In biblical times, the cart was a common vehicle used for transportation and agricultural purposes. Carts are mentioned in various contexts throughout the Bible, serving as a means to carry goods, people, and even sacred objects. The Hebrew word for cart is "עֲגָלָה" (agalah), and it appears in several Old Testament passages.

Agricultural and Practical Use

Carts were primarily used for practical purposes, such as transporting produce from the fields. In 1 Samuel 6:7, we see an example of a cart being used to carry the Ark of the Covenant back to Israel after it had been captured by the Philistines: "Now then, prepare a new cart and two milk cows that have never been yoked. Hitch the cows to the cart, but take their calves away and pen them up." This passage highlights the cart's role in both everyday life and significant religious events.

Religious and Ceremonial Use

The cart also played a role in religious ceremonies. In 2 Samuel 6:3, David uses a new cart to transport the Ark of the Covenant: "They set the ark of God on a new cart and brought it from the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill. Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, were guiding the new cart." This event underscores the importance of the cart in the transportation of sacred items, although it also serves as a cautionary tale about the proper handling of holy objects, as Uzzah's subsequent death illustrates the need for reverence and obedience to God's instructions.

Symbolism and Lessons

The use of carts in the Bible often carries symbolic meaning. In Isaiah 5:18, the prophet uses the imagery of a cart to describe the burden of sin: "Woe to those who draw iniquity with cords of deceit and pull sin along with cart ropes." Here, the cart symbolizes the weight and entanglement of sin, serving as a vivid illustration of the spiritual consequences of turning away from God.

Construction and Design

Carts in biblical times were typically simple in design, often consisting of a wooden platform with two or four wheels. They were usually drawn by oxen or donkeys, as these animals were well-suited for pulling heavy loads. The construction of carts was straightforward, reflecting the practical needs of the agrarian society in which they were used.

Cultural and Historical Context

The use of carts in ancient Israel and surrounding regions was influenced by the technological and cultural practices of the time. Carts were essential for trade and commerce, enabling the movement of goods across long distances. They also played a role in military logistics, as seen in the use of chariots, which were a more advanced form of the cart used in warfare.

In summary, the cart in biblical times was a versatile and essential tool for transportation and religious practices. Its presence in Scripture provides insight into the daily life and spiritual lessons of the ancient world, illustrating both the practical and symbolic significance of this humble vehicle.Cart

(Genesis 45:19,27; Numbers 7:3,7,8) a vehicle drawn by cattle, (2 Samuel 6:6) to be distinguished from the chariot drawn by horses. Carts and wagons were either open or covered, (Numbers 7:3) and were used for conveyance of person, (Genesis 45:19) burdens, (1 Samuel 6:7,8) or produce. (Amos 2:13) The only cart used in western Asia has two wheels of solid wood.

A vehicle moving on wheels, and usually drawn by oxen (2 Samuel 6:3). The Hebrew word thus rendered, 'agalah (1 Samuel 6:7, 8), is also rendered "wagon" (Genesis 45:19). It is used also to denote a war-chariot (Psalm 46:9). Carts were used for the removal of the ark and its sacred utensils (Numbers 7:3, 6). After retaining the ark amongst them for seven months, the Philistines sent it back to the Israelites. On this occasion they set it in a new cart, probably a rude construction, with solid wooden wheels like that still used in Western Asia, which was drawn by two milch cows, which conveyed it straight to Beth-shemesh.

A "cart rope," for the purpose of fastening loads on carts, is used (Isaiah 5:18) as a symbol of the power of sinful pleasures or habits over him who indulges them. (see CORD.) In Syria and Palestine wheel-carriages for any other purpose than the conveyance of agricultural produce are almost unknown.

1. (n.) A common name for various kinds of vehicles, as a Scythian dwelling on wheels, or a chariot.

2. (n.) A two-wheeled vehicle for the ordinary purposes of husbandry, or for transporting bulky and heavy articles.

3. (n.) A light business wagon used by bakers, grocery men, butchers, etc.

