And take the ark of the LORD, and lay it upon the cart; and put the jewels of gold, which ye return him for a trespass offering, in a coffer by the side thereof; and send it away, that it may go.

1 SAMUEL 6:8KJV
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1 Samuel 6:8 (KJV)

What does 1 Samuel 6:8 mean?

1 Samuel 6:8 gives instructions for returning the ark of the LORD to Israel by placing it on a cart, along with a box containing golden objects offered as compensation for wrongdoing. The verse directs the people to send the cart away and let it go on its own.

In this scene, the Philistines’ religious leaders are telling their people how to send back the ark (a sacred chest) they had captured from Israel. They are to put the ark on a new cart, place the golden “jewels” (gifts meant to make up for their offense) in a separate box beside it, and then let the cart go, showing their respect and hoping to end the troubles they believe the ark brought them.

The Hebrew behind 1 Samuel 6:8

  • "ark" (אֲרוֹן, aron): This word refers to the sacred chest that held the tablets of the covenant, central to Israel’s worship and identity. Its presence here highlights the seriousness of the Philistines’ actions and their attempt to handle it with care.
  • "jewels" (כְּלִי, keli): This term often means “articles” or “objects,” and here it refers to the golden items made as a guilt offering. The word emphasizes that these are not just decorations but objects with a specific purpose—to acknowledge guilt.
  • "offering" (אָשָׁם, asham): This word means a guilt or trespass offering, showing that the Philistines are trying to make amends for what they see as an offense against Israel’s God.
  • "coffer" (אַרְגָּז, argaz): This is a separate box or chest placed beside the ark on the cart, used to hold the golden offerings. Its mention shows a careful distinction between the holy ark and the gifts meant as restitution.

Why 1 Samuel 6:8 matters

  • The verse clarifies that the Philistines did not simply return the ark; they included a guilt offering, showing their understanding of the seriousness of their offense.
  • The instructions to send the cart away without guiding it reveal the Philistines’ desire to see if Israel’s God would accept their offering and direct the ark’s return, treating the situation with a sense of awe and caution.
  • This verse connects to the wider story by showing the Philistines’ fear and respect for the ark after experiencing plagues, and it sets up the dramatic return of the ark to Israel.

Where else these words appear

“coffer” Hebrew H712 · used in 3 verses

  • 1 Samuel 6:11 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 6:15 And the Levites took down the ark of the LORD, and the coffer that was with it, wherein the jewels of gold were, and put them on the great stone: and the men of Bethshemesh offered burnt offerings and sacrificed sacrifices the same day unto the LORD.

“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.

“side” Hebrew H6654 · used in 27 verses

  • Genesis 6:16 A window shalt thou make to the ark, and in a cubit shalt thou finish it above; and the door of the ark shalt thou set in the side thereof; with lower, second, and third stories shalt thou make it.
  • Joshua 3:16 That the waters which came down from above stood and rose up upon an heap very far from the city Adam, that is beside Zaretan: and those that came down toward the sea of the plain, even the salt sea, failed, and were cut off: and the people passed over right against Jericho.
  • 2 Samuel 13:34 But Absalom fled. And the young man that kept the watch lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came much people by the way of the hill side behind him.

“offering” Hebrew H817 · used in 41 verses

  • Genesis 26:10 And Abimelech said, What is this thou hast done unto us? one of the people might lightly have lien with thy wife, and thou shouldest have brought guiltiness upon us.
  • Leviticus 7:37 This is the law of the burnt offering, of the meat offering, and of the sin offering, and of the trespass offering, and of the consecrations, and of the sacrifice of the peace offerings;
  • Numbers 6:12 And he shall consecrate unto the LORD the days of his separation, and shall bring a lamb of the first year for a trespass offering: but the days that were before shall be lost, because his separation was defiled.