1 And the ark of the LORD was in the land of the Philistines seven months.

2 Then the Philistines called for the priests and the diviners, saying, What shall we do with the ark of the LORD? Tell us how we shall return it to his place.

3 And they said, If ye send away the ark of the God of Israel, do not send it empty, but ye shall pay unto him the [expiation of] guilt; then ye shall be healed, and ye shall know why his hand was not removed from you.