1 Samuel 6:10

KJV

¶ And the men did so; and took two milch kine, and tied them to the cart, and shut up their calves at home:

KJV (with Strong's)

And the men {H582} did so {H6213}; and took {H3947} two {H8147} milch {H5763} kine {H6510}, and tied {H631} them to the cart {H5699}, and shut up {H3607} their calves {H1121} at home {H1004}:

Complete Jewish Bible

The men did it. They took two milk-cows, harnessed them to the cart and confined their calves to the shed.

Berean Standard Bible

So the men did as instructed. They took two milk cows, hitched them to the cart, and penned up their calves.

American Standard Version

And the men did so, and took two milch kine, and tied them to the cart, and shut up their calves at home;

Commentary

### SUMMARY
1 Samuel 6:10 meticulously details the Philistines' precise and immediate execution of the instructions provided by their priests and diviners for returning the Ark of the Covenant to Israel. This pivotal moment initiates a unique, divinely orchestrated test designed to unequivocally determine whether the devastating plagues afflicting Philistia were indeed direct judgments from the God of Israel or merely a coincidence. The Philistines' actions, including the selection of nursing cows that had never been yoked and their deliberate separation from their calves, underscore their profound desperation and their meticulous adherence to a ritual intended to discern undeniable supernatural intervention, setting the stage for a profound demonstration of divine sovereignty.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated at a critical juncture in the dramatic narrative of the Ark of the Covenant's journey. Following its capture by the Philistines in battle, the Ark brought not victory but a series of devastating plagues—tumors and a rodent infestation—to every Philistine city where it resided, as vividly recounted in passages like [1 Samuel 5:6](/1_samuel/5-6 "1 Samuel 5:6 - The Lord's Hand Against Ashdod") and [1 Samuel 5:9](/1_samuel/5-9 "1 Samuel 5:9 - The Lord Strikes Gath"). After seven months of relentless affliction, the Philistine lords, priests, and diviners convened to determine how to appease the God of Israel and facilitate the Ark's return, as described in [1 Samuel 6:2](/1_samuel/6-2 "1 Samuel 6:2 - Philistines Consult Priests"). The specific and seemingly irrational instructions, detailed in [1 Samuel 6:7-9](/1_samuel/6-7 "1 Samuel 6:7-9 - Instructions for Returning the Ark"), involved an elaborate test designed to eliminate any natural explanation for the Ark's return. Verse 10 marks the immediate and careful implementation of this plan, setting the stage for the miraculous and unprecedented journey described in [1 Samuel 6:12](/1_samuel/6-12 "1 Samuel 6:12 - The Cows' Miraculous Journey").
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The Philistines were a formidable, technologically advanced people inhabiting the southwestern coast of Canaan, frequently clashing with Israel. Their religious practices, typical of the ancient Near East, involved consulting priests and diviners to interpret omens and discern divine will. The concept of a "guilt offering" (Hebrew: *'asham*) was known in various forms across the region, though the specific form here—golden tumors and mice—was uniquely tailored to the afflictions they suffered. The use of "milch kine" (nursing cows) that had never been yoked, and critically, their separation from their calves, was an extreme measure. Cows, especially those with young, possess an exceptionally strong maternal instinct to remain with their offspring. To harness such animals to a cart and expect them to move away from their calves and towards a specific, distant destination without human guidance defied all natural behavior. This desperate act underscores their profound fear and grudging recognition of the God of Israel as a powerful, active deity responsible for their suffering.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within the broader narrative of 1 Samuel. Firstly, it emphatically underscores **Divine Sovereignty and Orchestration**. Even the actions of God's enemies are ultimately under His meticulous control, serving His greater redemptive and revelatory purposes. The Philistines' elaborate test, intended to rule out mere chance, paradoxically became the very means by which God's undeniable power was demonstrated, confirming His active hand in their affliction. Secondly, the theme of **Unnatural Obedience** is central. The deliberate choice of "milch kine" and the act of "shut up their calves at home" creates a profound test of natural instinct versus divine compulsion. The cows' subsequent journey, against all natural inclination, would confirm the miraculous nature of the events, highlighting God's ability to override creation for His sovereign will, as further evidenced in [1 Samuel 6:12](/1_samuel/6-12 "1 Samuel 6:12 - The Cows' Miraculous Journey"). Finally, the verse emphasizes **The Ark's Profound Significance**. The Philistines' costly, meticulous, and fear-driven method of returning the Ark, rather than simply discarding it, highlights their recognition of its potent connection to the God of Israel and His fearsome power, a power they had experienced firsthand through the devastating plagues mentioned in [1 Samuel 5](/1_samuel/5 "1 Samuel 5 - The Ark Among the Philistines").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Milch (Hebrew, _ʻûwl'_):** This word, derived from `H5763`, means "to suckle" or "to give milk," specifically referring to a female animal that is currently nursing young. The detail that these were "milch kine" (nursing cows) is absolutely crucial to the Philistines' test. It intensifies the miraculous nature of their subsequent journey because it would be entirely against their strong maternal instinct to leave their calves. This choice was deliberate, designed to eliminate any natural explanation for their movement, thereby making any direct journey to Israel a clear and undeniable sign of divine compulsion.
* **Shut up (Hebrew, _kâlâʼ'_):** The Hebrew verb `H3607` means "to restrict," "to hold back," "to restrain," or "to shut up." In this context, it signifies the deliberate and forceful act of confining the calves, preventing them from following their mothers. This action was a vital component of the Philistines' test, ensuring that the cows' movement was not influenced by the natural pull of their offspring. It highlights the Philistines' meticulous adherence to the diviners' instructions, demonstrating their earnest desire to discern divine intervention by removing all natural variables and leaving no room for doubt.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And the men did so;":** This opening clause immediately establishes the Philistines' prompt, obedient, and thorough response to the precise instructions given by their priests and diviners in [1 Samuel 6:7-9](/1_samuel/6-7 "1 Samuel 6:7-9 - Instructions for Returning the Ark"). It signifies their full compliance and the initiation of the elaborate, seemingly irrational test. This phrase underscores their desperation to end the devastating plagues and their willingness to follow even the most unusual directives to appease the God of Israel, whom they now recognized as a formidable power.
* **"and took two milch kine, and tied them to the cart,":** This describes the specific animals chosen and their preparation for the test. The selection of "milch kine" (nursing cows) was not arbitrary but a critical component of the test, designed to challenge and overcome natural maternal instinct. These specific cows were then yoked to the new cart, which was carrying the Ark of the Covenant and the golden guilt offering. This detail highlights the meticulousness and precision of the Philistines' actions, ensuring every part of the diviners' instructions was followed to the letter, leaving no stone unturned in their quest for certainty.
* **"and shut up their calves at home:":** This final clause emphasizes the most unnatural and crucial element of the entire test. By forcibly separating the nursing mothers from their young calves and confining the calves to their homes, the Philistines created a scenario where the cows' powerful natural maternal instinct would compel them to return to their offspring. If the cows were, against all natural inclination, to proceed directly towards Israel instead, it would be an undeniable and irrefutable sign of supernatural guidance, proving beyond doubt that the plagues were indeed divine judgment and not mere chance. This act elevates the subsequent journey of the cows from a simple return to a profound and undeniable miracle.

