“The people of Beth-shemesh.” The city of Beth-shemesh was a Levitical city (1 Sam. 6:15).

“reaping their wheat harvest.” So this is late May or June. If the Ark of the Covenant had been with the Philistines for seven months (1 Sam. 6:1), then the battle in which the Ark was captured occurred in November or December, seven months earlier.

“in the valley.” The Hebrew could also be, “on the plain.” This was the Sorek Valley, which had a wide, flat plain in the valley. From Ekron to Beth-shemesh is up the Sorek Valley.