Why do the priests and diviners of the Philistines think that a guilt offering must be sent with the ark?
In Israel, a guilt offering served as a payment to atone for unintentional sins (cf. Leviticus 5:14 – 6:7).1 It may be that this idea was common among the people of the ancient Near East and that the Philistines were seeking to atone for the fact that they took the ark when they should have left it in Israel. To their minds monetary compensation had to be paid to prevent further suffering (see Exodus 11:2; Exodus 12:35–36).2 If Israel’s Lord is responsible for their calamities, he must be placated and his wrath had to be turned,3 and gold offerings were means of giving him the honour that he is due.4
3 Ils répondirent: Si vous renvoyez l'arche du Dieu d'Israël, ne la renvoyez point à vide, mais faites à Dieu un sacrifice de culpabilité; alors vous guérirez, et vous saurez pourquoi sa main ne s'est pas retirée de dessus vous.