And they said, If ye send away the ark of the God of Israel, send it not empty; but in any wise return him a trespass offering: then ye shall be healed, and it shall be known to you why his hand is not removed from you.
Ver. 3. If ye send away the ark.] Which they were full loath to do, but that they could neither will nor choose, and therefore kept it seven months, in hope that in some time their plagues might assuage, and they might keep from the Israelites their enemies that wherein they reposed so much confidence, and whereby they took so much encouragement.
Send it not empty.] This nature itself taught them, that God loveth a full hand. No man might salute the kings of Parthia sine munere, without a present, saith Seneca. a See Exodus 23:15 .
But in any wise return him a trespass offering.] They say not chataah, a sin offering, but ashom, a trespass offering; as if their sin had been but small in meddling with the ark, whereas, indeed, it was very great.
Then ye shall be healed.] For he will be appeased. The kings of Israel were noted for [being] merciful; but God much more.
“ Litatur minimo thuris honore Deus. ”
a Epist. 17.