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they frequently came to Dagon and found him still lying along； in
a posture of adoration to the ark； they were in very great
distress and confusion。 At length God sent a very destructive
disease upon the city and country of Ashdod； for they died of the
dysentery or flux； a sore distemper； that brought death upon them
very suddenly； for before the soul could； as usual in easy
deaths； be well loosed from the body； they brought up their
entrails； and vomited up what they had eaten； and what was
entirely corrupted by the disease。 And as to the fruits of their
country； a great multitude of mice arose out of the earth and
hurt them； and spared neither the plants nor the fruits。 Now
while the people of Ashdod were under these misfortunes； and were
not able to support themselves under their calamities； they
perceived that they suffered thus because of the ark； and that
the victory they had gotten； and their having taken the ark
captive； had not happened for their good； they therefore sent to
the people of Askelon； and desired that they would receive the
ark among them。 This desire of the people of Ashdod was not
disagreeable to those of Askelon； so they granted them that
favor。 But when they had gotten the ark； they were in the same
miserable condition； for the ark carried along with it the
disasters that the people of Ashdod had suffered； to those who
received it from them。 Those of Askelon also sent it away from
themselves to others： nor did it stay among those others neither；
for since they were pursued by the same disasters； they still
sent it to the neighboring cities； so that the ark went round；
after this manner； to the five cities of the Philistines； as
though it exacted these disasters as a tribute to be paid it for
its coming among them。
2。 When those that had experienced these miseries were tired out
with them； and when those that heard of them were taught thereby
not to admit the ark among them； since they paid so dear a
tribute for it； at length they sought for some contrivance and
method how they might get free from it： so the governors of the
five cities； Gath； and Ekron； and Askelon； as also of Gaza； and
Ashclod； met together； and considered what was fit to be done；
and at first they thought proper to send the ark back to its own
people； as allowing that God had avenged its cause； that the
miseries they had undergone came along with it； and that these
were sent on their cities upon its account； and together with it。
However； there were those that said they should not do so； nor
suffer themselves to be deluded； as ascribing the cause of their
miseries to it； because it could not have such power and force
upon them； for； had God had such a regard to it； it would not
have been delivered into the hands of men。 So they exhorted them
to be quiet； and to take patiently what had befallen them； and to
suppose there was no other cause of it but nature； which； at
certain revolutions of time； produces such mutations in the
bodies of men； in the earth； in plants； and in all things that
grow out of the earth。 But the counsel that prevailed over those
already described； was that of certain men； who were believed to
have distinguished themselves in former times for their
understanding and prudence； and who； in their present
circumstances； seemed above all the rest to speak properly。 These
men said it was not right either to send the ark away； or to
retain it； but to dedicate five golden images； one for every
city； as a thank…offering to God； on account of his having taken
care of their preservation； and having kept them alive when their
lives were likely to be taken away by such distempers as they
were not able to bear up against。 They also would have them make
five golden mice like to those that devoured and destroyed their
country （2） to put them in a bag； and lay them upon the ark； to
make them a new cart also for it； and to yoke milch kine to it
（3） but to shut up their calves； and keep them from them； lest；
by following after them； they should prove a hinderance to their
dams； and that the dams might return the faster out of a desire
of those calves； then to drive these milch kine that carried the
ark； and leave it at a place where three ways met； and So leave
it to the kine to go along which of those ways they pleased； that
in case they went the way to the Hebrews； and ascended to their
country； they should suppose that the ark was the cause of their
misfortunes； but if they turned into another road； they said； 〃We
will pursue after it； and conclude that it has no such force in
it。〃
3。 So they determined that these men spake well； and they
immediately confirmed their opinion by doing accordingly。 And
when they had done as has been already described； they brought
the cart to a place where three ways met； and left it there and
went their ways； but the kine went the right way； and as if some
persons had driven them； while the rulers of the Philistines
followed after them； as desirous to know where they would stand
still； and to whom they would go。 Now there was a certain village
of the tribe of Judah； the name of which was Bethshemesh； and to
that village did the kine go； and though there was a great and
good plain before them to proceed in； they went no farther； but
stopped the cart there。 This was a sight to those of that
village； and they were very glad； for it being then summer…time；
and all the inhabitants being then in the fields gathering in
their fruits； they left off the labors of their hands for joy； as
soon as they saw the ark； and ran to the cart； and taking the ark
down； and the vessel that had the images in it； and the mice；
they set them upon a certain rock which was in the plain； and
when they had offered a splendid sacrifice to God； and feasted；
they offered the cart and the kine as a burnt…offering： and when
the lords of the Philistines saw this； they returned back。
4。 But now it was that the wrath of God overtook them； and struck
seventy persons of the village of Bethshemesh dead； who； not
being priests； and so not worthy to touch the ark； had approached
to it。 Those of that village wept for these that had thus
suffered； and made such a lamentation as was naturally to be
expected on so great a misfortune that was sent from God； and
every one mourned for his own relation。 And since they
acknowledged themselves unworthy of the ark's abode with them；
they sent to the public senate of the Israelites； and informed
them that the ark was restored by the Philistines； which when
they knew； they brought it away to Kirjathjearim； a city in the
neighborhood of Bethshemesh。 In this city lived one Abinadab； by
birth a Levite； and who was greatly commended for his righteous
and religious course of life； so they brought the ark to his
house； as to a place fit for God himself to abide in； since
therein did inhabit a righteous man。 His sons also ministered to
the Divine service at the ark； and were the principal curators of
it for twenty years； for so many years it continued in
Kirjathjearim； having been but four months with the Philistines。
CHAPTER 2。
The Expedition Of The Philistines Against The Hebrews And Th