Philistine Lords knew the Rephaim ranks were too crucial to their success as an army, so instead, they decided to take responsibility and get rid of the abominable offense. They sent the ark away on a cart pulled by two unblemished milking cows and accompanied by a guilt offering of images; five rats and five tumors made out of gold, one for each of the Philistine Lords of the pentapolis. They reasoned that if it was Yahweh that had harmed them with the plagues, then he would lead the cows back to an Israelite city. But if the harm had been by coincidence then the cows would just wander into the desert to be consumed by Azazel. The cows had gone directly to Beth-shemesh of Israel, a known residence of their Levitical priests. Lahmi didn't care where the