1After the Philistines had captured the ark of God, they took it from Ebenezer to Ashdod.2Then they carried the ark into Dagon’s temple and set it beside Dagon.3When the people of Ashdod rose early the next day, there was Dagon, fallen on his face on the ground before the ark of the Lord! They took Dagon and put him back in his place.4But the following morning when they rose, there was Dagon, fallen on his face on the ground before the ark of the Lord! His head and hands had been broken off and were lying on the threshold; only his body remained.5That is why to this day neither the priests of Dagon nor any others who enter Dagon’s temple at Ashdod step on the threshold.6The Lord’s hand was heavy on the people of Ashdod and its vicinity; he brought devastation on them and afflicted them with tumours.[1]7When the people of Ashdod saw what was happening, they said, ‘The ark of the god of Israel must not stay here with us, because his hand is heavy on us and on Dagon our god.’8So they called together all the rulers of the Philistines and asked them, ‘What shall we do with the ark of the god of Israel?’ They answered, ‘Let the ark of the god of Israel be moved to Gath.’ So they moved the ark of the God of Israel.9But after they had moved it, the Lord’s hand was against that city, throwing it into a great panic. He afflicted the people of the city, both young and old, with an outbreak of tumours.[2]10So they sent the ark of God to Ekron. As the ark of God was entering Ekron, the people of Ekron cried out, ‘They have brought the ark of the god of Israel round to us to kill us and our people.’11So they called together all the rulers of the Philistines and said, ‘Send the ark of the god of Israel away; let it go back to its own place, or it[3] will kill us and our people.’ For death had filled the city with panic; God’s hand was very heavy on it.12Those who did not die were afflicted with tumours, and the outcry of the city went up to heaven.
1 Samuel 5
English Standard Version
The Philistines and the Ark
1When the Philistines captured the ark of God, they brought it from Ebenezer to Ashdod. (Jos 13:3; 1Sa 4:1; 1Sa 7:12)2Then the Philistines took the ark of God and brought it into the house of Dagon and set it up beside Dagon. (Jud 16:23)3And when the people of Ashdod rose early the next day, behold, Dagon had fallen face downward on the ground before the ark of the Lord. So they took Dagon and put him back in his place. (Isa 46:1)4But when they rose early on the next morning, behold, Dagon had fallen face downward on the ground before the ark of the Lord, and the head of Dagon and both his hands were lying cut off on the threshold. Only the trunk of Dagon was left to him. (Jer 50:2; Eze 6:4; Eze 6:6; Mic 1:7)5This is why the priests of Dagon and all who enter the house of Dagon do not tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod to this day. (Zep 1:9)6The hand of the Lord was heavy against the people of Ashdod, and he terrified and afflicted them with tumors, both Ashdod and its territory. (Ex 9:3; 1Sa 6:5; Ps 32:4; Ac 13:11)7And when the men of Ashdod saw how things were, they said, “The ark of the God of Israel must not remain with us, for his hand is hard against us and against Dagon our god.”8So they sent and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines and said, “What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel?” They answered, “Let the ark of the God of Israel be brought around to Gath.” So they brought the ark of the God of Israel there. (Jos 13:3)9But after they had brought it around, the hand of the Lord was against the city, causing a very great panic, and he afflicted the men of the city, both young and old, so that tumors broke out on them. (De 2:15; 1Sa 5:6; 1Sa 7:13; 1Sa 12:15)10So they sent the ark of God to Ekron. But as soon as the ark of God came to Ekron, the people of Ekron cried out, “They have brought around to us the ark of the God of Israel to kill us and our people.”11They sent therefore and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines and said, “Send away the ark of the God of Israel, and let it return to its own place, that it may not kill us and our people.” For there was a deathly panic throughout the whole city. The hand of God was very heavy there. (1Sa 5:6; 1Sa 5:8)12The men who did not die were struck with tumors, and the cry of the city went up to heaven. (1Sa 5:6)