The Ark Returned to Israel

1  וַיְהִ֧י (And was) אֲרוֹן־ (the ark) יְהוָ֛ה (of YHWH) בִּשְׂדֵ֥ה (in the country) פְלִשְׁתִּ֖ים (of the Philistines) שִׁבְעָ֥ה (seven) חֳדָשִֽׁים׃ (months). 2  וַיִּקְרְא֣וּ (And called) פְלִשְׁתִּ֗ים (the Philistines) לַכֹּהֲנִ֤ים (for the priests) וְלַקֹּֽסְמִים֙ (and the diviners), לֵאמֹ֔ר (saying), מַֽה־ (What) נַּעֲשֶׂ֖ה (shall we do) לַאֲר֣וֹן (with the ark) יְהוָ֑ה (of YHWH)? הוֹדִעֻ֕נוּ (Tell us), בַּמֶּ֖ה (by what) נְשַׁלְּחֶ֥נּוּ (should we send it) לִמְקוֹמֽוֹ׃ (to its place).

3  וַיֹּאמְר֗וּ (And they said), אִֽם־ (If) מְשַׁלְּחִ֞ים (you send away) אֶת־ (-) אֲר֨וֹן (the ark) אֱלֹהֵ֤י (of the God) יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ (of Israel), אַל־ (not) תְּשַׁלְּח֤וּ (do send) אֹתוֹ֙ (it) רֵיקָ֔ם (empty). כִּֽי־ (But) הָשֵׁ֥ב (returning) תָּשִׁ֛יבוּ (you⁺ shall return it) ל֖וֹ (to Him) אָשָׁ֑ם (with a guilt offering). אָ֤ז (Then) תֵּרָֽפְאוּ֙ (you⁺ will be healed), וְנוֹדַ֣ע (and it will be known) לָכֶ֔ם (to you⁺) לָ֛מָּה (why) לֹא־ (has not) תָס֥וּר (turned aside) יָד֖וֹ (His hand) מִכֶּֽם׃ (from you⁺).

4  וַיֹּאמְר֗וּ (And they said) מָ֣ה (What is) הָאָשָׁם֮ (the guilt offering) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (that) נָשִׁ֣יב (we shall return) לוֹ֒ (to Him)?

וַיֹּאמְר֗וּ (And they answered), מִסְפַּר֙ (The number) סַרְנֵ֣י (of the lords) פְלִשְׁתִּ֔ים (of the Philistines)— חֲמִשָּׁה֙ (five) עָפְלֵי (tumors) זָהָ֔ב (golden) וַחֲמִשָּׁ֖ה (and five) עַכְבְּרֵ֣י (rats) זָהָ֑ב (golden)— כִּֽי־ (for) מַגֵּפָ֥ה (plague) אַחַ֛ת (one) לְכֻלָּ֖ם (is on all of you) וּלְסַרְנֵיכֶֽם׃ (and on your⁺ lords). 5  וַעֲשִׂיתֶם֩ (And you⁺ shall make) צַלְמֵ֨י (images) עָפְלֵיכֶם (of your⁺ tumors) וְצַלְמֵ֣י (and images) עַכְבְּרֵיכֶ֗ם (of your⁺ rats) הַמַּשְׁחִיתִם֙ (that are ravaging) אֶת־ (-) הָאָ֔רֶץ (the land), וּנְתַתֶּ֛ם (and you⁺ shall give) לֵאלֹהֵ֥י (to the God) יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (of Israel) כָּב֑וֹד (glory). אוּלַ֗י (Perhaps) יָקֵ֤ל (He will lighten) אֶת־ (-) יָדוֹ֙ (His hand) מֵֽעֲלֵיכֶ֔ם (from upon you⁺) וּמֵעַ֥ל (and from upon) אֱלֹהֵיכֶ֖ם (your⁺ gods) וּמֵעַ֥ל (and from upon) אַרְצְכֶֽם׃ (your⁺ land).

