks to restore peace through obedience and respect.