8 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. 9 After they had brought it around , the hand of the Lord was against the city with very great confusion ; and He smote the men of the city , both young and old , so that tumors broke out on them. 10 So they sent the ark of God to Ekron . And as the ark of God came to Ekron the Ekronites cried out, saying , "They have brought the ark of the God of Israel around to us, to kill us and our people ." 11 They sent therefore and gathered all the lords of the Philistines and said , "Send away the ark of the God of Israel , and let it return to its own place , so that it will not kill us and our people ." For there was a deadly confusion throughout the city ; the hand of God was very heavy there . 12 And the men who did not die were smitten with tumors and the cry of the city went up to heaven .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 1 Samuel 5:8-12
Commentary on 1 Samuel 5:6-12
(Read 1 Samuel 5:6-12)
The hand of the Lord was heavy upon the Philistines; he not only convinced them of their folly, but severely chastised their insolence. Yet they would not renounce Dagon; and instead of seeking God's mercy, they desired to get clear of his ark. Carnal hearts, when they smart under the judgments of God, would rather, if it were possible, put him far from them, than enter into covenant or communion with him, and seek him for their friend. But their devices to escape the Divine judgments only increase them. Those that fight against God will soon have enough of it.