6  וְלָ֤מָּה (And why) תְכַבְּדוּ֙ (do you⁺ harden) אֶת־ (-) לְבַבְכֶ֔ם (your⁺ hearts), כַּאֲשֶׁ֧ר (as) כִּבְּד֛וּ (hardened) מִצְרַ֥יִם (Egypt) וּפַרְעֹ֖ה (and Pharaoh) אֶת־ (-) לִבָּ֑ם (their hearts)? הֲלוֹא֙ (Was it not that) כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר (only when) הִתְעַלֵּ֣ל (He had dealt severely) בָּהֶ֔ם (with them), וַֽיְשַׁלְּח֖וּם (that they sent them off), וַיֵּלֵֽכוּ׃ (so they could go on their way)?

7  וְעַתָּ֗ה (And now), קְח֨וּ (take) וַעֲשׂ֜וּ (and make) עֲגָלָ֤ה (cart) חֲדָשָׁה֙ (new) אֶחָ֔ת (one), וּשְׁתֵּ֤י (and two) פָרוֹת֙ (cows) עָל֔וֹת (suckling) אֲשֶׁ֛ר (which) לֹא־ (has not) עָלָ֥ה (gone up) עֲלֵיהֶ֖ם (on) עֹ֑ל (a yoke), וַאֲסַרְתֶּ֤ם (and hitch) אֶת־ (-) הַפָּרוֹת֙ (the cows) בָּעֲגָלָ֔ה (to the cart), וַהֲשֵׁיבֹתֶ֧ם (and return) בְּנֵיהֶ֛ם (their calves) מֵאַחֲרֵיהֶ֖ם (from them) הַבָּֽיְתָה׃ (to the house). 8  וּלְקַחְתֶּ֞ם (And take) אֶת־ (-) אֲר֣וֹן (the ark) יְהוָ֗ה (of YHWH), וּנְתַתֶּ֤ם (and set) אֹתוֹ֙ (it) אֶל־ (on) הָ֣עֲגָלָ֔ה (the cart). וְאֵ֣ת׀ (And) כְּלֵ֣י (the articles) הַזָּהָ֗ב (of gold) אֲשֶׁ֨ר (that) הֲשֵׁבֹתֶ֥ם (you⁺ are returning) לוֹ֙ (to Him) אָשָׁ֔ם (as a guilt offering), תָּשִׂ֥ימוּ (put) בָאַרְגַּ֖ז (in the chest) מִצִּדּ֑וֹ (by its side),

וְשִׁלַּחְתֶּ֥ם (and send away) אֹת֖וֹ (it) וְהָלָֽךְ׃ (that it may go). 9  וּרְאִיתֶ֗ם (And watch), אִם־ (if) דֶּ֨רֶךְ (the way) גְּבוּל֤וֹ (of its own border) יַֽעֲלֶה֙ (it goes up) בֵּ֣ית (toward Beth-) שֶׁ֔מֶשׁ (shemesh), ה֚וּא (He) עָ֣שָׂה (has done) לָ֔נוּ (to us) אֶת־ (-) הָרָעָ֥ה (the disaster) הַגְּדוֹלָ֖ה (great) הַזֹּ֑את (this). וְאִם־ (But if) לֹ֗א (not), וְיָדַ֙עְנוּ֙ (then we will know) כִּ֣י (that it is) לֹ֤א (not) יָדוֹ֙ (His hand) נָ֣גְעָה (that struck) בָּ֔נוּ (us); מִקְרֶ֥ה (by chance) ה֖וּא (it) הָ֥יָה (happened) לָֽנוּ׃ (to us).

10  וַיַּעֲשׂ֤וּ (And did) הָאֲנָשִׁים֙ (the men) כֵּ֔ן (so), וַיִּקְח֗וּ (and they took) שְׁתֵּ֤י (two) פָרוֹת֙ (cows), עָל֔וֹת (suckling) וַיַּאַסְר֖וּם (and bound them) בָּעֲגָלָ֑ה (to the cart), וְאֶת־ (and) בְּנֵיהֶ֖ם (their calves) כָּל֥וּ (they shut up) בַבָּֽיִת׃ (in the house). 11  וַיָּשִׂ֛מוּ (And they set) אֶת־ (-) אֲר֥וֹן (the ark) יְהוָ֖ה (of YHWH) אֶל־ (on) הָעֲגָלָ֑ה (the cart), וְאֵ֣ת (and) הָאַרְגַּ֗ז (the chest) וְאֵת֙ (and) עַכְבְּרֵ֣י (the rats) הַזָּהָ֔ב (golden) וְאֵ֖ת (and) צַלְמֵ֥י (the images) טְחֹרֵיהֶֽם׃ (of their tumors).

