1 Samuel 6 11

1 Samuel 6:11 kjv

And they laid the ark of the LORD upon the cart, and the coffer with the mice of gold and the images of their emerods.

1 Samuel 6:11 nkjv

And they set the ark of the LORD on the cart, and the chest with the gold rats and the images of their tumors.

1 Samuel 6:11 niv

They placed the ark of the LORD on the cart and along with it the chest containing the gold rats and the models of the tumors.

1 Samuel 6:11 esv

And they put the ark of the LORD on the cart and the box with the golden mice and the images of their tumors.

1 Samuel 6:11 nlt

Then the Ark of the LORD and the chest containing the gold rats and gold tumors were placed on the cart.

1 Samuel 6 verses

1 Samuel 6 11 Meaning

1 Samuel 6:11 describes the immediate consequence of the Philistines' decision to return the Ark of the Covenant to Israel. They meticulously placed the Ark of the Lord onto a new cart and beside it, the coffer containing the golden figures they had made as a guilt offering. This action signifies their careful adherence to the divinely instructed method, driven by fear and a desire to appease the God of Israel. It marks a pivotal moment in the Ark's journey, emphasizing both human obedience to a perceived divine command and the unique sanctity attributed to the Ark.

1 Samuel 6 11 Context

1 Samuel chapter 6 follows the dramatic narrative of the Ark of the Covenant being captured by the Philistines (1 Sam 4) and the ensuing plagues and misfortunes that befell their cities (1 Sam 5). The Philistine lords, facing tumors, panic, and death, consult their priests and diviners to determine how to return the Ark and appease the God of Israel. Their decision is outlined in 1 Samuel 6:7-9: they must prepare a new, unoaked cart and attach two milch cows that have never been yoked, and place the Ark on it, alongside a coffer with golden images of the tumors and mice as a guilt offering. The extraordinary aspect of this plan is that if the cows, despite their maternal instinct to return to their calves, were to go directly to Beth-shemesh (an Israelite town), it would be proof that the God of Israel was indeed responsible for their affliction. Verse 11 describes the Philistines meticulously executing the initial part of this experiment, setting the stage for the miraculous journey of the Ark. This scene showcases their attempt to confirm the true source of their suffering, hinting at their limited, yet growing, understanding of the Lord's power.

1 Samuel 6 11 Word analysis

• וַיָּשִׂ֥ימוּ (vayyāsīmū): From the root שִׂים (sîm), meaning "to put, place, set." The waw consecutive imperfect form indicates a sequential action, emphasizing the immediate and decisive nature of their placement. This is a deliberate, careful action on the part of the Philistines, showing their respect and fear of the Israelite God, whose power they have now witnessed firsthand. The verb itself is simple, yet its usage here underlines careful adherence to instructions given by their own priests.

• אֶת־אֲר֥וֹן יְהוָ֖ה (ʾet-ʾărôn YHWH):

  • אֲר֥וֹן (ʾārôn): "Ark, chest." Specifically refers to the Ark of the Covenant, the most sacred object in Israelite worship. Its construction (Exod 25:10-22) and purpose (holding the tablets of the covenant, symbolizing God's presence) highlight its immense significance.
  • יְהוָ֖ה (YHWH): The tetragrammaton, the personal name of the God of Israel, often translated "LORD" (capitalized). The presence of God's personal name immediately connected to "Ark" reinforces that this is not merely a box, but the representation of the Sovereign God of creation and covenant. Its sanctity contrasts sharply with the idols the Philistines worshipped, emphasizing the qualitative difference between true divinity and fabricated deities.

• אֶל־הָֽעֲגָלָ֑ה (ʾel-hāʿăgālâ):

  • אֶל־ (ʾel-): "to, into."
  • הָֽעֲגָלָ֑ה (hāʿăgālâ): "the cart, the wagon." The definite article indicates a specific cart—the new, unyoked cart prepared as per their diviners' instructions (1 Sam 6:7). The Philistines, though pagan, followed a strict, almost ritualistic procedure to ensure their test was pure, revealing their fear-driven, albeit practical, piety. This "new" cart also distinguishes it from the previous, less ceremonially pure methods of transporting the Ark, ironically demonstrating a closer adherence to principles of ceremonial purity often associated with Israelite law (albeit unacknowledged by them as such) than even some Israelites (e.g., Uzzah in 2 Sam 6:3-7).

