So they decided to return the ark to the Israelites, but not without a gift for atonement: five golden tumors and five golden mice, according to the number of the five princes of the Philistines.
They tied two milk cows to a cart and put the ark on it with the coffer with the five golden mice and five golden tumors. And the cows went straight toward Beth Shemesh. They lowed continually. The five princes followed after them to the border of Beth Shemesh. The people of Beth Shemesh were reaping their wheat harvest and when they lifted up their eyes, they saw the ark and rejoiced. The cart came to the field of Joshua at Beth Shemesh and stopped there. A great stone was there. They split the wood from the cart and offered the cows as a burnt offering to the Lord. They placed the ark on the great stone and thanked the Lord.