But God struck down some of the people of Beth-shemesh because they looked inside the ark of the LORD. He struck down seventy men, and the people mourned because the LORD had struck them with a great slaughter. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of 1 Samuel 6:19? 2. Why did God strike the men of Beth-shemesh in 1 Samuel 6:19? 3. How does reverence for God's holiness apply to our worship today? 4. What lessons from 1 Samuel 6:19 connect to the fear of the Lord? 5. How can we ensure respect for God's commands in our daily lives? 6. What does 1 Samuel 6:19 teach about consequences of disobedience to God? 7. Why did God strike down 50,070 men in 1 Samuel 6:19? 8. How does 1 Samuel 6:19 reflect God's holiness and justice? 9. What does 1 Samuel 6:19 teach about the consequences of disobedience? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from 1 Samuel 6? 11. How do we reconcile the differing accounts of the death toll (70 vs. 50,070) in 1 Samuel 6:19, and is there archaeological proof of such an event? 12. Why does the Ark of the Covenant play a lesser role here (1 Samuel 7) compared to accounts in earlier chapters? 13. 2 Samuel 6:12–15 – Why does the Ark’s presence generate such transformative effects, yet no archaeological evidence of its power or existence is found? 14. What rationale is given for excluding Levites from the census in Numbers 1:47–53, and how does this affect the overall population count? Discussion Questions 1. What does the incident at Beth-shemesh teach us about the nature of God's holiness and how we should approach Him?2. How can we apply the lesson of obedience from this passage to our daily lives, especially in areas where we might be tempted to compromise? 3. In what ways does the account of the men of Beth-shemesh parallel other biblical accounts of disobedience and its consequences? 4. How can we ensure that we maintain a reverent attitude towards God and His commands in our worship and daily practices? 5. Reflect on a time when you faced consequences for disobedience. How did that experience shape your understanding of God's justice and mercy?1. What does the Philistines' decision to return the Ark tell us about the power and authority of God? 2. How did the Philistines demonstrate their understanding of guilt and atonement? 3. Why did the Philistines choose tumors and rats as symbols for their guilt offering? 4. What significance did the direct path of the cows have in the narrative? What does it teach us about divine intervention? 5. How did the Israelites react to the return of the Ark and why? 6. Why do you think God punished the men of Beth-shemesh for looking inside the Ark? 7. How does this chapter reinforce the theme of "fear and obedience" towards God? 8. What lessons can we learn from the Philistines and apply in our lives about respecting what is holy? 9. How does the story illustrate the idea of sacrificial offerings? How can we apply this concept in our lives today? 10. How can the events in this chapter inform the way we handle our own transgressions and seek atonement? 11. What does the chapter say about the dangers of curiosity without reverence? 12. How does the chapter illustrate the consequences of underestimating the power and holiness of God? 13. How can we understand the concept of divine retribution in the context of today's society? 14. How can we relate the fear and reverence the people of Beth-shemesh felt to our personal spiritual journey? 15. How would you handle a situation where you felt that something in your life was causing distress like the Ark did to the Philistines? 16. How can we ensure that our actions align with the respect and reverence due to God's commandments? 17. How do you react when you realize you've acted irreverently or disrespectfully towards God, and how should you rectify it? 18. How can we learn to discern God's hand in the situations we face in life, as the Philistines did with the Ark? 19. Can you think of a modern example where people faced negative consequences as a result of disrespecting something sacred? 20. How can the narrative of this chapter inspire us to maintain a healthy fear and respect for God in our daily life? Links 1 Samuel 6:19 NIV1 Samuel 6:19 NLT 1 Samuel 6:19 ESV 1 Samuel 6:19 NASB 1 Samuel 6:19 KJV 1 Samuel 6:19 Commentaries Bible Hub |



