1 Samuel 6:13 kjv
And they of Bethshemesh were reaping their wheat harvest in the valley: and they lifted up their eyes, and saw the ark, and rejoiced to see it.
1 Samuel 6:13 nkjv
Now the people of Beth Shemesh were reaping their wheat harvest in the valley; and they lifted their eyes and saw the ark, and rejoiced to see it.
1 Samuel 6:13 niv
Now the people of Beth Shemesh were harvesting their wheat in the valley, and when they looked up and saw the ark, they rejoiced at the sight.
1 Samuel 6:13 esv
Now the people of Beth-shemesh were reaping their wheat harvest in the valley. And when they lifted up their eyes and saw the ark, they rejoiced to see it.
1 Samuel 6:13 nlt
The people of Beth-shemesh were harvesting wheat in the valley, and when they saw the Ark, they were overjoyed!
1 Samuel 6 13 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Psa 126:1-3 | When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream. Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy... The LORD has done great things for us; we are glad. | Joy for restoration, akin to return from exile. |
| Psa 16:11 | You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy... | Fullness of joy found in God's presence. |
| Psa 21:6 | For you make him most blessed forever; you make him glad with the joy of your presence. | Gladness specifically linked to divine presence. |
| Is 35:10 | and the ransomed of the LORD shall return and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads... | Joy associated with spiritual restoration and homecoming. |
| Ps 4:7 | You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and new wine abound. | Joy in God surpasses agricultural prosperity. |
| Deut 16:9-11 | You shall count seven weeks... Then you shall keep the Feast of Weeks to the LORD your God... and you shall rejoice before the LORD your God. | Harvest time often associated with feasting and rejoicing before the LORD. |
| Exod 25:22 | There I will meet with you, and from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim that are on the ark of the testimony, I will speak with you... | Ark as the symbol of God's active presence and communication. |
| Num 7:89 | ...he would hear the voice speaking to him from above the mercy seat that was on the ark of the testimony... | The Ark as the place of divine encounter. |
| Ps 80:1 | Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock! You who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth! | Ark associated with God's throne and shining presence. |
| Ps 78:60-61 | He forsook his dwelling at Shiloh, the tent where he dwelt among mankind, and delivered his power to captivity, his glory to the hand of the foe. | The Ark's captivity was the loss of God's 'glory'. Its return is restoration. |
| Jer 3:16 | "And when you have multiplied and been fruitful in the land, in those days, declares the LORD, they shall no longer say, 'The ark of the covenant of the LORD.'..." | Points to a future time when physical ark's significance diminishes, hinting at New Covenant. |
| Acts 7:48-50 | "Yet the Most High does not dwell in houses made by hands, as the prophet says..." | God's presence not confined to physical structures, though symbolized by Ark. |
| John 4:24 | God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth. | Shift from physical presence (like Ark) to spiritual worship. |
| Heb 9:3-5 | Behind the second curtain was a tent called the Most Holy Place, having the golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, in which was a golden urn containing the manna, and Aaron's staff that budded, and the tablets of the covenant... | Ark described as part of Old Covenant tabernacle furnishings, foreshadowing Christ. |
| Zech 12:10 | "...when they look on me, on him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a firstborn." | Echoes the 'looking and seeing' theme, albeit with different emotions, points to ultimate "seeing" of Christ. |
| Rev 1:7 | Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him... | Future seeing of the Lord; echoes "every eye will see" (cf. Isa 52:8). |
| Num 4:15 | And when Aaron and his sons have finished covering the holy objects and all the furnishings of the sanctuary, as the camp sets out, after that the sons of Kohath shall come to carry them, but they shall not touch the holy things, lest they die... | Divine regulations for handling the Ark, violated later by Beth-shemeshites (1 Sam 6:19). |
| 1 Chr 13:9-10 | And when they came to the threshing floor of Kidon, Uzzah put out his hand to take hold of the ark, for the oxen stumbled... the anger of the LORD burst out against Uzzah, and he struck him down because he put out his hand to the ark, and there he died before God. | Example of danger and judgment from mishandling the Ark. |
| Ps 68:1-3 | God shall arise; his enemies shall be scattered... As smoke is driven away, so you shall drive them away; as wax melts before fire, so the wicked shall perish before God! But the righteous shall be glad; they shall exult before God... | God's triumphant return leading to joy after the scattering of His enemies, a theme seen in Ark's return. |
| Ps 42:4 | These things I remember, as I pour out my soul: how I would go with the throng, and lead them in procession to the house of God, with glad shouts and songs of praise, a multitude keeping festival. | Public rejoicing at the place of God's presence. |
1 Samuel 6 verses
1 Samuel 6 13 Meaning
This verse vividly portrays the immediate and profound joy of the people of Beth-shemesh upon the return of the Ark of the Covenant. They were engaged in their mundane work of wheat harvest when they unexpectedly saw the sacred Ark, which had been absent and held captive by the Philistines for seven months. Their exultation signifies national relief and the overwhelming sense of God's renewed presence and favor among His people after a period of divine judgment and humiliation.
1 Samuel 6 13 Context
First Samuel chapter 6 describes the Philistines' decision to return the Ark of the Covenant to Israel after seven months of severe plagues and judgments brought upon them by the Lord. Realizing that the Ark was the source of their affliction, they sought advice from their priests and diviners, who instructed them to send it back with a guilt offering, placed on a new cart drawn by cows that had never been yoked, without a human guide. The chosen route led directly to Beth-shemesh, a Levitical city on the border of Judah. This particular verse, 1 Samuel 6:13, marks the pivotal moment when the Ark's divine, unguided journey ends, and it is discovered by the waiting Israelites. Historically, the capture of the Ark had been a devastating national disgrace, symbolizing God's judgment and absence. Therefore, its return was not merely the recovery of a cultic object but the re-establishment of a tangible sign of God's active presence and restored favor with His people.
