Now therefore, take and prepare a new cart and two milch cows on which there has never been a yoke; and hitch the cows to the cart and take their calves home, away from them. Take the ark of the LORD and place it on the cart; and put the articles of gold which you return to Him as a guilt offering in a box by its side. Then send it away that it may go. Watch if it goes up by the way of its own territory to Beth-shemesh, then He has done this great evil. But if not, then we will know that it was not His hand that struck us; it happened to us by chance.
Make a new cart: Out of reverence for the Ark, the Philistines used nothing that had ever served for another purpose. The Israelites do likewise in 2 Samuel 6:3, "They placed the ark of God on a new cart that they might bring it from the house of Abinadab which was on the hill; and Uzziah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, were leading the new cart." Similarly, Jesus rode on an ass "whereon never man sat" (Mark 11:2), and His body was lain in Joseph's "new tomb, wherein never man before was laid" (Matthew 27:60 and Luke 25:53).
Two milch cows on which there has never been a yoke: Unyoked cows would be akin to having wild, untamed cows. These two cows would be apt to run back or to wander. They would not have kept to a certain path and would have been very unlikely to keep to the road leading to Israel. Furthermore, taking the calves from the cows would cause them to want to turn back and protect their young. However, if none of these things happened, the Philistines could be almost 100% certain that all these acts were from God. Additionally, an unyoked animal was considered reverent. These cows would have been in the state in which God created them, untainted by man's desires. ("This is the statue of the law which the LORD has commanded, 'Speak to the sons of Israel that they bring you an unblemished red heifer in which there is no defect and which a yoke has never been placed'" Numbers 19:2.) ("It shall be that the city which is nearest to the slain man, that is, the elders of that city, shall take a heifer of the herd, which had not been worked and which has not pulled a yoke; and the elders of that city shall bring the heifer down to a valley with running water, which has not been plowed or sown, and shall break the heifer's neck there in the valley (Deuteronomy 21:3-4.)
Articles of gold...in a box by its side: Out of reverence to the Ark, the Philistines do not open the Ark to place their offerings. Instead, they place them in a chest on the Ark. This was a smart move for the penalty for looking into the Ark was death. The Israelites, knowing God's laws, choose not to obey them and reaped the consequences. "He struck down some of the men of Beth-shemesh because they had looked into the ark of the LORD. He struck down all the people, 50,070 men, and the people mourned because the LORD had struck with a great slaughter" (1 Samuel 6:8).
Beth-shemesh: Meaning "house of sun", it was a priestly city (Joshua 21:16) located on the border of the tribe of Judah (Joshua 15:10). It was about 12 miles southeast of the Philistine city of Ekron.
By chance: Many people think things happen by chance. Some otherwise intelligent people often fall into this delusion. Assigning such power to "chance" is nonsense because chance has no power. For example. when a coin is flipped, the chance that it will land heads is 50%. However, "chance" does not make it land heads. Whether or not it lands heads or tails is due to the strength with which the coin is flipped, the amount of air current and air pressure, as it flies through the air, etc. "Chance" does not "do" anything other than describe a probability. Therefore, when someone says that the universe or anything else came about by chance, they are ignorant, superstitious or just repeating things they have hear without thinking about what they are saying. Chance makes nothing happen--it is merely a way to describe statistical probabilities. We live in a cause and effect world. Chance is not a cause, but God is!
Recognizing that nothing happens by chance should make us realize that every event is full of important meaning from God. Sometimes, we think things happen which have no significant eternal purpose, and sometimes Christians can be lead far astray when they try to attach a message to everything which happens to them. Nothing happens by chance, but directs the universe.
3. (1 Sam 6:10-12) Against all expectations, the cows go to Israel.
Then the men did so, and took two milch cows and hitched them to the cart, and shut up their calves at home. They put the ark of the LORD on the cart, and the bow with the golden mice and the likenesses of the tumors. And the cows took the straight way in the direction of Beth-shemesh; they went along the highway, lowing as they went, and did not turn aside to the right or left. And the lords of the Philistines followed them to the border of Beth-shemesh.
The cows took the straight way in the direction of Beth-shemesh: Against what was to be expected, the cows do the impossible; they turn neither to the right or to the left, but they took the most direct route to Beth-shemesh. The cows should have resisted the yoke and should have headed back to their Philistine homes to be with their young. This is such a miracle! Two cows, which have never pulled a cart before, with no driver leading them, leave their home and their young ones and carry the ark and the offerings ten miles to a city they had never been to. They do not stop or make a wrong turn. With God directly their path, they head directly to the Israelites.
