ve 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
Bethshem