John Gill Commentary 1 Samuel 6:8

"and take the ark of Jehovah, 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 6:8 (ASV)

And take the ark of the Lord, and lay it upon the cart
Which was dispensed with in these uncircumcised Philistines, there being no other to do this service:

and put the jewels of gold ;
or rather "vessels of gold" ^F16 ; the five golden emerods, and the five golden mice:

which you return him for a trespass offering, in a coffer by the side
thereof ;
and send it away, that it may go ;
that is, set it a going, without any driver or guide; but leave it to take its course of itself to the land of Israel. Josephus ^F18 says it was set in a place where three ways met, that it might take which it might; and the taking of the right way must be a strong evidence of its being under the direction of God.

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FOOTNOTES:

• F16: (bhzh ylk) "vasa aurea", Pagninus, Montanus, Vatablus
• F18: Antiqu. l. 6. c. 1. sect. 2.