The LXX adds here, "And the land swarmed with mice."
1Sa 6:12
LOWING ALL THE WAY: Showing discomfort and displeasure
at bearing the yoke and being deprived of their young (v 7).
1Sa 6:17
GATH: There were 5 major cities (1Sa 6:17; Josh 13:3),
but in later days the prophets carefully leave Gath out of the picture (Amo
1:6-8; Zeph 2:4; Jer 25:20; Zech 9:5,6). Why? Uzziah, in his war against the
Philistines, smashed up Gath, Jabneh and Ashdod (2Ch 26:6). The last of these
was evidently strategic enough to warrant rebuilding (Isa 20:1), but the other
two disappeared from history -- and from prophecy also.
1Sa 6:19
The extremely large number of men (according to the KJV:
50,070) may perhaps be translated "50 out of a thousand, even 70 men" -- that
is, one out of every twenty, or 70 out of a total population of 1,400 men
(Josephus, JFB). Or... "70 men, 50 chief men" (YLT). Or... "70 men, 2 fifties,
and a thousand" -- total 1,170 (Comp Bib note) (Tes 19:212).
1Sa 6:21
KIRIATH JEARIM: Prob the Jewish town nearest
Bethshemesh.