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1 Samuel 6:21
ESV So they sent messengers to the inhabitants of Kiriath-jearim, saying, "The Philistines have returned the ark of the Lord. Come down and take it up to you."
NIV Then they sent messengers to the people of Kiriath Jearim, saying, "The Philistines have returned the ark of the Lord. Come down and take it up to your town."
NASB So they sent messengers to the inhabitants of Kiriath-jearim, saying, 'The Philistines have brought back the ark of the Lord; come down and take it up to yourselves.'
CSB They sent messengers to the residents of Kiriath-jearim, saying, "The Philistines have returned the ark of the Lord. Come down and get it."
NLT So they sent messengers to the people at Kiriath-jearim and told them, 'The Philistines have returned the Ark of the Lord. Come here and get it!'
KJV And they sent messengers to the inhabitants of Kirjathjearim, saying, The Philistines have brought again the ark of the Lord; come ye down, and fetch it up to you.
NKJV So they sent messengers to the inhabitants of Kirjath Jearim, saying, “The Philistines have brought back the ark of the Lord; come down and take it up with you.”

What does 1 Samuel 6:21 mean?

What started as rejoicing at receiving the ark of God back from the Philistines (1 Samuel 6:14–15) ended in mourning. The people of Beth-shemesh violated God's holiness in their treatment of the ark (1 Samuel 6:19; Numbers 4:20). The Lord killed seventy men of the city, causing the people to wonder who could even be near to such a holy God (1 Samuel 6:20).

Urgent to get the ark of the Lord out of their town, the people send word to those in another town, Kiriath-jearim, to get it. Kiriath-jearim was farther up the Sorek Valley, but nearby to Beth-shemesh. Why that town? It's possible the one who was consecrated to guard the ark there was descended from the original priest of Israel, Aaron (1 Samuel 7:1). Perhaps this made him a logical choice to take charge of caring for the ark.
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