And the men did so,.... Made a new cart, not the lords of the Philistines, but workmen by their orders:
and took two milch kine, and tied them to the cart; with the gear that horses, asses, or oxen, were usually fastened to a carriage they drew:
and shut up their calves at home; or, "in the house" s; the cow house or stable where they used to be put; this they did to restrain them from following the cows, which would disturb them in drawing the cart.
s בבית "in domo", Pagninus, Montanus, &c.