¹¹ So they called together all the rulers of the Philistines. They said, “Send the ark of the god of Israel away. Let it go back to its own place. If you don’t, it will kill us and our people.” The death of so many people had filled the city with panic. God’s power was against the city. ¹² Those who didn’t die suffered with growths in their bodies. The people of Ekron cried out to heaven for help.