12  וַיִשַּׁ֨רְנָה (And) הַפָּר֜וֹת (the cows went) בַּדֶּ֗רֶךְ (in the way) עַל־ (on) דֶּ֙רֶךְ֙ (the way) בֵּ֣ית (to Beth-) שֶׁ֔מֶשׁ (shemesh), בִּמְסִלָּ֣ה (along highway) אַחַ֗ת (one) הָלְכ֤וּ (as they went), הָלֹךְ֙ (going) וְגָע֔וֹ (and lowing), וְלֹא־ (and not) סָ֖רוּ (did they turn aside) יָמִ֣ין (to the right hand) וּשְׂמֹ֑אול (or the left). וְסַרְנֵ֤י (And the lords) פְלִשְׁתִּים֙ (of the Philistines) הֹלְכִ֣ים (went) אַחֲרֵיהֶ֔ם (after them) עַד־ (to) גְּב֖וּל (the border) בֵּ֥ית (of Beth-) שָֽׁמֶשׁ׃ (shemesh).

13  וּבֵ֣ית (Now Beth-) שֶׁ֔מֶשׁ (and shemesh) קֹצְרִ֥ים (were reaping) קְצִיר־ (their harvest) חִטִּ֖ים (of wheat) בָּעֵ֑מֶק (in the valley), וַיִּשְׂא֣וּ (and they lifted) אֶת־ (-) עֵינֵיהֶ֗ם (their eyes) וַיִּרְאוּ֙ (and saw) אֶת־ (-) הָ֣אָר֔וֹן (the ark), וַֽיִּשְׂמְח֖וּ (and they rejoiced) לִרְאֽוֹת׃ (to see it).

14  וְהָעֲגָלָ֡ה (And the cart) בָּ֠אָה (came) אֶל־ (into) שְׂדֵ֨ה (the field) יְהוֹשֻׁ֤עַ (of Joshua) בֵּֽית־ (of Beth-) הַשִּׁמְשִׁי֙ (shemesh), וַתַּעֲמֹ֣ד (and it stood still) שָׁ֔ם (there). וְשָׁ֖ם (And there was) אֶ֣בֶן (a stone) גְּדוֹלָ֑ה (large). וַֽיְבַקְּעוּ֙ (And they split) אֶת־ (-) עֲצֵ֣י (the wood) הָעֲגָלָ֔ה (of the cart), וְאֶת־ (and) הַ֨פָּר֔וֹת (the cows) הֶעֱל֥וּ (they offered) עֹלָ֖ה (as a burnt offering) לַיהוָֽה׃ס (to YHWH). 15  וְהַלְוִיִּ֞ם (And the Levites) הוֹרִ֣ידוּ׀ (took down) אֶת־ (-) אֲר֣וֹן (the ark) יְהוָ֗ה (of YHWH), וְאֶת־ (and) הָאַרְגַּ֤ז (the chest) אֲשֶׁר־ (that) אִתּוֹ֙ (was with it) אֲשֶׁר־ (which) בּ֣וֹ (in it were) כְלֵֽי־ (the articles) זָהָ֔ב (of gold), וַיָּשִׂ֖מוּ (and they placed them) אֶל־ (on) הָאֶ֣בֶן (the stone) הַגְּדוֹלָ֑ה (large), וְאַנְשֵׁ֣י (and the men) בֵֽית־ (of Beth-) שֶׁ֗מֶשׁ (shemesh) הֶעֱל֨וּ (offered) עֹל֜וֹת (burnt offerings) וַֽיִּזְבְּח֧וּ (and made) זְבָחִ֛ים (sacrifices) בַּיּ֥וֹם (day) הַה֖וּא (in that) לַֽיהוָֽה׃ (to YHWH).

16  וַחֲמִשָּׁ֥ה (And the five) סַרְנֵֽי־ (lords) פְלִשְׁתִּ֖ים (of the Philistines) רָא֑וּ (had seen it), וַיָּשֻׁ֥בוּ (and they returned) עֶקְר֖וֹן (to Ekron) בַּיּ֥וֹם (day) הַהֽוּא׃ס (that).

