שמואל א, פרק ו׳, פסוק י״ח

The Philistines' reaction to the devastating plague reveals a deep fear and a desperate desire for complete atonement. Although their spiritual leaders advised them to bring a limited offering of just five golden mice to represent their five lords, the people decided to expand this gesture significantly. Driven by fear, they volunteered to bring a golden mouse for every single Philistine settlement to ensure that no community would be left unrepresented.

This massive offering encompassed every type of settlement under the rule of the Philistine lords. The golden mice represented everything from large, fortified cities surrounded by walls to small, unwalled open villages [רש״י, מצודת דוד, שטיינזלץ]. The wide distribution of these participating settlements stretched all the way to a specific boundary point that marked the border of the land of Israel [רד״ק, מלבי״ם].

At this border stood a massive rock where the Ark of God was placed. This landmark became known as a place of mourning because of the deep sorrow that struck the people when God punished them there [רש״י, מצודת דוד, רד״ק]. The historical record emphasizes that the exact location was never forgotten. Even the great stone itself remained as a clear and prominent witness to these events, resting permanently in the field of Joshua the Beth-shemite [מצודת דוד, מצודת ציון].