וַיִשַּׁ֨רְנָה הַפָּר֜וֹת בַּדֶּ֗רֶךְ עַל־דֶּ֙רֶךְ֙ בֵּ֣ית שֶׁ֔מֶשׁ בִּמְסִלָּ֣ה אַחַ֗ת הָלְכ֤וּ הָלֹךְ֙ וְגָע֔וֹ וְלֹא־סָ֖רוּ יָמִ֣ין וּשְׂמֹ֑אול וְסַרְנֵ֤י פְלִשְׁתִּים֙ הֹלְכִ֣ים אַחֲרֵיהֶ֔ם עַד־גְּב֖וּל בֵּ֥ית שָֽׁמֶשׁ׃
Lembu-lembu itu berjalan lurus di jalan menuju Bet-Semes. Mereka tetap berjalan di satu jalan raya sambil melenguh, dan tidak menyimpang ke kanan atau ke kiri. Para raja kota orang Filistin berjalan mengikuti mereka sampai ke perbatasan Bet-Semes.
Ein Yaakov (Glick Edition)
(Fol. 24b) (I Sam. 6, 12) (Vayisharna) And the cows went straight forward. What does the expression Vayisharna mean? Said R. Jochanan in the name of R. Mair: "They sang a song." And R. Zutra b. Tubiah, in the name of Rab, said: "They have straightened their faces to look upon the ark, and sang a song." What was their song? R. Jochanan in the name of R. Mair said (Ex. 15, 1) Then sang Moses, etc. R. Jochanan himself, however, said (Is. 12, 4) And ye shall say on that day, Give thanks unto the Lord, call on His name, etc. And R. Simon b. Lakish said: "The song the orphan chapter (a chapter in which the author's name is not mentioned) (Ps. 98, 1) Oh sing unto the Lord a new song; for He Hath done marvelous things, etc." And R. Elazar said (Ib. 99, 1) The Lord reigneth; let the people tremble. R. Samuel b. Nachmeni said (Ib. 93, 1) The Lord reigneth; He is clothed in majesty. R. Isaac Naphcha said: Sing, O ark, in beauty shining; Thou adorned with chains of gold — ever close the Word enshrining — glittering with gems untold." R. Ashi taught the saying of R. Isaac Naphcha in connection with this (Num. 10, 55) And it came to pass, when the ark set forward that Moses said, etc. And what did Israel say? Whereupon R. Isaac said: "Sing, O ark, etc."
Midrash Tanchuma
What is meant by As they are being covered? R. Levi said: If they glanced into the ark for as long as the blinking of an eye, they would have died at once. You know this is so from the fact that when the Philistines captured the ark and then sought to return it, they took the kine and hitched them in the usual way with their buttocks toward the ark, but the milch kine realized what was expected of them and turned their heads toward the ark and pushed it on the way, as is said: And the kine took the straight way (I Sam. 6:12).
Bereshit Rabbah
“Abraham took flocks and cattle, and gave them to Avimelekh, and the two of them established a covenant” (Genesis 21:27).
“Abraham set aside seven ewes of the flock by themselves” (Genesis 21:28).
“Avimelekh said to Abraham: What are these seven ewes that you have placed by themselves?” (Genesis 21:29).
“Abraham took flocks and cattle, and gave them to Avimelekh…Avimelekh said to Abraham: What are these seven ewes?” – the Holy One blessed be He said to him [Abraham]: ‘You gave seven ewes against My wishes,13God was not pleased that Abraham was making a covenant with an idolater (see Exodus 23:32). by your life, I will delay the rejoicing of your descendants for seven generations.’14The Exodus from Egypt did not occur until seven generations after Abraham.
‘You gave him seven ewes against My wishes, by your life, they [the Philistines] will correspondingly kill seven righteous men of your descendants.’ They are: Ḥofni and Pinḥas,15The sons of Eli the priest (I Samuel 4:11). Samson, and Saul and his three sons.
‘You gave him seven ewes against My wishes, they [the Philistines] will correspondingly destroy seven Sanctuaries of your descendants.’ These are: The Tent of Meeting, Gilgal, Nov, Givon, Shilo, and the two eternal Temples [in Jerusalem].
‘You gave him seven ewes against My wishes, My Ark will correspondingly circulate in the Philistine countryside for seven months.’ That is what is written: “He sent His strength into captivity, [and His splendor into the hand of the foe]” (Psalms 78:61) – this refers to the Ark of the Covenant. And it is written: “The Ark of the Lord was in the Philistine countryside seven months” (I Samuel 6:1). “And His splendor into the hand of the foe” – this refers to the priestly vestments, as it says: “You shall make holy vestments for Aaron…and for splendor” (Exodus 28:2).
Rabbi Yirmeya in the name of Rabbi Shmuel bar Rav Yitzḥak in the name of Rabbi Abba: Why were the people of Beit Shemesh stricken down?16When the Ark, which had been seized by the Philistines, was returned to that town (see I Samuel 6:19). It is because they demeaned the Ark. The Holy One blessed be He said: ‘Had one of them lost a chicken, he would have gone around to many doors [of his neighbors] in order to recover it, yet My Ark was in the Philistine countryside for seven months, and you paid it no attention. Though you paid it no attention, I will pay attention to it.’ “His right hand and His holy arm have wrought salvation for Him” (Psalms 98:1).17This verse is taken as a reference to the retrieval of the Ark from the Philistines.
