The Philistines called for the priests and the diviners, saying, "What shall we do with the ark of Yahweh? Show us with which we shall send it to its place."
Yahweh had reduced the fertility of the crops of the Philistines as well as afflicting the people and their gods (1 Samuel 6:5). The Philistines remembered that this is what Yahweh had done to the Egyptians earlier (1 Samuel 6:6). The priests counseled the people not to harden their hearts as Pharaoh had done. Hardening the heart only brings divine retribution (cf. Joshua 7:19).