The movement of the ark from Ashdod to Gath and then to Ekron had made it abundantly clear to the Philistines that the ark (and thus, the Lord) was bringing disease upon them.1 Crying up to heaven did not mean that they were praying to the Lord but rather serves to emphasize the extent of their suffering.
12 Les gens qui ne mouraient pas étaient frappés d'hémorroïdes, et les cris de la ville montaient jusqu'au ciel.