1. the Lord’s ark was in the country of the Philistines seven months.
2. The Philistines called for the priests and the diviners, saying, “What shall we do with the Lord’s ark? Show us how we should send it to its place.”
3. They said, “If you send away the ark of the God of Israel, don’t send it empty; but by all means return a trespass offering to him. Then you will be healed, and it will be known to you why his hand is not removed from you.”
4. Then they said, “What should the trespass offering be which we shall return to him?”They said, “Five golden tumours, and five golden mice, for the number of the lords of the Philistines; for one plague was on you all, and on your lords.
5. Therefore you shall make images of your tumours, and images of your mice that mar the land; and you shall give glory to the God of Israel. Perhaps he will release his hand from you, from your gods, and from your land.
6. Why then do you harden your hearts, as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened their hearts? When he had worked wonderfully amongst them, didn’t they let the people go, and they departed?