The Philistines have taken the Ark of the Covenant, the most sacred item in the Israel Tabernacle. The Philistines have kept it for about seven months. They have suffered plagues with mice and rats, tumors and the destruction of their idol to Dagon because of its presence. The Lords of the Philistines decide to send the Ark back to Israel. Israel too has reaped the consequences of lightly esteeming the Ark. Many lives were lost in battles. As they work their fields in