1 And the ark727 of the LORD3068 was1961 in the country7704 of the Philistines6430 seven7651 months.2320

2 And the Philistines6430 called7121 for the priests3548 and the diviners,7080 saying,559 What4100 shall we do6213 to the ark727 of the LORD?3068 tell3045 us wherewith4100 we shall send7971 it to his place.4725

3 And they said,559 If518 ye send away7971 853 the ark727 of the God430 of Israel,3478 send7971 it not408 empty;7387 but3588 in any wise return7725 7725 him a trespass offering:817 then227 ye shall be healed,7495 and it shall be known3045 to you why4100 his hand3027 is not3808 removed5493 from4480 you.

4 Then said559 they, What4100 shall be the trespass offering817 which834 we shall return7725 to him? They answered,559 Five2568 golden2091 emerods,6076 and five2568 golden2091 mice,5909 according to the number4557 of the lords5633 of the Philistines:6430 for3588 one259 plague4046 was on you all,3605 and on your lords.5633

5 Wherefore ye shall make6213 images6754 of your emerods,6076 and images6754 of your mice5909 that mar7843 853 the land;776 and ye shall give5414 glory3519 unto the God430 of Israel:3478 peradventure194 he will lighten7043 853 his hand3027 from off4480 5921 you, and from off4480 5921 your gods,430 and from off4480 5921 your land.776

6 Wherefore4100 then do ye harden3513 853 your hearts,3824 as834 the Egyptians4714 and Pharaoh6547 hardened3513 853 their hearts?3820 when834 he had wrought wonderfully5953 among them, did they not3808 let the people go,7971 and they departed?1980

7 Now6258 therefore make6213 a259 new2319 cart,5699 and take3947 two8147 milch5763 kine,6510 on5921 which834 there hath come5927 no3808 yoke,5923 and tie631 853 the kine6510 to the cart,5699 and bring7725 their calves1121 home1004 from4480 310 them:

8 And take3947 853 the ark727 of the LORD,3068 and lay5414 it upon413 the cart;5699 and put7760 the jewels3627 of gold,2091 which834 ye return7725 him for a trespass offering,817 in a coffer712 by the side4480 6654 thereof; and send it away,7971 853 that it may go.1980

9 And see,7200 if518 it goeth up5927 by the way1870 of his own coast1366 to Beth-shemesh,1053 then he1931 hath done6213 us853 this2063 great1419 evil:7451 but if518 not,3808 then we shall know3045 that3588 it is not3808 his hand3027 that smote5060 us: it1931 was a chance4745 that happened1961 to us.

10 And the men376 did6213 so;3651 and took3947 two8147 milch5763 kine,6510 and tied631 them to the cart,5699 and shut up3607 their calves1121 at home: 1004

11 And they laid7760 853 the ark727 of the LORD3068 upon413 the cart,5699 and the coffer712 with854 the mice5909 of gold2091 and the images6754 of their emerods.2914

12 And the kine6510 took the straight3474 way1870 to5921 the way1870 of Beth-shemesh,1053 and went along1980 the259 highway,4546 lowing1600 as they went,1980 and turned not aside5493 3808 to the right hand3225 or to the left;8040 and the lords5633 of the Philistines6430 went1980 after310 them unto5704 the border1366 of Beth-shemesh.1053

13 And they of Beth-shemesh1053 were reaping7114 their wheat2406 harvest7105 in the valley:6010 and they lifted up5375 853 their eyes,5869 and saw7200 853 the ark,727 and rejoiced8055 to see7200 it.

14 And the cart5699 came935 into413 the field7704 of Joshua,3091 a Beth-shemite,1030 and stood5975 there,8033 where8033 there was a great1419 stone:68 and they cleaved1234 853 the wood6086 of the cart,5699 and offered5927 the kine6510 a burnt offering5930 unto the LORD.3068

15 And the Levites3881 took down3381 853 the ark727 of the LORD,3068 and the coffer712 that834 was with854 it, wherein834 the jewels3627 of gold2091 were, and put7760 them on413 the great1419 stone:68 and the men376 of Beth-shemesh1053 offered5927 burnt offerings5930 and sacrificed2076 sacrifices2077 the same1931 day3117 unto the LORD.3068

16 And when the five2568 lords5633 of the Philistines6430 had seen7200 it, they returned7725 to Ekron6138 the same1931 day.3117

17 And these428 are the golden2091 emerods2914 which834 the Philistines6430 returned7725 for a trespass offering817 unto the LORD;3068 for Ashdod795 one,259 for Gaza5804 one,259 for Askelon831 one,259 for Gath1661 one,259 for Ekron6138 one;259

18 And the golden2091 mice,5909 according to the number4557 of all3605 the cities5892 of the Philistines6430 belonging to the five2568 lords,5633 both of fenced cities,4480 5892 4013 and of5704 country6521 villages,3724 even unto5704 the great1419 stone of Abel,59 whereon834 5921 they set down5117 853 the ark727 of the LORD:3068 which stone remaineth unto5704 this2088 day3117 in the field7704 of Joshua,3091 the Beth-shemite.1030

19 And he smote5221 the men376 of Beth-shemesh,1053 because3588 they had looked7200 into the ark727 of the LORD,3068 even he smote5221 of the people5971 fifty2572 thousand505 and threescore and ten7657 men:376 and the people5971 lamented,56 because3588 the LORD3068 had smitten5221 many of the people5971 with a great1419 slaughter.4347

20 And the men376 of Beth-shemesh1053 said,559 Who4310 is able3201 to stand5975 before6440 this2088 holy6918 LORD3068 God?430 and to413 whom4310 shall he go up5927 from4480 5921 us?

21 And they sent7971 messengers4397 to413 the inhabitants3427 of Kirjath-jearim,7157 saying,559 The Philistines6430 have brought again7725 853 the ark727 of the LORD;3068 come ye down,3381 and fetch it up5927 853 to413 you.