And the cart came into the field of Joshua, a Bethshemite, and stood there, where there was a great stone: and they clave the wood of the cart, and offered the kine a burnt offering unto the LORD.

1 SAMUEL 6:14KJV
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1 Samuel 6:14 (KJV)

What does 1 Samuel 6:14 mean?

1 Samuel 6:14 describes how the cart carrying the Ark of the Covenant arrived in the field of a man named Joshua, who lived in Beth-shemesh. When the cart stopped by a large stone, the people used the wood from the cart to make a fire and offered the cows that pulled the cart as a burnt offering to the LORD.

This verse takes place as the Ark is being returned by the Philistines to Israel after being captured. The people of Beth-shemesh, seeing the Ark arrive, respond with immediate reverence and sacrifice, using what was available—the cart and the cows—to honor God. The scene marks a moment of joy and relief for the Israelites, as the Ark comes back into their care.

The Hebrew behind 1 Samuel 6:14

  • קָרְתָּה (qartah, "cart"): This word refers to the vehicle used to transport the Ark. Its mention emphasizes the practical steps the people took to honor God with what was at hand.
  • עָמַד (amad, "stood"): The word for "stood" here stresses that the cart came to a complete stop, suggesting a sense of finality or purpose in its arrival at this exact spot.
  • עָלָה (alah, "offered"): This verb is often used for making sacrifices or offerings to God, highlighting the act as a formal, sacred ritual rather than a casual gesture.
  • עֹלָה (olah, "offering"): This is the specific term for a burnt offering, where the entire animal is consumed by fire, symbolizing total dedication to God.

Why 1 Samuel 6:14 matters

  • This verse clarifies that the return of the Ark was met with immediate worship, not just celebration, showing the seriousness with which the Israelites treated the presence of God.
  • The use of the cart and the cows for the offering underlines the idea of giving back to God what He has provided, especially in a moment of gratitude and restoration.
  • The detail about the "great stone" becomes important in the following verses as a landmark and a place of sacrifice, anchoring the event in a specific location for the community.

Where else these words appear

“Bethshemite” Hebrew H1030 · used in 2 verses

  • 1 Samuel 6:18 And the golden mice, according to the number of all the cities of the Philistines belonging to the five lords, both of fenced cities, and of country villages, even unto the great stone of Abel, whereon they set down the ark of the LORD: which stone remaineth unto this day in the field of Joshua, the Bethshemite.

“cart” Hebrew H5699 · used in 20 verses

  • Genesis 45:19 Now thou art commanded, this do ye; take you wagons out of the land of Egypt for your little ones, and for your wives, and bring your father, and come.
  • Numbers 7:7 Two wagons and four oxen he gave unto the sons of Gershon, according to their service:
  • 2 Samuel 6:3 And they set the ark of God upon a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab that was in Gibeah: and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drave the new cart.

“kine” Hebrew H6510 · used in 22 verses

  • Genesis 32:15 Thirty milch camels with their colts, forty kine, and ten bulls, twenty she asses, and ten foals.
  • Genesis 41:26 The seven good kine are seven years; and the seven good ears are seven years: the dream is one.
  • 1 Samuel 6:7 Now therefore make a new cart, and take two milch kine, on which there hath come no yoke, and tie the kine to the cart, and bring their calves home from them:

“clave” Hebrew H1234 · used in 50 verses

  • Genesis 7:11 In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened.
  • 2 Chronicles 21:17 And they came up into Judah, and brake into it, and carried away all the substance that was found in the king's house, and his sons also, and his wives; so that there was never a son left him, save Jehoahaz, the youngest of his sons.
  • Isaiah 48:21 And they thirsted not when he led them through the deserts: he caused the waters to flow out of the rock for them: he clave the rock also, and the waters gushed out.