And they said, If ye send away the ark of the God of Israel, send it not empty; but in any wise return him a trespass offering: then ye shall be healed, and it shall be known to you why his hand is not removed from you.
And they said, 'If you send back the ark of the God of Israel, don't send it back empty-handed. Make sure you return it with a guilt offering. Then you will be healed, and you'll understand why his punishment hasn't been lifted from you.'
The Philistine priests are advising their people that if they return God's ark, they must include a guilt offering to be healed and understand why God's judgment has remained on them.
📚 Historical Context
The Philistines had captured the sacred ark of the covenant from Israel, but God sent severe plagues upon their cities as judgment. After seven months of suffering, the Philistine priests and diviners were advising how to properly return the ark to avoid further divine wrath. In ancient Near Eastern culture, returning stolen religious objects with offerings was a common practice to appease offended deities.
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