1 Samuel 6:8
And take the ark of the LORD, and lay it upon the cart; and put the jewels of gold, which ye return him for a trespass offering, in a coffer by the side thereof; and send it away, that it may go. And take the ark of the LORD, and lay it upon the cart; and put the jewels of gold, which ye return him for a trespass offering, in a coffer by the side thereof; and send it away, that it may go.
The verse records the Philistine priests' instructions for returning the ark: lay it upon a new cart, put the jewels of gold returned for a trespass offering in a coffer by its side, and send it away toward Israel. The new cart was intended to prevent defilement of the ark. The gold placed in the coffer included images of their afflictions and of the mice that marred the land. By this offering they sought God's acceptance and healing from the afflictions brought upon them by taking the ark. By sending the offering with the ark they sought to give glory to Israel's God and hoped He would lighten His hand from off them, their gods, and their land. The sending away was part of a test to determine whether the Lord had caused their afflictions.
Though the milch cows drawing the cart were left to choose their own way, the ark reached Beth-shemesh safely, showing that God guided it. The kine entrusted with the ark left their calves behind yet devoted themselves to the task and delivered the ark where it belonged. The account shows that God can direct and care for His sacred work without human beings taking control to steady or manage it.