1Sa 6:21-7:2 | NET2full | STEP | So they sent messengers to the residents of Kiriath Jearim , saying , “The Philistines have returned the ark of the Lord . Come down here and take it back home with you.”

‏ 1 Samuel 6:21

21 So they sent messengers to the residents of Kiriath Jearim, saying, “The Philistines have returned the ark of the Lord. Come down here and take it back home with you.”

‏ 1 Samuel 7:1-2

1 Then the people ^{▼▼tn Heb “men.”} of Kiriath Jearim came and took the ark of the Lord; they brought it to the house of Abinadab located on the hill. They consecrated Eleazar his son to guard the ark of the Lord.

Further Conflict with the Philistines

2 It was quite a long time—some 20 years in all—that the ark stayed at Kiriath Jearim. All the people ^{▼▼tn Heb “house” (also in the following verse).} of Israel longed for ^{▼▼tn Heb “mourned after”; NIV84 “mourned and sought after”; NIV11 “turned back to”; KJV, NRSV “lamented after”; NAB “turned to”; NCV “began to follow…again.”} the Lord.