שמואל א, פרק ו׳, פסוק ז׳

The Philistines face a heavy doubt after capturing the Ark of the Covenant and suffering severe plagues. They must determine whether these disasters are a direct punishment from God or merely a random occurrence. To resolve this, their wise men devise a sophisticated experiment designed to pit reality against the laws of nature.

They order the construction of a brand-new wooden cart and the selection of cows that have never been trained to work or pull a load. The primary approach among commentators is that these specific requirements stem from a sense of respect and reverence for the Ark. It is considered inappropriate to use items previously meant for everyday, mundane labor to transport something holy. At the same time, these conditions serve to make the test significantly more difficult. A new cart is harder to maneuver, and cows that have never worn a yoke are entirely unaccustomed to pulling heavy weight [מלבי״ם, רלב״ג].

The core of this experiment relies on the specific animals chosen. The Philistines select young, nursing cows that have recently given birth. Once these mothers are tied to the cart, their calves are taken away and locked inside a house, completely separated from them [מצודת ציון]. This setup is deliberately designed to ensure that basic natural instincts will stop the animals from moving forward. A nursing cow will naturally cry out for her young and refuse to abandon them, let alone journey into a foreign land while dragging an unfamiliar cart.

The parameters of the test are clear. If the cows suppress their deep maternal instincts and overcome their lack of training to pull the Ark straight toward Israel, it will serve as undeniable, miraculous proof that God is responsible for the plagues. On the other hand, if the cows refuse to move or try to return to their calves, the Philistines will conclude that the disasters were simply a coincidence, and they will avoid returning the Ark [רש״י, רלב״ג].