• וְאֶת־הָאַרְגַּז֙ עִמּ֣וֹ אֶת־פְּסִילֵ֣י הַזָּהָ֔ב (wəʾet-hāʾargaz ʿimmō ʾet-pəsilê hazzāhāv):

  • וְאֶת־ (wəʾet-): "and with."
  • הָאַרְגַּז֙ (hāʾargaz): "the box, the coffer, the chest." This refers to the specific small box mentioned in 1 Sam 6:8, intended for the golden offerings.
  • עִמּ֣וֹ (ʿimmō): "with it" (referring to the Ark). The proximity signifies the direct connection between the cause (plagues from the Ark) and the effect (guilt offering).
  • אֶת־פְּסִילֵ֣י הַזָּהָ֔ב (ʾet-pəsilê hazzāhāv): "the golden images/idols." Specifically, the five golden tumors and five golden mice, representing the afflictions and the means by which their land was ravaged. These images were not worshiped but offered as a reparation/guilt offering (ʾāshām), demonstrating an acknowledgment, even if superstitious, of sin against the divine and a desire for propitiation, paralleling Israelite atonement rituals.

• וַיָּשִׂ֕ימוּ... אֶת־אֲר֥וֹן יְהוָ֖ה אֶל־הָֽעֲגָלָ֑ה: This phrase encapsulates the central action. It's the moment the Philistines execute their plan. The Ark, symbol of the True God, is handled carefully by unbelievers under duress. This demonstrates God's sovereignty over all nations, even those hostile to Him, bending their wills and actions to His divine plan.

• וְאֶת־הָאַרְגַּז֙ עִמּ֣וֹ אֶת־פְּסִילֵ֣י הַזָּהָ֔ב: The juxtaposition of the Ark and the "golden images" in the same scene highlights the contrast between the true God (YHWH, represented by the Ark) and the Philistines' pagan practices. Their idols are rendered ineffectual and are now reduced to a superstitious attempt at atonement. The inclusion of these items shows their desperate attempt to both recognize and appease the powerful God of Israel.

1 Samuel 6 11 Bonus section

• The Philistine act of placing the Ark on a "new cart" ironically foreshadows King David's later, erroneous use of a new cart for the Ark, which resulted in Uzzah's death. This highlights a subtle biblical teaching point: external forms of reverence, especially when rooted in non-divine or incomplete understanding (like the Philistines), or in negligence (like Israel’s later action), can still fall short of God’s specific commands regarding holy things. While the Philistines’ intention was to perform a test of divine causation, not to strictly obey covenant law, their method mirrored what Israel later, improperly, did.
• The fact that they used two "milch cows" (literally, cows that suckle calves) further emphasizes the miraculous nature of their journey. Cows separated from their calves would naturally try to return to them, but these cows went directly towards Beth-shemesh, proving to the Philistines that divine intervention, not mere chance, was at work. This challenges their existing polytheistic understanding and belief in fate.
• The placement of the Ark on the cart, distinct from how it should properly be carried by Levites on poles, underscores God's allowance of unusual circumstances for His purposes, even if it violates normal ritual protocol. This showcases divine pragmatism in retrieving His Ark while also subtly establishing His higher standards.
• The Ark is not explicitly named "the Ark of the Covenant" here but "the Ark of the Lord," highlighting God's active ownership and presence, even when away from Israel and within pagan territory.

1 Samuel 6 11 Commentary

1 Samuel 6:11 marks the culmination of the Philistine crisis concerning the Ark of the Covenant. The simple act of placing the Ark and the guilt offering on the new cart is profoundly significant. It is a moment of reluctant, fear-induced submission to the power of Yahweh. The Philistines, renowned pagan polytheists, now meticulously follow specific, if somewhat superstitious, instructions to appease the God whose power had shattered their deity Dagon and decimated their population. Their preparation of a "new" cart, cows that had "never been yoked," and the distinct "coffer" for the golden figures (1 Sam 6:7-8) reveal an acute awareness of the need for ceremonial purity and exactitude—concepts intrinsic to Israelite worship.

This scene stands in stark contrast to Israel’s later mishandling of the Ark (2 Sam 6), where even David initially faltered by using a new cart rather than requiring Levites to carry it, leading to Uzzah's death. Ironically, the pagan Philistines demonstrated more careful (albeit motivated by fear) observance of a sacred procedure (by separating the sacred object from common use) than Israel would at a later time. The text thus emphasizes God's holiness and His precise standards, which are to be revered by all, regardless of their nationality. The inclusion of the "golden images" alongside the Ark highlights the abject failure of their idols and their turning to the one true God for relief, even if for purely pragmatic reasons. It sets the stage for God's demonstration of sovereignty, confirming His active role in the plagues, which the Philistines sought to verify.