using brass vessels, the vessels burst at the touch of the mice, and,
as before, the Philistines were at their mercy. (34) After some
months of suffering, when they realized that their god Dagon was
the victim instead of the victor, they resolved to send the Ark back
to the Israelites. Many of the Philistines, (35) however, were not
yet convinced of God's power. The experiment with the milch kine
on which there had come no yoke was to establish the matter for
them. The result was conclusive. Scarcely had the cows begun to
draw the cart containing the Ark when they raised their voices in
song:

Arise thou, O Acacia! Soar aloft in the fulness of thy splendor,

Thou who art adorned with gold embroidery,

Thou who art reverenced within the Holiest of the palace,

Thou who art covered by the two Cherubim! (36)

When the holy Ark was thus brought into the Israelitish domain,
there was exceeding great rejoicing. Yet the people were lacking
in due reverence. They unloaded the holy vessel while doing their
usual work. God punished them severely. (37) The seventy
members of the Sanhedrin perished, and with them fifty thousand
of the people. (38) The punishment was meet for another reason.
At first sight of the Ark some of the people had exclaimed: "Who
vexed these that thou didst feel offended, and what had mollified
thee now?" (39)

THE ACTIVITIES OF SAMUEL