#### Literary Devices
The narrative in 1 Samuel 6:10 employs several potent literary devices to heighten its impact and theological significance. **Irony** is profoundly prominent, as the Philistines, intending to rule out divine intervention through a rigorously controlled test, inadvertently set up the perfect conditions for God to demonstrate His power undeniably. Their meticulous adherence to a pagan ritual ultimately serves to confirm the absolute sovereignty of Yahweh over all creation. There is also a strong element of **Foreshadowing**, as the unnatural obedience of the cows, defying their deepest instincts, foreshadows God's ultimate control over all creation and His ability to bend natural laws to His will for His purposes. This event also contains rich **Symbolism**: the Ark itself symbolizes the tangible presence and fearsome power of God, and its return via such an extraordinary means underscores its sacredness and the divine authority it represents. The cows, acting against their deepest biological imperatives, become powerful symbols of submission to a higher, unseen power, illustrating that even the most resistant elements of creation can be compelled and directed by the divine for His sovereign plan.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
The actions described in 1 Samuel 6:10 serve as a powerful testament to God's absolute sovereignty, not only over His chosen people but over all creation and even the affairs of His enemies. The Philistines, in their attempt to discern divine will through a meticulously crafted test, inadvertently provided the perfect stage for God to display His omnipotence and undeniable control. Their careful removal of all natural explanations for the cows' journey ensured that when the cows did indeed proceed directly to Beth-shemesh, it would be an irrefutable miracle, demonstrating that the plagues were not random misfortune but direct, deliberate judgment from the God of Israel. This narrative powerfully reinforces the biblical truth that God's purposes cannot be thwarted, and He can use any means—even the pagan rituals and desperate measures of His adversaries—to accomplish His will and reveal His glory. It speaks to a God who is actively engaged in the world, meticulously directing events and even the deepest instincts of animals to achieve His divine plan and manifest His power.

