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17 These are the gold tumors that the Philistines returned as a guilt offering to the LORD: one for Ashdod, one for Gaza, one for Ashkelon, one for Gath, and one for Ekron. 18 The gold mice represented the number of all the Philistine towns belonging to the five lords, both fortified towns and unwalled villages. The large stone, beside which they put the Ark of the LORD, is a witness to this day in the field of Joshua of Beth-shemesh. 19 God struck down the men of Beth-shemesh because they had looked into the Ark of the LORD. He struck down 50,070 men among the people, and the people mourned because the LORD struck down the people with a great slaughter. 20 The men of Beth-shemesh asked themselves, |Who can stand in the presence of the LORD, this holy God? And to whom will the Ark go from here?| 21 They sent messengers to the residents of Kiriath-jearim, who told them, |The Philistines have returned the Ark of the LORD. Come down and take it up with you.| 1 Samuel 6:17-21, Intl. Standard Version. Copyright © 1995-2014 by ISV Foundation.
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