17  וְאֵ֙לֶּה֙ (And these are) טְחֹרֵ֣י (tumors) הַזָּהָ֔ב (the golden) אֲשֶׁ֨ר (that) הֵשִׁ֧יבוּ (returned) פְלִשְׁתִּ֛ים (the Philistines) אָשָׁ֖ם (as a guilt offering) לַֽיהוָ֑ה (to YHWH); לְאַשְׁדּ֨וֹד (for Ashdod) אֶחָ֜ד (one), לְעַזָּ֤ה (for Gaza) אֶחָד֙ (one), לְאַשְׁקְל֣וֹן (for Ashkelon) אֶחָ֔ד (one), לְגַ֥ת (for Gath) אֶחָ֖ד (one), לְעֶקְר֥וֹן (for Ekron) אֶחָֽד׃ס (one). 18  וְעַכְבְּרֵ֣י (And rats) הַזָּהָ֗ב (the golden)— מִסְפַּ֞ר (the number) כָּל־ (of all) עָרֵ֤י (the cities) פְלִשְׁתִּים֙ (of the Philistines) לַחֲמֵ֣שֶׁת (unto the five) הַסְּרָנִ֔ים (lords)— מֵעִ֣יר (from the city) מִבְצָ֔ר (fortified) וְעַ֖ד (and to) כֹּ֣פֶר (the village) הַפְּרָזִ֑י (of the countryside) וְעַ֣ד׀ (and to) אָבֵ֣ל (Abel-) הַגְּדוֹלָ֗ה (haggedolah) אֲשֶׁ֨ר (which) הִנִּ֤יחוּ (they set) עָלֶ֙יהָ֙ (in it) אֵ֚ת (-) אֲר֣וֹן (the ark) יְהוָ֔ה (of YHWH), עַ֚ד (to) הַיּ֣וֹם (the day) הַזֶּ֔ה (this) בִּשְׂדֵ֥ה (in the field) יְהוֹשֻׁ֖עַ (of Joshua) בֵּֽית־ (of Beth-) הַשִּׁמְשִֽׁי׃ (shemesh).

19  וַיַּ֞ךְ (And He struck) בְּאַנְשֵׁ֣י (the men) בֵֽית־ (of Beth-) שֶׁ֗מֶשׁ (shemesh), כִּ֤י (for) רָאוּ֙ (they had looked) בַּאֲר֣וֹן (into the ark) יְהוָ֔ה (of YHWH), וַיַּ֤ךְ (and He struck) בָּעָם֙ (of the people) שִׁבְעִ֣ים (seventy) אִ֔ישׁ (men) חֲמִשִּׁ֥ים (and fifty) אֶ֖לֶף (thousand) אִ֑ישׁ (men), וַיִּֽתְאַבְּל֣וּ (and lamented) הָעָ֔ם (the people) כִּֽי־ (because) הִכָּ֧ה (had struck) יְהוָ֛ה (YHWH) בָּעָ֖ם (the people) מַכָּ֥ה (with a slaughter) גְדוֹלָֽה (great).

20  וַיֹּֽאמְרוּ֙ (And said) אַנְשֵׁ֣י (the men) בֵֽית־ (of Beth-) שֶׁ֔מֶשׁ (shemesh), מִ֚י (Who) יוּכַ֣ל (is able) לַעֲמֹ֔ד (to stand) לִפְנֵ֨י (before the face of) יְהוָ֧ה (YHWH), הָאֱלֹהִ֛ים (the God) הַקָּד֖וֹשׁ (holy) הַזֶּ֑ה (this)? וְאֶל־ (And to) מִ֖י (whom) יַעֲלֶ֥ה (shall it go up) מֵעָלֵֽינוּ׃ס (from us).

21  וַֽיִּשְׁלְחוּ֙ (And they sent) מַלְאָכִ֔ים (messengers) אֶל־ (to) יוֹשְׁבֵ֥י (the dwellers) קִרְיַת־ (of Kiriath-) יְעָרִ֖ים (jearim), לֵאמֹ֑ר (saying), הֵשִׁ֤בוּ (Have brought back) פְלִשְׁתִּים֙ (the Philistines) אֶת־ (-) אֲר֣וֹן (the ark) יְהוָ֔ה (of YHWH); רְד֕וּ (come down), הַעֲל֥וּ (take up) אֹת֖וֹ (it) אֲלֵיכֶֽם׃ (with you⁺).