What is the trespass offering which we shall return to Him?1
A trespass offering was to be offered by God's people if they unintentionally or unknowingly committed a sin, or trespass.2 Israel disobeying God had brought the ark of the covenant into battle against the Philistines, but it was lost. Now the ark stayed with the Philistines seven months and they were plagued by tumors and rats. So they called together the priests and the diviners for counsel, saying, What shall we do with the ark of God? Tell us how we should send it to its place.
They were given counsel to send away the ark of the God of Israel with a trespass offering. If the plan succeeded they would be healed, and it would be made known to them if God was behind the plagues, and you shall give glory to the God of Israel; perhaps He will lighten His hand from you, from your gods, and from your land. Why then do you harden your hearts as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened their hearts? When He did mighty things among them, did they not let the people go, that they might depart?
A trespass offering was to be offered by God's people if they unintentionally or unknowingly committed a sin, or trespass.2 Israel disobeying God had brought the ark of the covenant into battle against the Philistines, but it was lost. Now the ark stayed with the Philistines seven months and they were plagued by tumors and rats. So they called together the priests and the diviners for counsel, saying, What shall we do with the ark of God? Tell us how we should send it to its place.
They were given counsel to send away the ark of the God of Israel with a trespass offering. If the plan succeeded they would be healed, and it would be made known to them if God was behind the plagues, and you shall give glory to the God of Israel; perhaps He will lighten His hand from you, from your gods, and from your land. Why then do you harden your hearts as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened their hearts? When He did mighty things among them, did they not let the people go, that they might depart?
So they made offerings of gold, images of the tumors and rats that had plagued the land, and built a cart. They took two milk cows who had never been yoked, away from their calves, and hitched them to the cart. They then put the ark and trespass offering on the cart and let it loose and then they waited. They said, if it goes up the road to its own territory, to Beth Shemesh,then He has done us this great evil. But if not, then we shall know that it is not His hand that struck us—it happened to us by chance.
The plan was setup to fail, two milk cows would not have gone very far pulling a cart, especially cows that had never been yoked and had calves. Thus if the plan succeeded they would know it would be because of the God of Israel. Then the cows headed straight for the road to Beth Shemesh, and went along the highway, lowing as they went, and did not turn aside to the right hand or the left. And the lords of the Philistines went after them to the border of Beth Shemesh. Now the people of Beth Shemesh were reaping their wheat harvest in the valley; and they lifted their eyes and saw the ark, and rejoiced to see it.