1 Samuel 6 12

1 Samuel 6:12 kjv

And the kine took the straight way to the way of Bethshemesh, and went along the highway, lowing as they went, and turned not aside to the right hand or to the left; and the lords of the Philistines went after them unto the border of Bethshemesh.

1 Samuel 6:12 nkjv

Then the cows headed straight for the road to Beth Shemesh, and went along the highway, lowing as they went, and did not turn aside to the right hand or the left. And the lords of the Philistines went after them to the border of Beth Shemesh.

1 Samuel 6:12 niv

Then the cows went straight up toward Beth Shemesh, keeping on the road and lowing all the way; they did not turn to the right or to the left. The rulers of the Philistines followed them as far as the border of Beth Shemesh.

1 Samuel 6:12 esv

And the cows went straight in the direction of Beth-shemesh along one highway, lowing as they went. They turned neither to the right nor to the left, and the lords of the Philistines went after them as far as the border of Beth-shemesh.

1 Samuel 6:12 nlt

And sure enough, without veering off in other directions, the cows went straight along the road toward Beth-shemesh, lowing as they went. The Philistine rulers followed them as far as the border of Beth-shemesh.

1 Samuel 6 verses

1 Samuel 6 12 Meaning

1 Samuel 6:12 describes the miraculous and undeniable journey of the Ark of the Covenant, carried on a new cart pulled by two cows separated from their calves. These cows, driven by divine providence, walked directly along the main road to Bethshemesh, instinctively lowing in distress yet never deviating from their course. The Philistine lords observed this extraordinary event, confirming the Lord's hand in their affliction and the Ark's return.

1 Samuel 6 12 Context

Chapter 6 of 1 Samuel chronicles the Philistines' decision to return the Ark of the Covenant to Israel after enduring severe divine judgments (tumors, disease, panic, rats) as long as it was in their possession. Following the counsel of their priests and diviners, they crafted a new cart and chose two milch cows, which had never been yoked and had calves recently removed, to pull it. This was a "test" (1 Sam 6:7-9) to determine if their afflictions were truly from the God of Israel or mere coincidence. If the cows, defying natural instinct (maternal attachment, lack of training), went directly towards Israelite territory without deviation, it would be an irrefutable sign of the LORD's direct hand. Verse 12 confirms the success of this divinely orchestrated test, as the cows miraculously proceeded without human guidance straight to Bethshemesh, an Israelite city near the Philistine border and a Levitical city fitting for the Ark's return. The Philistine lords watched, becoming unwilling witnesses to the LORD's power.

1 Samuel 6 12 Word analysis

• And the cows went straight (וַתֵּישַׁרְנָה הַפָּרוֹת - wattesharĕnah happarot):

  • cows (parot): Specifically female cattle, indicating their natural strong maternal bond to their calves, making their compliance against instinct highly significant. They were "milch cows" (v. 7), further emphasizing this.
  • went straight (yashar): Signifies directness, without turning. It underscores the precise, divinely ordained path, contrary to the typical unpredictable movement of untrained animals, especially those under distress.

• in the way to Bethshemesh (בַּדֶּרֶךְ בֵּית שֶׁמֶשׁ - bad-derekh Beit Shemesh):

  • the way (derekh): A common road or path, emphasizing the visible, observable nature of this miracle.
  • Bethshemesh (Beit Shemesh): "House of the sun." An Israelite city, designated as a Levitical city (Josh 21:16), making it a suitable, albeit eventually problematic, destination for the Ark's return. Its location on the border with Philistia was geographically strategic.

• and went along the highway (וּבַמְסִלָּה הָלְכוּ - uvamməsillah halěkhu):

  • highway (mesillah): A well-trodden, often raised, public road. This means the cows' journey was clearly visible and on a defined route, not wandering haphazardly, confirming their purposeful movement.

• lowing as they went (הָלְכוּ גָאוֹת - halěkhu ga'ot):

  • lowing (ga'ot, from ga'ah): The distinct mournful cry of cows separated from their calves. This detail is crucial; it highlights the overwhelming natural instinct tugging at them (maternal anguish) that was nevertheless subservient to divine compulsion. Their emotion was natural, their direction was supernatural.

• and turned not aside to the right hand or to the left (לֹא סָרוּ יָמִין וּשְׂמֹאול - lo saru yamin u-smo'ol):

  • turned not aside (saru from sur): To deviate or turn away. This emphatic phrase reiterates the unwavering precision of their course, explicitly stating the lack of any natural or typical animal behavior (grazing, wandering). It solidifies the miraculous nature of their obedience to an unseen directive. This phrase is often used elsewhere in the Bible regarding obedience to God's commandments (e.g., Deut 5:32; 17:11).

• and the lords of the Philistines went after them unto the border of Bethshemesh (וְסַרְנֵי פְלִשְׁתִּים הָלְכוּ אַחֲרֵיהֶם עַד־גְּבוּל בֵּית שֶׁמֶשׁ - vəsarənei Pelishtim halěkhu ’akhărēyhem ‘ad-gevul Beit Shemesh):

  • lords of the Philistines (sarnei Pelishtim): The five key rulers from the main Philistine cities (Gaza, Ashkelon, Ashdod, Gath, Ekron). Their direct observation was vital for the "test's" credibility and for their people to truly acknowledge the God of Israel.
  • went after them: Their personal observation underscores the Philistine leadership's acknowledgement of the phenomenon. They pursued the cart, witnessing the entire, impossible journey up to the border of the destination city, leaving no room for doubt or reinterpretation of the event.

1 Samuel 6 12 Bonus section

The supernatural control exhibited over the cows by the LORD is a stark contrast to human methods of moving heavy objects or influencing animal behavior. It elevates the Ark's return from a mere political or strategic maneuver to a divine triumphal procession. The Philistine priests and diviners, representatives of a pagan system reliant on divination and chance, inadvertently orchestrated the very proof of the living God's undeniable power that dismantled their own false belief systems. This act reinforces the biblical truth that God can use anyone or anything—even unwilling animals or pagan adversaries—to accomplish His perfect will and manifest His glory to the world. It foreshadows later instances of divine intervention that compel even hostile elements to serve God's purpose.

1 Samuel 6 12 Commentary

1 Samuel 6:12 is a powerful testimony to the unchallenged sovereignty of the God of Israel. It serves as the culmination of the Philistines' "test" regarding the Ark, delivering an undeniable, empirically verifiable miracle. The natural behavior of milch cows dictates they would struggle against a yoke, refuse to abandon their calves, and certainly not proceed unaided and unfailingly on a predetermined course. The narrative meticulously highlights these points (untrained, separated from calves, lowing, not turning aside) to amplify the extraordinary nature of the event.

The cows' "lowing" reveals the internal struggle of their maternal instinct, yet their unwavering progress signifies the Lord's absolute control over creation. He compels the beasts against their deepest nature, overriding instinct with divine will. This demonstration wasn't just for Israel's benefit but for the Philistine lords, providing them undeniable proof that their recent afflictions stemmed directly from the hand of Yahweh, not random chance or another god. The event acts as a polemic against the Philistine pantheon, especially Dagon, asserting Yahweh's unique and ultimate power over life, nature, and events. This miraculous journey laid the foundation for Israel's renewed awe and understanding of the Ark's sacredness and the unapproachability of their Holy God.