4. (n.) An open two-wheeled pleasure carriage.

5. (v. t.) To carry or convey in a cart.

6. (v. t.) To expose in a cart by way of punishment.

7. (v. i.) To carry burdens in a cart; to follow the business of a carter.

CART

kart (`aghalah): The Hebrew word has been translated in some passages "cart," and in others "wagon." In one verse only has it been translated "chariot." The context of the various passages indicates that a distinction was made between vehicles which were used for carrying baggage or produce and those used for carrying riders (chariots), although in their primitive form of construction they were much the same (compare English "cart" and "carriage").

Carts, like "chariots" (which see), were of Assyrian origin. They were early carried to Egypt where the flat nature of the country readily led to their adoption. From Egypt they gradually found their way among the people of the Palestinian plains. In the hills of Judea and Central Palestine, except where highways were built (1 Samuel 6:12), the nature of the country prevented the use of wheeled vehicles. 1 Samuel 6:7, 8, 10, 11, 14 show that the people of the plains used carts. The men of Kiriath-jearim found it easier to carry the ark (1 Samuel 7:1). Their attempt to use a cart later (2 Samuel 6:3, 1 1 Chronicles 13:7) proved disastrous and they abandoned it for a safer way (2 Samuel 6:13).

That carts were used at a very early date is indicated by Numbers 7:3, 7, 8. That these vehicles were not the common mode of conveyance in Palestine is shown in Genesis 45. Pharaoh commanded that Joseph's brethren should return to their father with their beasts of burden (Genesis 45:21) and take with them Egyptian wagons (Genesis 45:19, 21; Genesis 46:6) for bringing back their father and their families. The very unusual sight of the wagons was proof to Jacob of Joseph's existence (Genesis 45:27).

Bible descriptions and ancient Babylonian and Egyptian pictures indicate that the cart was usually two-wheeled and drawn by two oxen.

With the Arabian conquests and subsequent ruin of the roads wheeled vehicles disappeared from Syria and Palestine. History is again repeating itself. The Circassians, whom the Turkish government has settled near Caesarea, Jerash (Gerasa) and Amman (Philadelphia), have introduced a crude cart which must be similar to that used in Old Testament times. The two wheels are of solid wood. A straight shaft is joined to the wooden axle, and to this a yoke of oxen is attached. On the Philistian plains may be seen carts of present-day Egyptian origin but of a pattern many centuries old. With the establishment of government roads during the last 50 years, European vehicles of all descriptions are fast coming into the country.

One figurative reference is made to the cart (Isaiah 5:18), but its meaning is obscure.

James A. Patch

2934. ktenos -- a beast of burden
... of burden Definition: a beast of burden (generally, a horse or mule) either for
riding or for carrying loads on its back, or for yoking to a cart or carriage. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2934.htm - 6k5699. agalah -- a cart
... 5698, 5699. agalah. 5700 . a cart. Transliteration: agalah Phonetic Spelling:
(ag-aw-law') Short Definition: cart. Word Origin from ...
/hebrew/5699.htm - 6k

The Destruction that came Upon the Philistines, and Upon
... five golden mice like to those that devoured and destroyed their country [2] to
put them in a bag, and lay them upon the ark; to make them a new cart also for ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 1 the destruction that.htm

The Ark among the Philistines
... Now therefore prepare a new cart and two milch cows that have never worn a yoke,
and fasten the cows to the cart, but leave their calves behind them at home. ...
/.../sherman/the childrens bible/the ark among the philistines.htm

Death and Life from the Ark
... of God, whose name is called by the name of the Lord of hosts that dwelleth between
the cherubims.3. And they set the ark of God upon a new cart, and brought ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/death and life from the.htm

Importance of Small Things in Religion
... for there was a deadly destruction throughout all the city, the hand of God was
very heavy there." Placing the terrible captive upon a new cart, they left the ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 6 1860/importance of small things in.htm

