There’s one of the Bible’s most memorable stories in 1 Samuel 5 and 6, when God afflicts the Philistines with hemorrhoids. In the midst of Israel’s turbulent relationship with its enemies, this peculiar episode reveals profound truths about divine sovereignty, human pride, and God’s inescapable power. Theologically rich, this story offers timeless lessons to readers today. Take a look at the context, events, and significance of this story.
The story starts with a stunning military defeat for Israel. At Ebenezer, the Israelites suffered a crushing loss, losing 30,000 foot soldiers (1 Samuel 4:10). To turn the tide, they brought the Ark of the Covenant, which contains the Ten Commandments, from Shiloh to the battleground. As if it were a magical talisman, they treated it like a talisman instead of God’s holy throne.
Philistines, however, were undeterred. Rallying their courage, they not only defeated Israel again, but also took the Ark (1 Samuel 4:11). That was no ordinary trophy. Possessing the Ark seemed like a definitive victory over Israel’s God to the Philistines. It symbolized God’s covenant with Israel, His presence among His people.
The Philistines put the captured Ark in the temple of their deity Dagon in Ashdod, positioning it as a symbol of their god’s superiority. But God had other plans. They found Dagon’s idol lying face down before the Ark the next morning. They set it back up, only to find the next day that Dagon had fallen again, this time with its head and hands broken off (1 Samuel 5:3-4). This wasn’t just an accident, it was a clear demonstration of Yahweh’s supremacy over pagan gods.
“The hand of the Lord was heavy upon the people of Ashdod as the Ark remained in Ashdod, and he terrified and afflicted them with tumors” (1 Samuel 5:6 ESV). This painful affliction struck the Philistines with such severity that they couldn’t ignore it as mere coincidence. This Hebrew word, techor, means “hemorrhoids” or “tumors in the secret parts.”
In recognition of divine judgment, the Philistines moved the Ark to Gath. But God’s hand wasn’t there. Gath’s men also got hemorrhoids, and “the Lord’s hand was against the city, causing a great panic” (1 Samuel 5:9). They sent the Ark to Ekron from Gath, where the people cried, “They brought the Ark of the God of Israel here to harm us and our people!” The plague intensified, killing young and old.
There were tumors growing on the people (1 Samuel 5:11) because the hand of the Lord was heavy on them. Some translations call them “emerods,” the archaic term for hemorrhoids. There was a lot of panic and painful swelling, but no human remedy could counter this divine affliction. Archeological evidence from Philistine sites show they had advanced medical knowledge.
Having endured seven months of torment, the Philistine rulers got together with their priests and diviners to figure out how to appease Israel’s God. The five major Philistine cities (Ashdod, Gaza, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron) were represented by five golden tumors and five golden mice as guilt offerings. They put these replicas in a cart alongside the Ark, attached two milk cows that had never been yoked, and let them go. The cows heading towards Israelite territory instead of their calves would confirm God’s hand in it.
In Israel, the cows went straight to Beth Shemesh, lowing as they went, confirming the plague was divine (1 Samuel 6:12). A striking image of God’s power and their submission to it is the golden tumors and mice. The Philistines’ offering demonstrated both their fear and their understanding that this was not an ordinary judgment.
This story reveals several profound truths about God’s character and ways. God’s sovereignty over nations is evident, the Ark’s journey demonstrates that no territory is beyond His reach. Whether in His temple or an enemy city, God’s presence remains potent. God’s presence, and His judgment, came with capturing His property, and the Philistines found out that.
A repeated fall by Dagon shows the futility of idolatry. Psalm 115:4-8 describes idols as lifeless objects that cannot save, and this narrative illustrates that truth dramatically. Only the living God can save.
While hemorrhoids were physically painful, they served as a reminder that sin has consequences that you can’t escape. Sin against God produces consequences that you can’t escape. Israel’s spiritual state paralleled the Philistines’. They treated God’s holiness casually, and it cost them both.
It’s important to God to protect His glory. He won’t let His presence be treated as a trophy. The Ark’s journey through Philistia served as a warning: God’s holiness demands respect.
While we may laugh at the specificity of hemorrhoids as divine judgment, the story’s principles still hold true. We can’t treat God’s presence casually, assuming His favor without obedience, just like the Israelites did. The Ark reminds us that encountering God requires holiness.
Modern arrogance often blinds us to our need for God’s mercy, but the Philistines’ elaborate guilt offering shows humility before God’s power.
As a result of Israel’s disobedience, God protected His Ark and eventually returned it to His people. This foreshadows His ultimate faithfulness through Jesus.
Despite what might seem like an odd detail in Scripture, the story of the Philistines and the hemorrhoids actually underscores serious theological truths. God’s sovereignty, holiness, and power are exemplified in the story of the Philistines and the hemorrhoids. It’s impossible for God to be mocked, His presence can’t be contained, and His judgments reveal His character.
For contemporary readers, this narrative challenges us to approach God with reverence, acknowledge His supremacy over all powers, and trust in His ultimate faithfulness. The golden tumors and mice may be gone, but the lesson endures: the God of Israel remains the sovereign Lord over all nations, and we need to pay attention to His presence.
