And the men did so; and took two milch kine, and tied them to the cart, and shut up their calves at home:
And the men did exactly what they were told; they took two cows that were nursing calves, tied them to the cart, and locked up their calves back home.
The Philistines followed the priests' instructions precisely, using nursing cows for their test to see if God was truly behind the plagues that had struck them.
📚 Historical Context
The Philistines had captured the Ark of the Covenant from Israel, but God sent severe plagues upon them. Their priests devised a test using nursing cows - animals that would naturally want to return to their calves - to pull a cart carrying the Ark back toward Israel. If the cows went against their maternal instincts and headed toward Israeli territory, it would prove God's power was real.
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