It is very probably that during this time, the Israelites were crying out to God. Mourning the loss of the Ark, the Israelites were grieving because they thought God's glory had departed. the Israelites and the Philistines both resisted God. So, God uses two cows to show forth His glory. To the Philistines, this action would have instilled awe and fear in them toward the God of Israel. To the Israelites, this would have caused a tremendous celebration because now God's glory had returned to their homeland.
Lowing as they went: This means the cows were not happy about their situation. they were longing for their calves at home; yet, God's will overpowered their own desires. The Hebrew word used here is "ga-ah" which translates as an intense aversion and often is expressed as adverse action. In Legends of the Jews, author Ginzberg quotes the rabbis, saying the cows sang a song as they went:
Arise, thou, O Acacia! Soar aloft in the glory of splendor,
Thou who are adorned with gold embroidery.
Thou who are reverenced with the Holiest of the palace,
Thou who are covered by the two Cherubim!
The actions of the cows shows us the amazing power of God. He leaves nothing to chance; even the cows fulfill His plan!
But if everything is fulfilling God's plan, then why is my life so tough? Why do I have such struggles? When we think like this, it shows we do not understand God's desire for our life. It shows we are short-sighted and are not trusting God to works things out for the best in the long-run. It also shows that we are looking to ourselves and act as if God owes us an explanation for everything which happens in our lives. We have to accept there are some things we cannot figure out, and we have to leave it up to God to direct our ways. When people do not believe there is a loving God who sits on the throne in heaven and has a plan for our lives, they become afraid and filled with misery. But those who believe in God, there is no excuse for fear or misery. "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28).
B. The Ark at Beth-shemesh
(1 Sam 6:13-15) The Ark is received with joy and honor at Beth-shemesh
Now the people of Beth-shemesh were reaping their wheat harvest in the valley, and they raised their eyes and saw the ark and were glad to see it. The cart came into the field of Joshua the Beth-shemite and stood there where there was a large stone; and they split the wood of the cart and offered the cows as a burnt offering to the LORD. The Levites took down the ark of the LORD and the box that was with it, in which were the articles of gold, and put them on the large stone; and the men of Beth-shemesh offered burnt offerings and sacrificed sacrifices that day to the LORD.
The people of Bethshemesh: Beth-shemesh was a priestly city. It would thus seem fitting that the Ark of the Covenant would rest here. Shiloh, where the former tabernacle resided, was now in ruins and abandoned.
Reaping their wheat harvest: The wheat harvest in Israel is between May and June. Although we are not told the exact day in which the Ark returned back to Israel, it may have been on the festival of Shavuot (aka, festival of Weeks), which celebrates the wheat harvest and the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai.
They raised their eyes and saw the ark and were glad to see it: What joy it must have been for the Israelites to see the Ark return back to their territory. They probably would have felt something like the disciples felt on the day they saw the resurrected Jesus. They would have felt as though they had received God back from the dead. Of course, God had never been dead, and God had never left them. Nevertheless, they probably felt abandoned and discouraged with the loss of the Ark. The appearance of the lost Ark in their field probably would have felt as if the LORD had risen from the dead.
The cart came into the field of Joshua: Of all the fields in Beth-shemesh, it is no coincidence that the Ark stopped in a particular man's field. Joshua (pronounced Yehoshu'a in Hebrew) means in Hebrew, "Yahweh is salvation". The name Jesus comes from a Greek translation of the Aramaic short form of Yeshua, which was the real name of Jesus. (Yeshua means "salvation".) I do not think it was just chance that the cows delivered the Ark of the Covenant to the field of a man whose name means "Yahweh is salvation". I believe it is God's subtle way to remind Israel and all future generations that salvation does not come from a gold covered chest or from an idol but from God.
Where there was a large stone: Conveniently located was a large stone perfect to be used as an altar to offer up sacrifices to God.
