1 Samuel 6:14

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 6:10-18

We are here told, I. How the Philistines dismissed the ark, 1 Sam. 6:10, 11. They were made as glad to part with it as ever they had been to take it. As God had fetched Israel out of the house of bondage, so now he fetched the ark out of its captivity, in such a manner as that Egypt was glad when they departed, Ps. 105:38. 1. They received no money or price for the ransom of it, as they hoped to do, even beyond a king's ransom. Thus it is prophesied of Cyrus (Isa. 45:13), He shall let go my... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 6:14

And the cart came into the field of Joshua, a Bethshemite ,.... In that part of the valley where they were reaping wheat which belonged to him, whom we nowhere else read; whether a priest or Levite, which is not improbable, since this was a city of the Levites, or a common Israelite, is not certain: and stood there where there was a great stone ; afterwards called the great stone of Abel, 1 Samuel 6:18 . By the providence of God it was so ordered, that the kine made a stop just at this... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 6:14

They clave the wood of the cart - Both the cart and the cattle having been thus employed, could no longer be devoted to any secular services; therefore the cattle were sacrificed, and the cart was broken up for fuel to consume the sacrifice. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 6:10-15

Restored blessings. The facts are— 1 . The kine bearing the ark, contrary to their instincts, go away from their home to Beth-shemesh. 2 . The men of Beth-shemesh, seeing the returning ark, leave their occupations, and express their joy in sacrificial worship. 3 . The Levites, exceeding their privileges, open the ark and examine its sacred contents. 4 . The representatives of the Philistines observe the issue of their experiment and return. The rapid succession of incidents... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 6:14

Stood there, where there was a great stone. Probably a mass of natural rock rising through the soil. This they used as an altar, breaking up the cart for wood, and sacrificing the kine. In this joyful work all the people seem to have joined, though the sacrifice would be offered only by the priests. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Samuel 6:14

A great stone - (Compare Genesis 28:18; Judges 13:19). This great stone was probably used as an altar on this occasion, and the kine stopping at it of their own accord was understood by the Bethshemites as an intimation that they were to offer sacrifices on it to the Lord God of Israel, who had so wonderfully brought back the ark from its captivity.And they clave the wood of the cart ... - A similar expedient was resorted to by Araunah 2 Samuel 24:22, and by Elisha 1 Kings 19:21. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Samuel 6:14

1 Samuel 6:14. The cart came into the field of Joshua, and stood there This was another marvellous thing, that the kine went no further, but stood, as soon as they were come into the territory of a city belonging to the priests, (for such Beth-shemesh was,) whose office it was to take care of the ark. Where there was a great stone Which seems to have been the boundary of the two countries. They offered the kine That is, the Beth-shemites, the priests, did this, and not the lords of the... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 6:1-21

The ark returns (5:1-7:1)Although God used the Philistines to judge Israel, he would not allow them to dishonour him. He showed that the capture of the ark did not mean that he was inferior to the Philistine god Dagon (5:1-5). Wherever the ark went it brought trouble to the Philistine people. A plague of mice seems to have spread a painful and deadly disease throughout the country, bringing widespread suffering and death (6-12; cf. 6:5).The Philistines felt fairly certain that the ark was the... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - 1 Samuel 6:14

offered offered up . App-43 . read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - 1 Samuel 6:14

14. and they clave—that is, the Beth-shemites, in an irrepressible outburst of joy. offered the kine—Though contrary to the requirements of the law (Leviticus 1:3; Leviticus 22:19), these animals might properly be offered, as consecrated by God Himself; and though not beside the tabernacle, there were many instances of sacrifices offered by prophets and holy men on extraordinary occasions in other places. read more

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