Reading for February 20th

Read 1 Samuel 6.1-7.1
In 6.1-7.1: The return of the ark.
Suspecting that the ark is the source of their problems, the Philistines decide to send it back to Israel.
They include with it a guilt offering (v. 3), which should probably be understood as compensation for having taken the ark and in the hopes of appeasing the Lord and avoiding further punishment from him.
There is one gold tumor and one gold mouse for each of the five Philistine cities (vv. 4, 17-18).
In verse 7: The cart is new and therefore ritually pure.
The two cows have never been yoked and are therefore fit to be sacrificed (compare Num 19.2; Deut 21.3).
They are also milch cows, meaning that they have young calves.
This is part of the test described in v. 9.
In verse 9: Unaccustomed to pulling a cart, these two cows would be expected to wander aimlessly in search of their calves.
If, contrary to this expectation, the cows headed straight for Israelite territory, the Philistines would know that their sufferings had indeed been sent by the Lord.
In verse 12: The cows take the most direct route into Israelite territory.
In verse 15: This verse is likely a later addition by a scribe concerned to have the Levities, the priestly tribe, handle the ark.
In verse 20: Who is able to stand before the Lord is apparently a technical expression for priestly service.
The people are asking whether there is a priest who can handle the ark.
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