New American Standard Bible 1995

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1 Samuel

Note Journal Prayer

6

:

18

“

and the golden mice, according to the number of all the cities of the Philistines belonging to the five lords, both of fortified cities and of country villages. The large stone on which they set the ark of the LORD is a witness to this day in the field of Joshua the Beth-shemite.

Lexicon

Verse part Definition: Part of speech: Strong's: Hebrew: Transliteration:
and the golden gold Noun H2091 הַזָּהָ֗ב haz·za·hav
mice, a mouse Noun H5909 וְעַכְבְּרֵ֣י ve·'ach·be·rei
[according] to the number number, tally Noun H4557 מִסְפַּ֞ר mis·par
of all the whole, all Noun H3605 כָּל־ kol-
the cities city, town Noun H5892 עָרֵ֤י a·rei
of the Philistines inhab. of Philistia Adjective H6430 פְלִשְׁתִּים֙ fe·lish·tim
belonging to the five five Noun H2568 לַחֲמֵ֣שֶׁת la·cha·me·shet
Analysis:

Five: Incompletion or lacking

For a person to understand the meaning of the number “five”, one must first realize that the meaning of the number ten is completion or wholeness. Since five is half of ten, the idea is that the number five represents incompletion or that which is lacking. A Scripture that expresses this idea is found in the book of John. At a place called Beit Chesed (Bethesda), there was a pool whose waters healed the sick. The reader is told that around the pool there were five porches. It is stated that on these five porches laid individuals who were not whole. Some were paralyzed and the rest of them had a variety of health problems. It is not a chance happening that these people who were lacking their health were on five porches. Another well-known passage that contains the number five is found in I Samuel 17. In the account of David and Goliath, David picks up five stones (see I Samuel 17:40). Why is the reader told the specific number and not simply that David had gathered a few stones? The answer is to assist the reader in understanding that the stone, which David hurled at Goliath, was not the source of victory. Rather, this was only the means that God used to accomplish His victory. In other words, the stone and even David, who hurled this stone at Goliath, were insufficient to bring about this victory.

One of the first places where the idea of "lacking" or "incompleteness" is seen regarding the number five is in the book of Genesis. In chapter 18, two angels are sent to Sodom to destroy the city. God tells Abraham that if 50 righteous people are found in the city, then the city will be free of this punishment (We will learn that the number 50 is related to freedom when this number is studied). This is revealed to Abraham and he responds saying, perhaps the city will lack 50 righteous people by five. It is significant that Abraham uses the number five when referring to the city lacking enough righteous people. 

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lords, tyrant, lord Noun H5633 הַסְּרָנִ֔ים has·se·ra·nim,
both from H4480    
of fortified fortification Noun H4013 מִבְצָ֔ר miv·tzar,
cities city, town Noun H5892 מֵעִ֣יר me·'ir
and of country hamlet dweller Noun H6521 הַפְּרָזִ֑י hap·pe·ra·zi;
villages. village Noun H3724 כֹּ֣פֶר ko·fer
The large great Adjective H1419 הַגְּדֹולָ֗ה hag·ge·do·v·lah
stone a stone H68    
on which who, which, that Particle H834 אֲשֶׁ֨ר a·sher
they set to rest H5117    
the ark a chest, ark Noun H727 אֲרֹ֣ון a·ro·vn
of the LORD the proper name of the God of Israel Noun H3068 יְהוָ֔ה Yah·weh
[is a witness] to this this, here Pronoun H2088 הַזֶּ֔ה haz·zeh,
day day Noun H3117 הַיֹּ֣ום hai·yo·vm
in the field field, land Noun H7704 בִּשְׂדֵ֥ה bis·deh
of Joshua "the LORD is salvation," Moses' successor, also the name of a number of Isr. Noun H3091 יְהֹושֻׁ֖עַ ye·ho·v·shu·a'
the Beth-shemite. an inhab. of Bethshemesh Adjective H1030 הַשִּׁמְשִֽׁי׃ ha·shim·shi.

People

Abel

Abel  (Heb. Hebhel), a breath, or vanity, the second son of Adam and Eve. He was put to death by his brother Cain ( Genesis 4:1-16 ). Guided by the instruction of their father, the two brothers were trained in the duty of worshipping God. "And in process of time" (marg. "at the end of days", i.e., on the Sabbath) each of them offered up to God of the first-fruits of his labours. Cain, as a husbandman, offered the fruit... View Details

Lord

Lord [N] [B] [S] There are various Hebrew and Greek words so rendered.    Heb. Jehovah, has been rendered in the English Bible LORD, printed in small capitals. This is the proper name of the God of the Hebrews. The form "Jehovah" is retained only in  Exodus 6:3 ;  Psalms 83:18 ;  Isaiah 12:2 ;  26:4 , both in the Authorized and the Revised Version.&nb... View Details

Lord

Lord [N] [B] [S] There are various Hebrew and Greek words so rendered.    Heb. Jehovah, has been rendered in the English Bible LORD, printed in small capitals. This is the proper name of the God of the Hebrews. The form "Jehovah" is retained only in  Exodus 6:3 ;  Psalms 83:18 ;  Isaiah 12:2 ;  26:4 , both in the Authorized and the Revised Version.&nb... View Details

Lord

Lord [N] [B] [S] There are various Hebrew and Greek words so rendered.    Heb. Jehovah, has been rendered in the English Bible LORD, printed in small capitals. This is the proper name of the God of the Hebrews. The form "Jehovah" is retained only in  Exodus 6:3 ;  Psalms 83:18 ;  Isaiah 12:2 ;  26:4 , both in the Authorized and the Revised Version.&nb... View Details

Lord

Lord [N] [B] [S] There are various Hebrew and Greek words so rendered.    Heb. Jehovah, has been rendered in the English Bible LORD, printed in small capitals. This is the proper name of the God of the Hebrews. The form "Jehovah" is retained only in  Exodus 6:3 ;  Psalms 83:18 ;  Isaiah 12:2 ;  26:4 , both in the Authorized and the Revised Version.&nb... View Details

Parallel Verses

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New American Standard Bible 1995 and the golden mice, according to the number of all the cities of the Philistines belonging to the five lords, both of fortified cities and of country villages. The large stone on which they set the ark of the LORD is a witness to this day in the field of Joshua the Beth-shemite.
King James Bible and And the golden mice, according to the number of all the cities of the Philistines belonging to the five lords, both of fortified cities fenced cities, and of country villages. The large villages, even unto the great stone on which of Abel, whereon they set down the ark of the LORD is a witness to LORD: which stone remaineth unto this day in the field of Joshua Joshua, the Beth-shemite.Bethshemite.
Hebrew Greek English and the golden mice, according to the number of all the cities of the Philistines belonging to the five lords, both of fortified cities and of country villages. The large stone on which they set the ark of the LORD is a witness to this day in the field of Joshua the Beth-shemite.