Here as elsewhere in the Old Testament, the Hebrew uses two verbs, take and prepare, for what is essentially a single or united action. In some languages it will be redundant to say “take and prepare,” and a more natural translation will use a single verb (so Good News Translation). New Jerusalem Bible and New International Version similarly use a single verb, “get a new cart ready.” For other languages, however, it will be most natural to follow the form of the Hebrew. Traduction œcuménique de la Bible provides yet another model: “Prepare a new cart and take two cows.”

The word translated cart refers to a wheeled vehicle drawn by some kind of animal. Probably it had four wheels rather than two. The same word is translated “wagon[s]” by Revised Standard Version in Gen 45 and in Num 7.

Milch cows: the adjective milch means “giving milk” and translates a participle in Hebrew meaning “to nurse.” Milch cows are cows with young calves that they are nursing. New Century Version says “two cows that have just had calves.” Since the end of the verse indicates that these two cows have calves, Good News Translation says simply “two cows.” Many languages will have a natural expression such as “cows that are nursing [or, giving milk]” (Bible en français courant, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente).

Upon which there has never come a yoke: a yoke is a wooden bar placed across the neck of an animal, or of two joined together, so that when the bar is connected by ropes to a cart or heavy load, the animal can pull it. The text does not provide a reason for using cows that have never had a yoke on them. Probably this requirement reflects the law that requires for sacrifices only cows that have never been yoked (Num 19.2; Deut 21.3; see also Exo 20.25 for the same kind of thought). For similar reasons the cart is to be new. If it had been used before, it would not be acceptable for such holy service as carrying the ark.

But take their calves home, away from them: literally “and cause their young ones to turn away from them to the house.” The “house” or home referred to must be the place where the animals were kept. This explains translations such as “back to the barn” (Good News Translation), “back to the byre” (New Jerusalem Bible), “keep them in their stall” (Revised English Bible), and “pen them up” (New International Version). The most important thing is that the calves were not to accompany their mothers.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on the First and Second Books of Samuel, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .