And the ark{H727} of Jehovah{H3068} was in the country{H7704} of the Philistines{H6430} seven{H7651} months.{H2320}

And the Philistines{H6430} called{H7121} for the priests{H3548} and the diviners,{H7080} saying,{H559} What shall we do{H6213} with the ark{H727} of Jehovah?{H3068} show{H3045} us wherewith we shall send{H7971} it to its place.{H4725}

And they said,{H559} If ye send away{H7971} the ark{H727} of the God{H430} of Israel,{H3478} send{H7971} it not empty;{H7387} but by all means{H7725} return{H7725} him a trespass-offering:{H817} then ye shall be healed,{H7495} and it shall be known{H3045} to you why his hand{H3027} is not removed{H5493} from you.

Then said{H559} they, What shall be the trespass-offering{H817} which we shall return{H7725} to him? And they said,{H559} Five{H2568} golden{H2091} tumors,{H2914} and five{H2568} golden{H2091} mice,{H5909} [according to] the number{H4557} of the lords{H5633} of the Philistines;{H6430} for one{H259} plague{H4046} was on you all, and on your lords.{H5633}

Wherefore ye shall make{H6213} images{H6754} of your tumors,{H2914} and images{H6754} of your mice{H5909} that mar{H7843} the land;{H776} and ye shall give{H5414} glory{H3519} unto the God{H430} of Israel:{H3478} peradventure he will lighten{H7043} his hand{H3027} from off you, and from off your gods,{H430} and from off your land.{H776}

Wherefore then do ye harden{H3513} your hearts,{H3824} as the Egyptians{H4714} and Pharaoh{H6547} hardened{H3513} their hearts?{H3820} When he had wrought wonderfully{H5953} among them, did they not let the people go,{H7971} and they departed?{H3212}

Now therefore take{H3947} and prepare{H6213} you a{H259} new{H2319} cart,{H5699} and two{H8147} milch{H5763} kine,{H6510} on which there hath come{H5927} no yoke;{H5923} and tie{H631} the kine{H6510} to the cart,{H5699} and bring{H7725} their calves{H1121} home{H1004} from them;{H310}

and take{H3947} the ark{H727} of Jehovah,{H3068} and lay{H5414} it upon the cart;{H5699} and put{H7760} the jewels{H3627} of gold,{H2091} which ye return{H7725} him for a trespass-offering,{H817} in a coffer{H712} by the side{H6654} thereof; and send it away,{H7971} that it may go.{H1980}

And see;{H7200} if it goeth up{H5927} by the way{H1870} of its own border{H1366} to Beth-shemesh,{H1053} then he hath done{H6213} us this great{H1419} evil:{H7451} but if not, then we shall know{H3045} that it is not his hand{H3027} that smote{H5060} us; it was a chance{H4745} that happened to us.{H1961}

And the men{H582} did so,{H6213} and took{H3947} two{H8147} milch{H5763} kine,{H6510} and tied{H631} them to the cart,{H5699} and shut up{H3607} their calves{H1121} at home;{H1004}

and they put{H7760} the ark{H727} of Jehovah{H3068} upon the cart,{H5699} and the coffer{H712} with the mice{H5909} of gold{H2091} and the images{H6754} of their tumors.{H2914}

And the kine{H6510} took the straight{H3474} way{H1870} by the way{H1870} to Beth-shemesh;{H1053} they went along{H1980} the highway,{H4546} lowing{H1600} as they went,{H1980} and turned not aside{H5493} to the right hand{H3225} or to the left;{H8040} and the lords{H5633} of the Philistines{H6430} went{H1980} after{H310} them unto the border{H1366} of Beth-shemesh.{H1053}

And they of Beth-shemesh{H1053} were reaping{H7114} their wheat{H2406} harvest{H7105} in the valley;{H6010} and they lifted up{H5375} their eyes,{H5869} and saw{H7200} the ark,{H727} and rejoiced{H8055} to see{H7200} it.

And the cart{H5699} came{H935} into the field{H7704} of Joshua{H3091} the Beth-shemite,{H1030} and stood{H5975} there, where there was a great{H1419} stone:{H68} and they clave{H1234} the wood{H6086} of the cart,{H5699} and offered{H5927} up the kine{H6510} for a burnt-offering{H5930} unto Jehovah.{H3068}

And the Levites{H3881} took down{H3381} the ark{H727} of Jehovah,{H3068} and the coffer{H712} that was with it, wherein the jewels{H3627} of gold{H2091} were, and put{H7760} them on the great{H1419} stone:{H68} and the men{H582} of Beth-shemesh{H1053} offered{H5927} burnt-offerings{H5930} and sacrificed{H5927} sacrifices{H2077} the same day{H3117} unto Jehovah.{H3068}

And when the five{H2568} lords{H5633} of the Philistines{H6430} had seen{H7200} it, they returned{H7725} to Ekron{H6138} the same day.{H3117}

And these are the golden{H2091} tumors{H2914} which the Philistines{H6430} returned{H7725} for a trespass-offering{H817} unto Jehovah:{H3068} for Ashdod{H795} one,{H259} for Gaza{H5804} one,{H259} for Ashkelon{H831} one,{H259} for Gath{H1661} one,{H259} for Ekron{H6138} one;{H259}

and the golden{H2091} mice,{H5909} according to the number{H4557} of all the cities{H5892} of the Philistines{H6430} belonging to the five{H2568} lords,{H5633} both of fortified{H4013} cities{H5892} and of country{H6521} villages,{H3724} even unto the great{H1419} stone,{H59} whereon they set down{H3240} the ark{H727} of Jehovah,{H3068} [which stone remaineth] unto this day{H3117} in the field{H7704} of Joshua{H3091} the Beth-shemite.{H1030}

And he smote{H5221} of the men{H376} of Beth-shemesh,{H1053} because they had looked{H7200} into the ark{H727} of Jehovah,{H3068} he smote{H5221} of the people{H5971} seventy men,{H582} [and] fifty{H2572} thousand{H505} men;{H582} and the people{H582} mourned,{H56} because Jehovah{H3068} had smitten{H5221} the people{H5971} with a great{H1419} slaughter.{H4347}

And the men{H582} of Beth-shemesh{H1053} said,{H559} Who is able{H3201} to stand{H5975} before{H6440} Jehovah,{H3068} this holy{H6918} God?{H430} and to whom shall he go up{H5927} from us?

And they sent{H7971} messengers{H4397} to the inhabitants{H3427} of Kiriath-jearim,{H7157} saying,{H559} The Philistines{H6430} have brought back{H7725} the ark{H727} of Jehovah;{H3068} come ye down,{H3381} and fetch it up{H5927} to you.