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.
1The Philistines had captured the ark of God. They took it from Ebenezer to Ashdod.2They carried the ark into the temple of their god Dagon. They set it down beside the statue of Dagon.3The people of Ashdod got up early the next day. They saw the statue of Dagon. There it was, lying on the ground! It had fallen on its face in front of the ark of the LORD. So they picked up the statue of Dagon. They put it back in its place.4But the following morning when they got up, they saw the statue of Dagon. There it was, lying on the ground again! It had fallen on its face in front of the ark of the LORD. Its head and hands had been broken off. Only the body of the statue was left. Its head and hands were lying in the doorway of the temple.5That’s why to this day no one steps on the bottom part of the doorway of Dagon’s temple at Ashdod. Not even the priests of Dagon step there.6The LORD’s power was against the people of Ashdod and the settlements near it. He destroyed them. He made them suffer with growths in their bodies.7The people of Ashdod saw what was happening. They said, ‘The ark of the god of Israel must not stay here with us. His power is against us and against our god Dagon.’8So they called together all the rulers of the Philistines. They asked them, ‘What should we do with the ark of the god of Israel?’ The rulers answered, ‘Let the ark be moved to Gath.’ So they moved it.9But after the people of Ashdod had moved the ark, the LORD’s power was against Gath. That threw its people into a great panic. The LORD made them break out with growths in their bodies. It happened to young people and old people alike.10So the ark of God was sent to Ekron. As the ark was entering Ekron, the people of the city cried out. They shouted, ‘They’ve brought the ark of the god of Israel to us. They want to kill us and our people.’11So they called together all the rulers of the Philistines. They said, ‘Send the ark of the god of Israel away. Let it go back to its own place. If you don’t, it will kill us and our people.’ The death of so many people had filled the city with panic. God’s power was against the city.12Those who didn’t die suffered with growths in their bodies. The people of Ekron cried out to heaven for help.