1 Samuel 6 13 Word analysis
- Now (וְהָיָה - vehayah): Literally "and it came to pass." A common Hebrew transition, marking a significant event unfolding in the narrative.
- the people of Beth-shemesh (בֵּית שֶׁמֶשׁ - Beit Shemesh): "House of the sun." This was a significant city, strategically located in the Shephelah (foothills) of Judah, a border town often contested. More importantly, it was designated as a Levitical city (Josh 21:16), meaning it was inhabited by priests and Levites, making it a fitting place for the Ark's return to proper custody, despite its potentially pagan-derived name. This might imply a subtle theological point that God's presence can transform even places named for other gods.
- were reaping (קֹצְרִים - qots'rim): The Hebrew participle indicates an ongoing action, a present continuous state. They were actively engaged in their agricultural duties, signifying daily life and sustenance.
- their wheat harvest (קְצִיר חִטִּים - q'tsir chittim): This specific crop indicates the time of year (late spring/early summer, May-June). Harvest was a time of hard labor but also one of joy and gratitude for God's provision and blessing. The ordinary, mundane nature of this work sets a powerful contrast with the extraordinary divine event that suddenly breaks into it.
- in the valley (בָּעֵמֶק - ba'emek): Implies an agricultural plain, suitable for growing wheat. It's a low, fertile ground, making it easy to spot objects approaching from a distance, or suggesting their concentrated work there.
- and when they lifted up their eyes (וַיִּשְׂאוּ אֶת־עֵינֵיהֶם - vaiyissu et-eineihem): A common Hebrew idiom signifying a moment of becoming aware, of looking up and noticing something. It denotes sudden realization and discovery.
- and saw (וַיִּרְאוּ - vaiyiru): They perceived it clearly and distinctly, confirming what their raised eyes had noticed.
- the ark (הָאָרוֹן - ha'aron): Refers to the Ark of the Covenant, the most sacred object in Israel, representing God's throne, His presence, and the covenant established with Israel. Its identity would have been immediately recognized due to its unique form and deep theological significance.
- they rejoiced to see it (וַיִּשְׂמְחוּ לִרְאוֹת - vaiyism'khu lir'ot): The verb "rejoiced" (שׂמח - samach) denotes profound, uninhibited joy, delight, and gladness. It's an expression of relief, hope, and thanksgiving. Their joy was explicitly because they saw it – the mere sight of the Ark was enough to provoke such an intense emotional response.
Words-Group Analysis:
- "The people of Beth-shemesh were reaping their wheat harvest in the valley": This phrase paints a picture of routine, everyday labor in a fertile landscape. It grounds the narrative in the mundane, setting up a dramatic contrast with the extraordinary arrival of the sacred Ark. It signifies that God's powerful acts often break into and sanctify human toil.
- "and when they lifted up their eyes and saw the ark": This highlights the element of surprise and divine orchestration. The Ark's arrival was unannounced and unexpected by human means, discovered simply by looking up from their work. This underscores God's self-vindication and sovereign control over its journey. The moment of sight becomes the moment of spiritual awakening and national hope.
- "they rejoiced to see it": This climactic short phrase encapsulates the immediate, overwhelming, and collective emotion. It conveys profound relief after months of humiliation and the palpable sense that God had not utterly forsaken His people. This joy is deep, rooted in theological significance rather than just curiosity, marking the re-emergence of divine favor.
1 Samuel 6 13 Bonus section
- The passive nature of the Ark's return (drawn by cows, not recovered by an army) accentuates God's absolute control and sovereignty. He does not need human strategy or military might to accomplish His will; His glory vindicates itself. This contrasts with Israel's previous human-centric approach in taking the Ark to battle (1 Sam 4:3-5).
- The Ark's direct trajectory to Beth-shemesh, a Levitical city, underscores the Lord's providence in ensuring the holy object returned to the designated custodians, hinting at the proper order that Israel had neglected.
- The fact that it happened during the wheat harvest suggests that God's blessings extend to the agricultural sphere of life, but also that His spiritual blessings are infinitely more precious than even abundant material provision. The interruption of daily work for divine revelation illustrates how the sacred often irrupts into the mundane, calling for a response of recognition and reverence.
- The purity of the initial joy described in this verse is paramount; it represents a genuine, national longing for God's presence. It serves as a stark reminder of how quickly even pure intentions can be tainted by presumption or neglect of God's revealed commands, as later events in the chapter show.
1 Samuel 6 13 Commentary
The scene in 1 Samuel 6:13 is a powerful tableau of God's self-vindication and gracious return. The Ark, representing the very presence of God, journeyed back to Israel not by human effort, but carried by unguided cows, demonstrating God's absolute sovereignty over all creation, even unintelligent animals, and His power over the Philistine gods. The people of Beth-shemesh, caught in the midst of the physically demanding, yet joy-filled, season of wheat harvest, lifting their eyes to behold the returning Ark is a poignant moment. Their intense joy was born from national shame and anxiety, replaced by a surge of hope and profound relief. It was a tangible sign that God had not abandoned His covenant. However, this immediate joy, pure and unbridled, soon contrasts with their subsequent transgression in looking into the Ark (1 Sam 6:19), revealing the vital balance between reverent joy in God's presence and the strict demands of His holiness. The account highlights that the mere presence of sacred things requires specific obedience, and God's holiness demands utmost reverence, even amid thanksgiving.