1 Samuel 6:1-3

The Philistines Return the Ark

6:1 When the ark of the Lord had been in the land ¹  of the Philistines for seven months, ²  6:2 the Philistines called the priests and the omen readers, saying, “What should we do with the ark of the Lord? Advise us as to how we should send it back to its place.”

6:3 They replied, “If you are going to send the ark of ³  the God of Israel back, don’t send it away empty. Be sure to return it with a guilt offering. Then you will be healed, and you will understand why his hand is not removed from you.”

[6:1]  ¹ tn Heb “field.”

[6:1]  ² tc The LXX adds “and their land swarmed with mice.”

[6:3]  ³ tc The LXX and a Qumran ms add “the covenant of the Lord.”