SEV Biblia, Chapter 6:20
Y dijeron los de Bet-semes: ¿Quién podrá estar delante del SEÑOR el Dios santo? ¿Y a quién subirá desde nosotros?
Clarke's Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 6:20
Verse 20. Who is able to stand] Why this exclamation? They knew that God had forbidden any to touch his ark but the priests and Levites; but they endeavoured to throw that blame on God, as a Being hard to be pleased, which belonged solely to themselves.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 20. And the men of Bethshemesh said, who is able to stand before this holy Lord God ? etc.] The Targum is, “before the ark of this holy Lord God;” which is said either by way of complaint of the severity of God, and the strictness of his justice; or in reverence of his holiness, acknowledging their imperfection, sin, and guilt, by reason of which they could not stand before him; nor can any, but on account of the mercy seat over the ark, or through Christ, his blood, righteousness, and sacrifice: and to whom shall he go up from us ? that is, the ark, the symbol of God’s presence, which they seem to be desirous of parting with; being unworthy of it, and conscious of their impurity in comparison of God that dwelt in it; and of their weakness to give the honour and reverence that was due unto it; and yet they knew not who were fit for it, or would choose to receive it, because of the danger they were liable to through every inadvertency in them, and irreverence of that.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 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, De 29:29; Col 2:18. Man wa ruined by desiring forbidden knowledge. God will not suffer his ark to be profaned. Be not deceived, God is not mocked. Those that will no fear his goodness, and reverently use the tokens of his grace, shall be made to feel his justice. The number smitten is expressed in an unusua manner in the original, and it is probable that it means 1170. The desire to be rid of the ark. Foolish men run from one extreme to the other. They should rather have asked, How may we have peace with God and recover his favor? Mic 6:6, 7. Thus, when the word of God work with terror on sinners' consciences, they, instead of taking the blam and shame to themselves, quarrel with the word, and put that from them Many stifle their convictions, and put salvation away from them __________________________________________________________________
Original Hebrew
ויאמרו 559 אנשׁי 376 בית שׁמשׁ 1053 מי 4310 יוכל 3201 לעמד 5975 לפני 6440 יהוה 3068 האלהים 430 הקדושׁ 6918 הזה 2088 ואל 413 מי 4310 יעלה 5927 מעלינו׃ 5921
