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Study This Verse
Public-domain commentary
Matthew Henry
From his Commentary on the Whole Bible. Henry comments on passages, not single verses — this entry covers 1 Samuel 5:1–5. His three-level outline is real structure in the source text, so it is rendered as structure.
Here is, I. The Philistines' triumph over the ark, which they were the more pleased, the more proud, to be now masters of, because before the battle they were possessed with a great fear of it, Sa1 4:7. When they had it in their hands God restrained them, that they did not offer any violence to it, did not break it to pieces, as the Israelites were ordered to do by the idols of the heathen, but showed some respect to it, and carefully carried it to a place of safety. Whether their curiosity led them to open it, and to read what was written with the finger of God on the two tables of stone that were in it, we are not told; perhaps they looked no further than the golden outside and the cherubim that covered it, like children that are more affected with the fine binding of their bibles than with the precious matter contained in them. They carried it to Ashdod, one of their five cities, and that in which Dagon's temple was; there they placed the ark of God, by Dagon (Sa1 5:2), either 1. As a sacred thing, which they designed to pay some religious respect to, in conjunction with Dagon; for the gods of the heathen were never looked upon as averse to partners. Though the nations would not change their gods, yet they would multiply them and add to them. But they were mistaken in the God of Israel when, in putting his ark by Dagon's image, they intended to do him honour; for he is not worshipped at all if he is not worshipped alone. The Lord our God is one Lord. Or rather, 2. They placed it there as a trophy of victory, in honour of Dagon their god, to whom no doubt they intended to offer a great sacrifice, as they had done when they had taken Samson (Jdg 16:23, Jdg 16:24), boasting that as then they had triumphed over Israel's champion so now over Israel's God. What a reproach was this to God's great name! what a disgrace to the throne of his glory! Shall the ark, the symbol of God's presence, be a prisoner to Dagon, a dunghill deity? (1.) So it is, because God will show of how little account the ark of the covenant is if the covenant itself be broken and neglected; even sacred signs are not things that either he is tied to or we can trust to. (2.) So it is for a time, that God may have so much the more glory, in reckoning with those that thus affront him, and get him honour upon them. Having punished Israel, that betrayed the ark, by giving it into the hands of the Philistines, he will next deal with those that abused it, and will fetch it out of their hands again. Thus even the wrath of man shall praise him; and he is bringing about his own glory even when he seems to neglect it, Psa 76:10. Out of the eater shall come forth meat.
II.The ark's triumph over Dagon.
Once and again Dagon was made to fall before it. If they designed to do honour to the ark, God thereby showed that he valued not their honour, nor would he accept it; for he will be worshipped, not with any god, but above all gods. He owes a shame (as bishop Hall expresses it) to those who will be making matches betwixt himself and Belial. But they really designed to affront it, and though for some hours Dagon stood by the ark, and it is likely stood above it (the ark, as its footstool), yet the next morning, when the worshippers of Dagon came to pay their devotions to his shrine, they found their triumphing short, Job 20:5.
1.Dagon, that is, the image (for that was all the god), had fallen upon his face to the earth before the ark, Sa1 5:3. God had seemed to forget the ark, but see how the Psalmist speaks of his appearing, at last, to vindicate his own honour. When he had delivered his strength into captivity, and all seemed going to ruin, then the Lord awaked as one out of sleep, and like a mighty man that shouteth by reason of wine, Psa 78:59-65. And therefore he prevented the utter desolations of the Jewish church, because he feared the wrath of the enemy, Deu 32:26, Deu 32:27. Great care was taken, in setting up the images of their gods, to fix them. The prophet takes notice of it, Isa 41:7, He fastened it with nails that it should not be moved; and again, Isa 46:7. And yet Dagon's fastenings stood him in no stead. The ark of God triumphs over him upon his own dunghill, in his own temple. Down he comes before the ark, directly towards it (though the ark was set on one side of him), as it were, pointing to the conqueror, to whom he is constrained to yield and do homage. Note, The kingdom of Satan will certainly fall before the kingdom of Christ, error before truth, profaneness before godliness, and corruption before grace in the hearts of the faithful. When the interests of religion seem to be run down and ready to sink, yet even then we may be confident that the day of their triumph will come. Great is the truth, and will prevail. Dagon by falling prostrate before the ark of God, which was a posture of adoration, did as it were direct his worshippers to pay their homage to the God of Israel, as greater than all gods. See Exo 18:11.
