1 Samuel 6:12, 1 Samuel 6:7-10 ASV

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 6:1-21

The Philistines return the Ark to Israel2. The diviners] The Philistines appear to have been notorious for their attachment to divination: see on Isaiah 2:6. 3. The trespass offering was always brought to atone for some wrong done to, or some right withheld from, God or man. 5. Aristotle relates that in harvest entire crops were sometimes destroyed in a single night by the ravages of field-mice.7. The new cart and the kine who had worn no yoke were signs of respect. 9. Under ordinary... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - 1 Samuel 6:12

(12) Went along the highway, lowing.—But the dumb beasts did what the idol priests and diviners scarcely considered possible, for God’s hand drove them. The narrative here throughout is evidently unadorned, very easy and natural, and speaks of primitive customs, telling its story of the Divine interference of the “Glorious Arm” with exquisite simplicity and truth.The dumb beasts went on their strange way with their golden burden, the princes of the Philistines following them, awe-struck, at a... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - 1 Samuel 6:1-21

The Ark in the Harvest-field 1 Samuel 6:13 The ark had been a prisoner in the land of the Philistines since the fatal day when the army of Israel was completely overthrown. Its presence had brought mischief and misery, plague and death to the cities of Ashdod and Ekron, and after seven months' sojourn it was sent back to its own country with all respect and with all care. I. The coming of the ark at that time to that particular occupation of the men of Beth-shemesh was to them a great... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 6:1-21

CHAPTER VII.THE ARK AMONG THE PHILISTINES.1 Samuel 5:1-12; 1 Samuel 6:1-21ALTHOUGH the history in Samuel is silent as to the doings of the Philistines immediately after their great victory over Israel, yet we learn from other parts of the Bible (Psalms 78:60-64 ) Jeremiah 7:12; Jeremiah 26:9) that they proceeded to Shiloh, massacred the priests, wrecked the city, and left it a monument of desolation, as it continued to be ever after. Probably this was considered an appropriate sequel to the... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - 1 Samuel 6:1-21

CHAPTERS 6:1-7:2 1. The counsel of the Philistines (1 Samuel 6:1-9 ) 2. The ark at Beth-shemesh (1 Samuel 6:10-20 ) 3. The ark at Kirjath-jearim (1 Samuel 6:21 ; 1 Samuel 7:1-2 ) The ark had remained among the Philistines seven months. For them they were months of suffering and deadly destruction. Now they plot to get rid of the ark and of Him whose hand rested so heavily in judgment upon them. The advice of the heathen priests and diviners is that the ark should be sent away with... read more

John Calvin

Geneva Study Bible - 1 Samuel 6:12

6:12 And the kine took the straight way to the way of Bethshemesh, [and] went along the highway, lowing as they went, and turned not aside [to] the right hand or [to] the left; and the lords of the Philistines went after {g} them unto the border of Bethshemesh.(g) For the trial of the matter. read more

L.M. Grant

L. M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 6:1-21

The seven months during which the Philistines had possessor of the ark was a full time in which to prove the severity of God's hand in solemn displeasure. How could they bear it any longer? There is a question in their minds, however, as to how to send it back. If, as they discern, it has been an offense to God that they have taken the ark, how is that offense to be paid for? For this they consult their idolatrous priests and diviners, who tell them they must return it with a trespass... read more

James Gray

James Gray's Concise Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 6:1-21

ELI ’S DEATH ; THE LOSS OF THE ARK GOD SPEAKS TO SAMUEL (1 Samuel 3:0 ) “The word of the Lord was precious [or rare] in those days” (1 Samuel 3:1 ) is introductory to the record that it was now heard in the case of Samuel. It was Israel’s sin that hid God’s face from them and caused His voice to be silent so long only twice heard during the period of the Judges (Judges 4:4 ; Judges 6:8 ) but He was again to be gracious unto them in this respect, and a new epoch was to open in their... read more

Robert Hawker

Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary - 1 Samuel 6:10-12

(10) ¶ And the men did so; and took two milch kine, and tied them to the cart, and shut up their calves at home: (11) And they laid the ark of the LORD upon the cart, and the coffer with the mice of gold and the images of their emerods. (12) And the kine took the straight way to the way of Bethshemesh, and went along the highway, lowing as they went, and turned not aside to the right hand or to the left; and the lords of the Philistines went after them unto the border of Bethshemesh. Behold!... read more

George Haydock

George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 6:12

CHAPTER VI. read more