They said,"Ifyou sendawaythe arkof the Godof Israel,do not sendit empty;but you shall surelyreturnto Him a guiltoffering.Thenyou will be healedand it will be knownto you whyHis handis not removedfrom you."
"I will sayto God,Do not condemnme; Let me knowwhyYou contendwith me.
"You shall observethe Feastof UnleavenedBread;for sevendaysyou are to eatunleavenedbread,as I commandedyou, at the appointedtimein the monthAbib,for in it you cameout of Egypt.And noneshall appearbeforeMe empty-handed.
"You shall redeemwith a lambthe firstoffspringfrom a donkey;and ifyou do not redeem[it], then you shall breakits neck.You shall redeemallthe firstbornof your sons.Noneshall appearbeforeMe empty-handed.
But when Pharaohsawthat there was relief,he hardenedhis heartand did not listento them, as the LORDhad said.
He shall also bringhis guiltofferingto the LORDfor his sinwhichhe has committed,a femalefrom the flock,a lambora goatas a sinoffering.So the priestshall makeatonementon his behalffor his sin.
"Then he shall bringto the priesthis guiltofferingto the LORD,a ramwithoutdefectfrom the flock,according to your valuation,for a guiltoffering,
"Threetimesin a yearallyour malesshall appearbeforethe LORDyour Godin the placewhichHe chooses,at the Feastof UnleavenedBreadand at the Feastof Weeksand at the Feastof Booths,and they shall not appearbeforethe LORDempty-handed.
They senttherefore and gatheredallthe lordsof the Philistinesand said,"Sendawaythe arkof the Godof Israel,and let it returnto its own place,sothat it will not killus and our people."For there was a deadlyconfusionthroughoutthe city;the handof Godwas veryheavythere.
When the menof Ashdodsawthat it was so,they said,"The arkof the Godof Israelmust not remainwith us, for His handis severeon us and on Dagonour god."
Afterthey had broughtit around,the handof the LORDwas against the citywith verygreatconfusion;and He smotethe menof the city,bothyoungand old,so that tumorsbrokeout on them.
"Takethe arkof the LORDand placeit on the cart;and putthe articlesof goldwhichyou returnto Him as a guiltofferingin a boxby its side.Then sendit awaythat it may go.
"Watch,ifit goesup by the wayof its own territoryto Beth-shemesh,then He has doneus thisgreatevil.But ifnot, then we will knowthat it was not His handthat struckus; it happenedto us by chance."
