1 Samuel 6:9

his own coast His own border, as in 1 Samuel 6:12. See ch. 1 Samuel 5:6, note. "His" refers to the Ark. The neuter possessive pronoun "its" is not found in the original edition of the E. V. See The Bible Word-Book, p. 272.

to Beth-shemesh = "House of the Sun," probably the same as Irshemesh= "City of the Sun" (Joshua 19:41). It was a priestly city (Joshua 21:16) on the border of the tribe of Judah (Joshua 15:10), about 12 miles S.E. of Ekron. Its position is identified by the modern village of Ain Shems("Fountain of the Sun") in the Wady es Sŭrâr, and is described by Robinson as "a noble site for a city, a low plateau at the junction of two fine plains," the "valley" in which the Beth-shemeshites were reaping their wheat (1 Samuel 6:13). "Here are vestiges of a former extensive city, consisting of many foundations and remains of ancient walls of hewn stone … Enough yet remains to make it one of the largest and most marked sites which we had anywhere seen." Biblical Researches, II. 224.

Beth-shemesh was the scene of Amaziah's defeat by Jehoash (2 Kings 14:11-12): and with other towns was taken from Ahaz by the Philistines (2 Chronicles 28:18). Its name, and that of Har-cheres= "Mount of the Sun" (Judges 1:35), which was evidently in the neighbourhood, point to an ancient sun-worship in the country.

then he hath done us this great evil Observe the completeness of the test. If cows unaccustomed to the yoke drew the cart quietly; if in spite of their natural instincts they deserted their calves; if without human guidance they went straight to the nearest Israelite town; the obvious conclusion must be that they were controlled by a supernatural power, and that that power was the God of Israel. Compare Gideon's -signs," consisting of phenomena contrary to expectation (Judges 6:37 ff.).