Psalm CXXXIII.
... For murmurers are admirably described in a certain passage of the Scriptures, "The
heart of a fool is as the wheel of a cart." [5643] What is the meaning of ...
/.../augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm cxxxiii.htm

Life Amongst the Upper Ten Thousand
... Accordingly, I made ready and in due course the Yamen carriage arrived, a springless,
but elegantly upholstered cart, and accompanied by a woman servant we ...
/.../the fulfilment of a dream of pastor hsis/chapter xviii life amongst the.htm

"Pan, Pan is Dead"
... We are crossing the river-bed in our cart. "Don't look!" says my comrade, and I
look the other way. ... We have arranged to meet at the cart at about ten o'clock. ...
/.../wilson-carmichael/things as they are/chapter xxiii pan pan is.htm

Our Deliverance from the Boxers (1900)
... The only possible route left open to us was southward by cart,"fourteen days
to Fan-cheng,"then ten or more days by houseboat to Hankow. ...
/.../goforth/how i know god answers prayer/v our deliverance from the.htm

San Josef
... For the wheelers, being in the slough with the cart, are powerless; but the leaders,
who have scrambled through, are safe on dry land at the end of their long ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/at last/chapter ix san josef.htm

The Husbandman and his Operations
... For the fitches are not threshed with a threshing instrument, neither is a cart
wheel turned about upon the cummin; but the fitches are beaten out with a staff ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture h/the husbandman and his operations.htm

Cart (12 Occurrences)
... On this occasion they set it in a new cart, probably a rude construction, with solid
wooden wheels like that still used in Western Asia, which was drawn by two ...
/c/cart.htm - 15k

Cart-ropes (1 Occurrence)
Cart-ropes. Cart-rope, Cart-ropes. Carts . Multi-Version Concordance
Cart-ropes (1 Occurrence). Isaiah 5:18 Woe unto ...
/c/cart-ropes.htm - 6k

Cart-rope (1 Occurrence)
Cart-rope. Cart, Cart-rope. Cart-ropes . Multi-Version Concordance
Cart-rope (1 Occurrence). Isaiah 5:18 Woe unto them that draw ...
/c/cart-rope.htm - 6k

Cart-wheels (1 Occurrence)
Cart-wheels. Cartwheel, Cart-wheels. Carve . Multi-Version Concordance
Cart-wheels (1 Occurrence). Isaiah 28:28 Is the grain for bread crushed? ...
/c/cart-wheels.htm - 6k

Ahio (6 Occurrences)
... While Uzzah went by the side of the ark, he walked before it guiding the oxen which
drew the cart on which it was carried, after having brought it from his ...
/a/ahio.htm - 10k

Cord (47 Occurrences)
... Frequently used in its proper sense, for fastening a tent (Exodus 35:18; 39:40),
yoking animals to a cart (Isaiah 5:18), binding prisoners (Judges 15:13; Psalm ...
/c/cord.htm - 27k

Uzzah (10 Occurrences)
... men of Kirjath-jearim placed the ark when it was brought back from the land of the
Philistines (1 Samuel 7:1). He with his brother Ahio drove the cart on which ...
/u/uzzah.htm - 13k

Cows (33 Occurrences)
... 1 Samuel 6:7 "Now therefore take and prepare yourselves a new cart, and two milk
cows, on which there has come no yoke; and tie the cows to the cart, and bring ...
/c/cows.htm - 15k

Drivers (11 Occurrences)
... 2 Samuel 6:3 And they put the ark of God on a new cart and took it out of the house
of Abinadab which was on the hill: and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab ...
/d/drivers.htm - 9k

Drave (13 Occurrences)
... (KJV). 2 Samuel 6:3 And they set the ark of God upon a new cart, and brought it
out of the house of Abinadab that was in Gibeah: and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of ...
/d/drave.htm - 10k

Why did God strike Uzzah dead for touching the Ark of the Covenant? | GotQuestions.org

Who was Obed-Edom in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

What does yoke mean in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Cart: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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