1 Samuel 6:14The cart came into the field of Joshua of Beth Shemesh, and stood there, where there was a great stone: and they split the wood of the cart, and offered up the cows for a burnt offering to Yahweh.
The setting
Beth Shemesh, Israel, ~1050 BC. A cart pulled by two cows stops in Joshua's field. The ark of the covenant has finally returned after seven months in Philistine territory, near modern-day Beit Shemesh, Israel.
The emotion here: recording divine vindication with reverent satisfaction
The original word
eben (אבן) — stone, often marking sacred encounters with God
Why it matters
Beth Shemesh was a Levitical city, strategically placed on Israel's border with Philistine territory
Read with care
What most readers miss in 1 Samuel 6:14
They sacrificed the very cows that brought the ark back — ultimate gratitude
Common misconceptionPeople think this is about animal sacrifice, but it's about the ultimate act of gratitude — destroying the very thing that brought your blessing back.
The thread continues
Verses that echo 1 Samuel 6:14
Bible Genome reading
1 Samuel 6:14 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
1 Samuel 6:14 comes from the book of 1 Samuel, written during the judges period. These words are attributed to Narrator. The dominant emotion in this verse is worship, with a comfort power of 40% and a tone that is reverent. It belongs to the narrative genre of biblical literature. Key themes include sacrifice, worship, provision. Notable phrases: great stone; split the wood.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same worship
“Hear, Israel: Yahweh is our God; Yahweh is one:”
— Deuteronomy 6:4
“and you shall love Yahweh your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might.”
— Deuteronomy 6:5
“For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven:”
— Ecclesiastes 3:1
“Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me.”
— John 14:6
“Jesus said to them, "Most certainly, I tell you, before Abraham came into existence, I AM."”
— John 8:58
Your reflection
What does 1 Samuel 6:14 mean to you, today?
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