* [1 Samuel 6:12](/1_samuel/6-12 "1 Samuel 6:12 - The Cows' Direct Journey to Beth-shemesh")
* [Psalm 104:24](/psalm/104-24 "Psalm 104:24 - God's Wisdom in Creation")
* [Proverbs 21:1](/proverbs/21-1 "Proverbs 21:1 - The King's Heart in the Hand of the Lord")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
This verse, and the broader narrative it initiates, offers profound and enduring lessons for believers today. It serves as a powerful reminder that God is actively and meticulously involved in the world, orchestrating events even among those who do not acknowledge Him or actively oppose His will. His purposes will ultimately prevail, often in ways that defy human logic, natural explanation, or our limited comprehension. The Philistines' elaborate test, designed to eliminate the supernatural, ultimately served to confirm it, teaching us that God's truth and power will always be revealed in His time and His way. We can take immense comfort and find deep peace in knowing that God is sovereign over all circumstances, able to guide and direct even against natural instincts, to accomplish His divine will. This calls us to cultivate a deeper trust in His plan, even when it seems unconventional, difficult, or beyond our immediate understanding. Just as the Philistines' unusual test ultimately revealed God's undeniable power, so too can our seemingly inexplicable circumstances or challenges be part of God's greater design to display His glory, faithfulness, and providential care in our lives. We are called to observe His hand at work, even in the smallest details, and to rest securely in His ultimate and unwavering control.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the Philistines' meticulous adherence to their diviners' instructions, despite their pagan context, challenge or affirm your understanding of seeking God's will today?**
* **In what areas of your life are you tempted to look for purely natural explanations, when God might be working in supernatural or counter-intuitive ways?**
* **What "unnatural obedience" might God be calling you to, that defies your instincts, comfort, or common sense, for the advancement of His purposes?**

### FAQ
**Why was it so important that the cows were "milch kine" and separated from their calves?**

Answer: The specific requirement that the cows be "milch kine" (nursing mothers) and forcibly separated from their calves was absolutely critical to the Philistines' test. This was a deliberate and ingenious design to eliminate any possible natural explanation for the Ark's return. Cows, particularly those with young calves, possess an incredibly strong maternal instinct that compels them to remain with or return to their offspring. Their natural inclination would be to turn back towards their calves, not to walk away from them. By forcing this unnatural separation and then observing if the cows would proceed directly towards Israelite territory without any human guidance or coaxing, the Philistines were creating a scenario where any successful journey would be an undeniable and irrefutable sign of supernatural intervention. If the cows had simply been any two cows, or if their calves had been allowed to follow, their movement could have been attributed to chance, habit, or even the subtle influence of human expectation. This meticulous detail ensured that the subsequent journey of the Ark was perceived as a clear and profound miracle, confirming beyond doubt that the plagues were indeed divine judgment from the God of Israel, as outlined in [1 Samuel 6:9](/1_samuel/6-9 "1 Samuel 6:9 - The Test of the Cows").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The narrative of the Ark's return, initiated by the Philistines' actions in 1 Samuel 6:10, profoundly foreshadows the ultimate sovereignty of God revealed in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Just as God demonstrated His power over creation and the wills of men through the unnatural obedience of the "milch kine" and the compelling presence of the Ark, so too does Christ embody God's complete dominion over all things. The Ark, serving as a tangible symbol of God's presence among His people, finds its ultimate and perfect fulfillment in Christ, who is God incarnate, the very presence of God dwelling among us, as powerfully declared in [John 1:14](/john/1-14 "John 1:14 - The Word Became Flesh"). The Philistines' desperate attempt to appease an unknown God through a precise ritual and a guilt offering points to humanity's inherent need for reconciliation and atonement, a need fully and perfectly met in Christ's singular, sacrificial atonement on the cross, for "without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins" ([Hebrews 9:22](/hebrews/9-22 "Hebrews 9:22 - Without the Shedding of Blood")). The miraculous guidance of the cows, defying natural instinct and maternal bond, prefigures the Holy Spirit's transformative work in the New Covenant, guiding believers into all truth and empowering them to live lives that often defy worldly logic, driven by a divine impulse rather than natural inclination, as those who are "led by the Spirit of God" ([Romans 8:14](/romans/8-14 "Romans 8:14 - Led by the Spirit of God")). Ultimately, the God who compelled animals to carry His presence back to His people is the same God who, in Christ, came to dwell among us and, by His Spirit, continues to guide and empower His church, ensuring His redemptive purposes prevail over all natural and human opposition, even to the very end of the age ([Matthew 28:20](/matthew/28-20 "Matthew 28:20 - The Great Commission")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.