That is what is written: “The cows18Who were pulling the wagon carrying the Ark from the Philistines to Beit Shemesh. went directly [vayisharna] on the road” (I Samuel 6:12) – they were walking in a straight path. [Alternatively,] they turned their faces toward the Ark19Out of respect for it. and sang a song of praise. That is what is written: “Vayisharna” – they sang a song of praise [shira] with their mouths.
What was the song that they sang? Rabbi Meir said: They recited the Song of the Sea. Here it is stated: “They went, lowing [vega’u] as they went” (I Samuel 6:12), and there [in the Song of the Sea] it is stated: “As He is greatly exalted [gao gaa]” (Exodus 15:1). Rabbi Yoḥanan said: [They sang:] “Sing to the Lord a new song” (Psalms 98:1). The Rabbis say: [They sang:] “The Lord reigns; let the earth rejoice” (Psalms 97:1). Rabbi Yirmeya said in the name of Rabbi Shmuel bar Yitzḥak: [They sang] three [songs:] “Sing to the Lord a new song” (Psalms 98:1); “Sing to the Lord all the earth” (Psalms 96:1); “The Lord reigns; peoples tremble” (Psalms 99:1). Eliyahu taught: [This was their song:] ‘Rise, acacia wood,20The Ark was made of acacia wood (Exodus 25:10). soar in your abundant glory, decorated with golden embroidery, extolled in the innermost Sanctuary of the palace, adorned between two cherubs.’
Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥman said [of those cows]: How many exertions did [Moses,] the son of Amram, expend until he taught the art of song to the Levites, and you [the cows] recite song on your own? May your strength be true.
“Abraham set aside seven ewes of the flock by themselves” (Genesis 21:28).
“Avimelekh said to Abraham: What are these seven ewes that you have placed by themselves?” (Genesis 21:29).
“Abraham took flocks and cattle, and gave them to Avimelekh…Avimelekh said to Abraham: What are these seven ewes?” – the Holy One blessed be He said to him [Abraham]: ‘You gave seven ewes against My wishes,13God was not pleased that Abraham was making a covenant with an idolater (see Exodus 23:32). by your life, I will delay the rejoicing of your descendants for seven generations.’14The Exodus from Egypt did not occur until seven generations after Abraham.
‘You gave him seven ewes against My wishes, by your life, they [the Philistines] will correspondingly kill seven righteous men of your descendants.’ They are: Ḥofni and Pinḥas,15The sons of Eli the priest (I Samuel 4:11). Samson, and Saul and his three sons.
‘You gave him seven ewes against My wishes, they [the Philistines] will correspondingly destroy seven Sanctuaries of your descendants.’ These are: The Tent of Meeting, Gilgal, Nov, Givon, Shilo, and the two eternal Temples [in Jerusalem].
‘You gave him seven ewes against My wishes, My Ark will correspondingly circulate in the Philistine countryside for seven months.’ That is what is written: “He sent His strength into captivity, [and His splendor into the hand of the foe]” (Psalms 78:61) – this refers to the Ark of the Covenant. And it is written: “The Ark of the Lord was in the Philistine countryside seven months” (I Samuel 6:1). “And His splendor into the hand of the foe” – this refers to the priestly vestments, as it says: “You shall make holy vestments for Aaron…and for splendor” (Exodus 28:2).
Rabbi Yirmeya in the name of Rabbi Shmuel bar Rav Yitzḥak in the name of Rabbi Abba: Why were the people of Beit Shemesh stricken down?16When the Ark, which had been seized by the Philistines, was returned to that town (see I Samuel 6:19). It is because they demeaned the Ark. The Holy One blessed be He said: ‘Had one of them lost a chicken, he would have gone around to many doors [of his neighbors] in order to recover it, yet My Ark was in the Philistine countryside for seven months, and you paid it no attention. Though you paid it no attention, I will pay attention to it.’ “His right hand and His holy arm have wrought salvation for Him” (Psalms 98:1).17This verse is taken as a reference to the retrieval of the Ark from the Philistines.
That is what is written: “The cows18Who were pulling the wagon carrying the Ark from the Philistines to Beit Shemesh. went directly [vayisharna] on the road” (I Samuel 6:12) – they were walking in a straight path. [Alternatively,] they turned their faces toward the Ark19Out of respect for it. and sang a song of praise. That is what is written: “Vayisharna” – they sang a song of praise [shira] with their mouths.
What was the song that they sang? Rabbi Meir said: They recited the Song of the Sea. Here it is stated: “They went, lowing [vega’u] as they went” (I Samuel 6:12), and there [in the Song of the Sea] it is stated: “As He is greatly exalted [gao gaa]” (Exodus 15:1). Rabbi Yoḥanan said: [They sang:] “Sing to the Lord a new song” (Psalms 98:1). The Rabbis say: [They sang:] “The Lord reigns; let the earth rejoice” (Psalms 97:1). Rabbi Yirmeya said in the name of Rabbi Shmuel bar Yitzḥak: [They sang] three [songs:] “Sing to the Lord a new song” (Psalms 98:1); “Sing to the Lord all the earth” (Psalms 96:1); “The Lord reigns; peoples tremble” (Psalms 99:1). Eliyahu taught: [This was their song:] ‘Rise, acacia wood,20The Ark was made of acacia wood (Exodus 25:10). soar in your abundant glory, decorated with golden embroidery, extolled in the innermost Sanctuary of the palace, adorned between two cherubs.’
Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥman said [of those cows]: How many exertions did [Moses,] the son of Amram, expend until he taught the art of song to the Levites, and you [the cows] recite song on your own? May your strength be true.