1 Samuel 6:7, 1 Samuel 6:8 ESV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 6:1-9

The first words of the chapter tell us how long the captivity of the ark continued?it was in the country of the Philistines seven months. In the field of the Philistines (so it is in the original), from which some gather that, having tried it in all their cities, and found it a plague to the inhabitants of each, at length they sent it into the open fields, upon which mice sprang up out of the ground in great multitudes, and destroyed the corn which was now nearly ripe and marred the land. With... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 6:7

Now therefore make a new cart ,.... For there were no Levites, nor priests of the Lord to carry it upon their shoulders, as it was wont to be when carried, and therefore they ordered a cart to be made; and they might know the Levites were allowed wagons to carry some of their sacred things on, Numbers 7:1 and a new one for the honour of the ark, as David afterwards did, 2 Samuel 6:3 . and take two milch kine, on which there hath come no yoke ; which also might be designed for the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 6:7

Make a new cart - It was indecent and improper to employ in any part of the worship of God any thing that had before served for a common purpose. Every thing in the worship of God is said to be sanctified: now the general meaning of that word is, to separate a thing from all earthly and common uses, and devote it solely to the service of God. When David removed the ark from the house of Abinadab, he put it on a new cart, 2 Samuel 6:3 . Bring their calves home from them... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 6:1-9

Seeking light. The facts are— 1 . The Philistines, oppressed by Providence, are uncertain what to do with the ark. 2 . They, consulting the priests and diviners, are advised to send the ark away with all due honours and safeguards in case it is sent at all. 3 . They are instructed how to carry out the advice, and warned not to refuse so to do. 4 . Having done their best, they are to learn the truth from the issue. The incidents recorded furnish an instance of men seeking... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 6:7

Make a new cart, and take, etc. The Hebrew is, "Now take and make you a new cart, and two milch kine." The transposition of the A.V. throws undue stress upon the verb make, whereas the Hebrew simply means that both the cart was to be new, and the heifers untrained and unbroken to the yoke. Both these were marks of reverence. Nothing was to be employed in God's service which had been previously used for baser purposes. No animal was deemed fit for sacrifice which had laboured in the field.... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Samuel 6:7

A new cart ... kine on which there hath come no yoke - This was so ordered in reverence to the ark, and was a right and true feeling. See Mark 11:2; Matthew 27:60. For the supposed special virtue of new things, see Judges 16:7, Judges 16:11. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Samuel 6:7

1 Samuel 6:7. Make a new cart, &c. It was in honour of the ark that they employed nothing about it that had ever served for any other use. And there was another reason for choosing such kine as are here mentioned; that it might be more manifest that they were led by the God of Israel, if they went directly into his country. For untamed heifers are apt to run back, or to wander, and keep no certain and constant paths, as oxen accustomed to the yoke do; and therefore were very unlikely to... 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 6:7

a new cart . This was done in ignorance of God's requirement (Numbers 4:15 ; Numbers 7:9 ; Numbers 10:21 ). They could not have complied with the Law, even if they had known it; hence, no judgment fell on them. But contrast David's "new cart", and see note on 2 Samuel 6:3 . read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - 1 Samuel 6:7

7. make a new cart—Their object in making a new one for the purpose seems to have been not only for cleanliness and neatness, but from an impression that there would have been an impropriety in using one that had been applied to meaner or more common services. It appears to have been a covered wagon (see on :-). two milch kine—Such untrained heifers, wanton and vagrant, would pursue no certain and regular path, like those accustomed to the yoke, and therefore were most unlikely of their own... read more