19. He struck of the men of Beth Shemesh, because they had looked into the Lord’s ark, he struck fifty thousand and seventy of the men. Then the people mourned, because the Lord had struck the people with a great slaughter.
20. The men of Beth Shemesh said, “Who is able to stand before the Lord, this holy God? To whom shall he go up from us?”
21. They sent messengers to the inhabitants of Kiriath Jearim, saying, “The Philistines have brought back the Lord’s ark. Come down, and bring it up to yourselves.”