1 Samuel 6:7

_NOW THEREFORE MAKE A NEW CART, AND TAKE TWO MILCH KINE, ON WHICH THERE HATH COME NO YOKE, AND TIE THE KINE TO THE CART, AND BRING THEIR CALVES HOME FROM THEM:_ Make a new cart, х_ `ªGAALAAH_ (H5699)] - a wain, or wagon; an ox-cart. Such carts were the ordinary vehicles in times of peace, as appears from the monuments of Egypt. A Hindu epic of great antiquity, called the Ramayana, describes vehicles covered with woollen cloth, drawn by white oxen, for the conveyance of great and opulent ladies. 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 the note at 2 Samuel 6:3). Two milch kin

1-9 Seven months the Philistines were punished with the presence of the ark; so long it was a plague to them, because they would not send it home sooner. Sinners lengthen out their own miseries by refusing to part with their sins. The Israelites made no effort to recover the ark. Alas! where shall we find concern for religion prevail above all other matters? In times of public calamity we fear for ourselves, for our families, and for our country; but who cares for the ark of God? We are favoured with the gospel, but it is treated with neglect or contempt. We need not wonder if it should be taken from us; to many persons this, though the heavies of calamities, would occasion no grief. There are multitudes whom any profession would please as well as that of Christianity. But there are those who value the house, the word, and the ministry of God above their richest possessions, who dread t...

Verse 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_] So it appears that their calves had been with them in the fields. This was a complete trial: unless they were supernaturally _influenced_, they would not leave their calves; unless supernaturally _directed_, they would not

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....

EXPOSITION RESTORATION OF THE ARK TO THE ISRAELITES (1 Samuel 6:1). 1 SAMUEL 6:1, 1 SAMUEL 6:2 THE ARK OF JEHOVAH WAS IN THE COUNTRY—literally, the field, _i.e._ the territory—OF THE PHILISTINES SEVEN MONTHS, during which long time the people wherever the ark was deposited were afflicted in their persons with a most painful malady. The princes determined, therefore, to restore it to Israel, and convened THE PRIESTS AND THE DIVINERS, that they might advise them as to the manner i

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 honour of the ark; but there was a further view in it, at least in the providence of God; since two such creatures, who had young, would be apt, if left to themselves, as these were, to return home to them, and not to proceed on a journey; and being unaccustomed to a yoke, would draw one way, and another another, in differ

CHAPTER S 6:1-7:2 _ 1. The counsel of the Philistines (1 Samuel 6:1)_ 2. The ark at Beth-shemesh (1 Samuel 6:10) 3. The ark at Kirjath-jearim (1 Samuel 6:21; 1 Samuel 7:1) 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 votive offerings of gold, representing that which had plagued them. This was a heathen custom, which has also been adopted and is pract

1 SAMUEL 6:1 TO 1 SAMUEL 7:1. ARK BROUGHT BACK TO BETH-SHEMESH; PLAGUE BREAKS OUT THERE; ARK HOUSED AT KIRIATH-JEARIM. 1 Samuel 6:1 may not belong to the main story; 2 would be a better continuation of 1 Samuel 5:12. At the end of the verse LXX adds And their land swarmed with mice. This would prepare for the mice in 1 Samuel 6:4 f., 1 Samuel 6:11; 1 Samuel 6:18. Possibly these references t

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....

_Now therefore make_, &c. Heb. "And now _take and make_a new cart" = set to work to make. Cp. 2 Samuel 18:18. The use of a _new_cart (cp. 2 Samuel 6:3) and _unyoked_kine (Numbers 19:2; Deuteronomy 21:3-4) was a natural mark of reverence....