1 Samuel 6:3

Send it not empty. The answer of the priests and diviners was not merely that the ark be restored, but that it be returned in such a manner as to appease the offended God of Israel and to give proof that He had restrained the plague. The first requisite was a trespass offering of five golden emerods (tumors) and five golden mice. It was a common custom among heathen nations to attempt to appease the anger of their gods by votive gifts shaped to represent the evils from which they sought deliverance. How different was this from the instructions given to Israel regarding trespass offerings. If a man sinned “through ignorance, in the holy things of the Lord,” he was to bring to the priest a ram without blemish from the flock from the flock (Lev. 5:14-19). This was in addition to making full monetary compensation for any injury done, which included not only the estimated value of the offense but also a fine of one fifth of the value of the article.