Neville Goddard on 1 Samuel 6:13-21 - Mystical Bible Interpretation

Read 1 Samuel 6 in context

Scripture Focus

13And they of Bethshemesh were reaping their wheat harvest in the valley: and they lifted up their eyes, and saw the ark, and rejoiced to see it.

14And the cart came into the field of Joshua, a Bethshemite, and stood there, where there was a great stone: and they clave the wood of the cart, and offered the kine a burnt offering unto the LORD.

15And the Levites took down the ark of the LORD, and the coffer that was with it, wherein the jewels of gold were, and put them on the great stone: and the men of Bethshemesh offered burnt offerings and sacrificed sacrifices the same day unto the LORD.

16And when the five lords of the Philistines had seen it, they returned to Ekron the same day.

17And these are the golden emerods which the Philistines returned for a trespass offering unto the LORD; for Ashdod one, for Gaza one, for Askelon one, for Gath one, for Ekron one;

18And the golden mice, according to the number of all the cities of the Philistines belonging to the five lords, both of fenced cities, and of country villages, even unto the great stone of Abel, whereon they set down the ark of the LORD: which stone remaineth unto this day in the field of Joshua, the Bethshemite.

19And he smote the men of Bethshemesh, because they had looked into the ark of the LORD, even he smote of the people fifty thousand and threescore and ten men: and the people lamented, because the LORD had smitten many of the people with a great slaughter.

20And the men of Bethshemesh said, Who is able to stand before this holy LORD God? and to whom shall he go up from us?

21And they sent messengers to the inhabitants of Kirjathjearim, saying, The Philistines have brought again the ark of the LORD; come ye down, and fetch it up to you.

1 Samuel 6:13-21

Biblical Context

Beth-shemesh reapers rejoice at the sight of the ark, and offerings are made as the cart rests on a great stone. The Philistines return the ark with gifts, but many Beth-shemesh are slain for looking into the ark, and the people send it to Kirjath-jearim.

Neville's Inner Vision

Within every moment of appearance, the story of Beth-shemesh is a translation of your inner state. The ark you glimpse is the I AM that looks out from you; the rejoicing harvesters are the emerging, joyous states when you recognize that awareness has come near. The cart and the great stone symbolize the sturdy decision to honor the presence by giving up the old wood of ego and offering your energy upon the altar of the Lord. The Ark, taken down by the Levites and placed on the stone with treasure, marks the moment of outer form bowing to inner honor. Yet the slaughter of many who looked into the ark is the warning: to gaze upon holy mystery without inward reverence invites catastrophe; so the mind asks, 'Who can stand before this holy LORD God?' The solution is to rotate attention inward again, to fetch the ark into the field of your own consciousness, to anchor it in your permanent awareness rather than chase outward appearances.

Practice This Now

Close your eyes and assume the ark of awareness rests in your inner field. Feel its steady presence and declare I AM, dwelling there until fear softens and joy arises.