1 Samuel 6:3-5

6:3 They replied, “If you are going to send the ark of ¹  the God of Israel back, don’t send it away empty. Be sure to return it with a guilt offering. Then you will be healed, and you will understand why his hand is not removed from you.” 6:4 They inquired, “What is the guilt offering that we should send to him?”

They replied, “The Philistine leaders number five. So send five gold sores and five gold mice, for it is the same plague that has afflicted both you and your leaders. 6:5 You should make images of the sores and images of the mice ²  that are destroying the land. You should honor the God of Israel. Perhaps he will release his grip on you, your gods, and your land. ³ 

[6:3]  ¹ tc The LXX and a Qumran ms add “the covenant of the Lord.”

[6:5]  ² tn Heb “your mice.” A Qumran ms has simply “the mice.”

[6:5]  ³ tn Heb “Perhaps he will lighten his hand from upon you and from upon your gods and from upon your land.”