1 Samuel 6

As a reaction to the destruction visited upon the Philistines in the previous chapter, they decide to return the Ark of the Covenant to Israel. Along with it they send golden rats and tumors, as a guilt offering to represent the things that had been terrorizing their people. Rats and tumors, rats and tumors... why does that sound familiar? Could it have been an instance of the Bubonic Plague?

They also devise an interesting way of testing to see if these troubles had indeed been sent by the Israelite God - and of course they are proven right (verses 7-12). When the Ark arrives at a nearby Israelite town, the inhabitants celebrate and offer sacrifices to God. Unfortunately it seems that some of them get a bit too close and personal with the Ark. Note to self: if the Ark is ever found again here on Earth, by all means *do not look inside*!