They split the wood of the cart and offered the cows as a burnt offering to the LORD: After being devastated by the Philistines in a stunning defeat in the battle at Aphek, offering the cows and the cart as an offering to God was an expensive sacrifice. These items would have been precious commodities; yet, for their joy of having the Ark returned to them, the Israelites joyously offered these expensive items to the LORD in great celebration. In adhering to the Mosaic law, their offering violated the Torah. First, they offered female animals to the LORD, which is forbidden. ("If his offering is a burnt offering from the herd, he shall offer it, a male without defect; he shall offer it at the doorway of the tent of meeting, that he may be accepted before the LORD" Leviticus 1:3.) Since God had chosen these animals to be in servitude to Him in a sacred and glorious work, it might have seemed improper to keep the cows and use them for any type of work. Moreover, they were presenting the offering to the LORD not at the tabernacle. Since Shiloh had been destroyed, and the Ark of the Covenant was present, Joshua's field might have been considered an acceptable place to offer the burnt offering to the LORD. Nevertheless, God knew their hearts and minds. I believe this offering would have pleased God since it was done out of joy and reverence for Him.
The Levites took down the ark of the LORD: As commanded by the Torah, the Israelites were careful to let the Levites handle the Ark. ("At that time the LORD set apart the tribe of Levi, to carry the ark of the covenant of the LORD, to stand before the LORD to serve to Him, and to bless in His name until this day" Deuteronomy 10:8.)
The men of Beth-shemesh: In addition to offering the cows, the citizens of the town brought offerings of their own. These burnt offerings would have been completely burned up on the altar and would have been a tribute to God. The other sacrifices offered were most likely offerings of thanksgiving, giving praise to God for restoring the Ark of the Covenant back to the Israelites.
Reaping their wheat harvest: The wheat harvest in Israel is between May and June. Although we are not told the exact day in which the Ark returned back to Israel, it may have been on the festival of Shavuot (aka, festival of Weeks), which celebrates the wheat harvest and the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai.
They raised their eyes and saw the ark and were glad to see it: What joy it must have been for the Israelites to see the Ark return back to their territory. They probably would have felt something like the disciples felt on the day they saw the resurrected Jesus. They would have felt as though they had received God back from the dead. Of course, God had never been dead, and God had never left them. Nevertheless, they probably felt abandoned and discouraged with the loss of the Ark. The appearance of the lost Ark in their field probably would have felt as if the LORD had risen from the dead.
The cart came into the field of Joshua: Of all the fields in Beth-shemesh, it is no coincidence that the Ark stopped in a particular man's field. Joshua (pronounced Yehoshu'a in Hebrew) means in Hebrew, "Yahweh is salvation". The name Jesus comes from a Greek translation of the Aramaic short form of Yeshua, which was the real name of Jesus. (Yeshua means "salvation".) I do not think it was just chance that the cows delivered the Ark of the Covenant to the field of a man whose name means "Yahweh is salvation". I believe it is God's subtle way to remind Israel and all future generations that salvation does not come from a gold covered chest or from an idol but from God.
Where there was a large stone: Conveniently located was a large stone perfect to be used as an altar to offer up sacrifices to God.
They split the wood of the cart and offered the cows as a burnt offering to the LORD: After being devastated by the Philistines in a stunning defeat in the battle at Aphek, offering the cows and the cart as an offering to God was an expensive sacrifice. These items would have been precious commodities; yet, for their joy of having the Ark returned to them, the Israelites joyously offered these expensive items to the LORD in great celebration. In adhering to the Mosaic law, their offering violated the Torah. First, they offered female animals to the LORD, which is forbidden. ("If his offering is a burnt offering from the herd, he shall offer it, a male without defect; he shall offer it at the doorway of the tent of meeting, that he may be accepted before the LORD" Leviticus 1:3.) Since God had chosen these animals to be in servitude to Him in a sacred and glorious work, it might have seemed improper to keep the cows and use them for any type of work. Moreover, they were presenting the offering to the LORD not at the tabernacle. Since Shiloh had been destroyed, and the Ark of the Covenant was present, Joshua's field might have been considered an acceptable place to offer the burnt offering to the LORD. Nevertheless, God knew their hearts and minds. I believe this offering would have pleased God since it was done out of joy and reverence for Him.
The Levites took down the ark of the LORD: As commanded by the Torah, the Israelites were careful to let the Levites handle the Ark. ("At that time the LORD set apart the tribe of Levi, to carry the ark of the covenant of the LORD, to stand before the LORD to serve to Him, and to bless in His name until this day" Deuteronomy 10:8.)
The men of Beth-shemesh: In addition to offering the cows, the citizens of the town brought offerings of their own. These burnt offerings would have been completely burned up on the altar and would have been a tribute to God. The other sacrifices offered were most likely offerings of thanksgiving, giving praise to God for restoring the Ark of the Covenant back to the Israelites.
Thanks , Tracy! Another great lesson- blessings!
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