And the Levites took down the ark of the Lord
Or, "had took it down" F24; for this, though here related, was done as soon as the ark came into the field, or quickly after, and before the burnt offering could be made, which was burnt with the wood of the cart; and though the persons that took it down are called Levites, they were priests, who were of the tribe of Levi; for it was the work of the priests to take it down, though the Levites then might carry it; and it is remarkable that Bethshemesh was given to the Kohathite Levites, whose business it was to carry the ark on their shoulders; see ( Joshua 21:10 ) ( Numbers 4:15 )
and the coffer that was with it, wherein the jewels of gold
were; the purse or bag in which were the five golden mice, and the five golden emerods:
and put them on the great stone;
both the ark and the coffer, by which the cart stood, and on which the sacrifice of burnt offering was probably offered:
and the men of Bethshemesh offered burnt offerings, and sacrificed
sacrifices, the same day unto the Lord;
besides the burnt offering of the two cows, they offered others to testify their thankfulness for the return of the ark; and also peace offerings, on which they feasted with one another, to express their greater joy.