3. The priests answered, “If you’re returning the ark of the God of Israel, don’t send it away empty, but by all means return it to its ⌊proper⌋ place with a guilt offering. Then you will be healed, and you will know why he would not turn his anger away from you.”
4. The Philistines asked, “What kind of guilt offering should we give him?”The priests answered, “Five gold tumors and five gold mice for the ⌊five⌋ Philistine rulers because all of you and your rulers suffer from the same plague.
5. Make models of your tumors and your mice which are destroying the country, and give glory to the God of Israel. Maybe he will no longer be so hard on you, your gods, and your country.
6. Why should you be as stubborn as the Egyptians and their Pharaoh were? After he toyed with the Egyptians, didn’t they send the Israelites on their way?
7. Now get a new cart ready for two dairy cows that have never been yoked. Hitch the cows to the cart. Take their calves away, and leave them in their stall.
8. Take the ark of the Lord, and put it on the cart. Put the gold objects which you’re giving him as a guilt offering in a box beside the ark. Send the cart on its way,