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

And the Philistines{H6430} called{H7121}{(H8799)} for the priests{H3548} and the diviners{H7080}{(H8802)}, saying{H559}{(H8800)}, What shall we do{H6213}{(H8799)} to the ark{H727} of the LORD{H3068}? tell{H3045}{(H8685)} us wherewith we shall send{H7971}{(H8762)} it to his place{H4725}.

And they said{H559}{(H8799)}, If ye send away{H7971}{(H8764)} the ark{H727} of the God{H430} of Israel{H3478}, send{H7971}{(H8762)} it not empty{H7387}; but in any wise{H7725}{(H8687)} return{H7725}{(H8686)} him a trespass offering{H817}: then ye shall be healed{H7495}{(H8735)}, and it shall be known{H3045}{(H8738)} to you why his hand{H3027} is not removed{H5493}{(H8799)} from you.

Then said{H559}{(H8799)} they, What shall be the trespass offering{H817} which we shall return{H7725}{(H8686)} to him? They answered{H559}{(H8799)}, Five{H2568} golden{H2091} emerods{H2914}{(H8675)}{H6076}, 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}{(H8804)} images{H6754} of your emerods{H2914}{(H8675)}{H6076}, and images{H6754} of your mice{H5909} that mar{H7843}{(H8688)} the land{H776}; and ye shall give{H5414}{(H8804)} glory{H3519} unto the God{H430} of Israel{H3478}: peradventure he will lighten{H7043}{(H8686)} his hand{H3027} from off you, and from off your gods{H430}, and from off your land{H776}.

Wherefore then do ye harden{H3513}{(H8762)} your hearts{H3824}, as the Egyptians{H4714} and Pharaoh{H6547} hardened{H3513}{(H8765)} their hearts{H3820}? when he had wrought wonderfully{H5953}{(H8694)} among them, did they not let the people go{H7971}{(H8762)}, and they departed{H3212}{(H8799)}?

Now therefore make{H6213}{(H8798)} a{H259} new{H2319} cart{H5699}, and take{H3947}{(H8798)} two{H8147} milch{H5763}{(H8802)} kine{H6510}, on which there hath come{H5927}{(H8804)} no yoke{H5923}, and tie{H631}{(H8804)} the kine{H6510} to the cart{H5699}, and bring{H7725}{(H8689)} their calves{H1121} home{H1004} from them{H310}:

And take{H3947}{(H8804)} the ark{H727} of the LORD{H3068}, and lay{H5414}{(H8804)} it upon the cart{H5699}; and put{H7760}{(H8799)} the jewels{H3627} of gold{H2091}, which ye return{H7725}{(H8689)} him for a trespass offering{H817}, in a coffer{H712} by the side{H6654} thereof; and send it away{H7971}{(H8765)}, that it may go{H1980}{(H8804)}.

And see{H7200}{(H8804)}, if it goeth up{H5927}{(H8799)} by the way{H1870} of his own coast{H1366} to Bethshemesh{H1053}, then he hath done{H6213}{(H8804)} us this great{H1419} evil{H7451}: but if not, then we shall know{H3045}{(H8804)} that it is not his hand{H3027} that smote{H5060}{(H8804)} us: it was a chance{H4745} that happened to us{H1961}{(H8804)}.

And the men{H582} did so{H6213}{(H8799)}; and took{H3947}{(H8799)} two{H8147} milch{H5763}{(H8802)} kine{H6510}, and tied{H631}{(H8799)} them to the cart{H5699}, and shut up{H3607}{(H8804)} their calves{H1121} at home{H1004}:

And they laid{H7760}{(H8799)} the ark{H727} of the LORD{H3068} upon the cart{H5699}, and the coffer{H712} with the mice{H5909} of gold{H2091} and the images{H6754} of their emerods{H2914}.

And the kine{H6510} took the straight{H3474}{(H8799)} way{H1870} to the way{H1870} of Bethshemesh{H1053}, and went along{H1980}{(H8804)} the highway{H4546}{H259}, lowing{H1600}{(H8800)} as they went{H1980}{(H8800)}, and turned not aside{H5493}{(H8804)} to the right hand{H3225} or to the left{H8040}; and the lords{H5633} of the Philistines{H6430} went{H1980}{(H8802)} after{H310} them unto the border{H1366} of Bethshemesh{H1053}.

And they of Bethshemesh{H1053} were reaping{H7114}{(H8802)} their wheat{H2406} harvest{H7105} in the valley{H6010}: and they lifted up{H5375}{(H8799)} their eyes{H5869}, and saw{H7200}{(H8799)} the ark{H727}, and rejoiced{H8055}{(H8799)} to see{H7200}{(H8800)} it.

And the cart{H5699} came{H935}{(H8802)} into the field{H7704} of Joshua{H3091}, a Bethshemite{H1030}, and stood{H5975}{(H8799)} there, where there was a great{H1419} stone{H68}: and they clave{H1234}{(H8762)} the wood{H6086} of the cart{H5699}, and offered{H5927}{(H8689)} the kine{H6510} a burnt offering{H5930} unto the LORD{H3068}.

And the Levites{H3881} took down{H3381}{(H8689)} the ark{H727} of the LORD{H3068}, and the coffer{H712} that was with it, wherein the jewels{H3627} of gold{H2091} were, and put{H7760}{(H8799)} them on the great{H1419} stone{H68}: and the men{H582} of Bethshemesh{H1053} offered{H5927}{(H8689)} burnt offerings{H5930} and sacrificed{H2076}{(H8799)} sacrifices{H2077} the same day{H3117} unto the LORD{H3068}.

And when the five{H2568} lords{H5633} of the Philistines{H6430} had seen{H7200}{(H8804)} it, they returned{H7725}{(H8799)} to Ekron{H6138} the same day{H3117}.

And these are the golden{H2091} emerods{H2914} which the Philistines{H6430} returned{H7725}{(H8689)} for a trespass offering{H817} unto the LORD{H3068}; for Ashdod{H795} one{H259}, for Gaza{H5804} one{H259}, for Askelon{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 fenced{H4013} cities{H5892}, and of country{H6521} villages{H3724}, even unto the great{H1419} stone of Abel{H59}, whereon they set down{H3240}{(H8689)} the ark{H727} of the LORD{H3068}: which stone remaineth unto this day{H3117} in the field{H7704} of Joshua{H3091}, the Bethshemite{H1030}.

And he smote{H5221}{(H8686)} the men{H376} of Bethshemesh{H1053}, because they had looked{H7200}{(H8804)} into the ark{H727} of the LORD{H3068}, even he smote{H5221}{(H8686)} of the people{H5971} fifty{H2572} thousand{H505} and threescore and ten{H7657} men{H582}: and the people{H5971} lamented{H56}{(H8691)}, because the LORD{H3068} had smitten{H5221}{(H8689)} many of the people{H5971} with a great{H1419} slaughter{H4347}.

And the men{H582} of Bethshemesh{H1053} said{H559}{(H8799)}, Who is able{H3201}{(H8799)} to stand{H5975}{(H8800)} before{H6440} this holy{H6918} LORD{H3068} God{H430}? and to whom shall he go up{H5927}{(H8799)} from us?

And they sent{H7971}{(H8799)} messengers{H4397} to the inhabitants{H3427}{(H8802)} of Kirjathjearim{H7157}, saying{H559}{(H8800)}, The Philistines{H6430} have brought again{H7725}{(H8689)} the ark{H727} of the LORD{H3068}; come ye down{H3381}{(H8798)}, and fetch it up{H5927}{(H8685)} to you.