There were some among the Philistines who stood ready to oppose the return of the ark to its own land. Such an acknowledgment of the power of Israel's God would be humiliating to the pride of Philistia. But "the priests and the diviners" admonished the people not to imitate the stubbornness of Pharaoh and the Egyptians, and thus bring upon themselves still greater afflictions. A plan which won the consent of all was now proposed, and immediately put in execution. The ark, with the golden trespass offering, was placed upon a new cart, thus precluding all danger of defilement; to this cart, or car, were attached two kine upon whose necks a yoke had never been placed. Their calves were shut up at home, and the cows were left free to go where they pleased. If the ark should thus be returned to the Israelites by the way of Beth-shemesh, the nearest city of the Levites, the Philistines would accept this as evidence that the God of Israel had done unto them this great evil; "but if not," they said, "then we shall know that it is not His hand that smote us; it was a chance that happened to us."

Arken stod i filisternes land i syv måneder, uden at israelitterne gjorde sig nogen som helst anstrengelser for at få den tilbage. Men nu var filisterne blevet lige så ivrige efter at blive af med den, som de havde været efter at få fat i den. Den bragte dem ikke den styrke, som de havde ventet, men var en stor byrde og en hård forbandelse for dem. De vidste dog ikke, hvad de skulle stille op, for Guds straf fulgte den overalt. Folket sammenkaldte nu landets fyrster, sammen med præsterne og sandsigerne og spurgte: "Hvad skal vi gøre med Herrens ark? Lad os få at vide, hvorledes vi skal bære os ad, når vi sender den hen, hvor den har hjemme!" De fik det råd, at de skulle sende den tilbage med en stor sonegave. "Så bliver I raske og skal få at vide, hvorfor hans hånd ikke vil vige fra Eder," svarede præsterne.