2.The priests, finding their idol on the floor, make all the haste they can, before it be known, to set him in his place again. A sorry silly thing it was to make a god of, which, when it was down, wanted help to get up again; and sottish wretches those were that could pray for help from that idol that needed, and in effect implored, their help. How could they attribute their victory to the power of Dagon when Dagon himself could not keep his own ground before the ark? But they are resolved Dagon shall be their god still, and therefore set him in his place. Bishop Hall observes hence, It is just with God that those who want grace shall want wit too; and it is the work of superstition to turn men into the stocks and stones they worship. Those that make them are like unto them. What is it that the great upholders of the antichristian kingdom are doing at this day but heaving Dagon up, and labouring to set him in his place again, and healing the deadly wound that has been given to the beast? but if the reformation be the cause of God, before which it has begun to fall, it shall not prevail, but shall surely fall before it.
3.The next night Dagon fell the second time, Sa1 5:4. They rose early, either, as usual, to make their addresses to their god, or earlier than usual, being impatient to know whether Dagon had kept his standing this night; and, to their great confusion, they find his case worse now than before. Whether the matter of which the image was made was apt to break or no, so it was that the head and hands were cut off upon the threshold, so that nothing remained but the stump, or, as the margin reads it, the fishy part of Dagon; for (as many learned men conjecture) the upper part of this image was in a human shape, the lower in the shape of a fish, as mermaids are painted. Such strong delusions were idolaters given up to, so vain were they in their imaginations, and so wretchedly darkened were their foolish hearts, as to worship the images, not only of creatures, but of nonentities, the mere figments of fancy. Well, the misshapen monster is by this fall made to appear,
(1.)Very ridiculous, and worthy to be despised. A pretty figure Dagon made now, when the fall had anatomized him, and shown how the human part and the fishy part were artificially put together, which perhaps the ignorant devotees had been made to believe was done by miracle!
(2.)Very impotent, and unworthy to be prayed to or trusted in; for his losing his head and hands proved him utterly destitute both of wisdom and power, and for ever disabled either to advise or act for his worshippers. This they got by setting Dagon in his place again; they had better have let him alone when he was down. But those can speed no better that contend with God, and will set up that which he is throwing down, Mal 1:4. God, by this, magnified his ark and made it honourable, when they vilified and made it contemptible. He also showed what will be the end of all that which is set up in opposition to him. Gird yourselves, but you shall be broken to pieces, Isa 8:9.
4.The threshold of Dagon's temple was ever looked upon as sacred, and not to be trodden on, Sa1 5:5. Some think that reference is had to this superstitious usage of Dagon's worshippers in Zep 1:9, where God threatens to punish those who, in imitation of them, leaped over the threshold. One would have thought that this incontestable proof of the ark's victory over Dagon would convince the Philistines of their folly in worshipping such a senseless thing, and that henceforward they would pay their homage to the conqueror; but, instead of being reformed, they were hardened in their idolatry, and, as evil men and seducers are wont to do, became worse and worse, Ti2 3:13. Instead of despising Dagon, for the threshold's sake that beheaded him, they were almost ready to worship the threshold because it was the block on which he was beheaded, and will never set their feet on that on which Dagon lost his head, shaming those who tread under foot the blood of the covenant and trample on things truly sacred. Yet this piece of superstition would help to perpetuate the remembrance of Dagon's disgrace; for, with the custom, the reason would be transmitted to posterity, and the children that should be born, enquiring why the threshold of Dagon's temple must not be trodden on, would be told that Dagon fell before the ark of the Lord. Thus God would have honour even out of their superstition. We are not told that they repaired the broken image; it is probable that they sent the art of God away first, and then they patched it up again, and set it in its place; for, it seems, they cannot deliver their souls, nor say, Is there not a lie in our right hand? Isa 44:20.
Historical interpretation
Three Centuries of Reception
4 surviving comments on this verse. Each one is dated, so this reads as a timeline rather than a list.
Select a marker to jump to its quote. Markers stagger vertically where authors wrote within a few decades of each other.
In short, if you believe the place is holy because the law and the books of prophets are there, then it is time for you to believe that idols and the temples of idols are holy. Once, when the Jews were at war, the people of Ashdod conquered them, took their ark and brought it into their own temple. Did the fact that it contained the ark make their temple a holy place? By no means! It continued to be profane and unclean, as the events immediately proved. For God wanted to teach the enemies of the Jews that the defeat was not due to God’s weakness but to the transgressions of those who worshiped him. And so the ark, which had been taken as booty in war, gave proof of its own power in an alien land by twice throwing the idol to the ground so that the idol was broken. The ark was so far from making that temple a holy place that it even openly attacked it.
And now is not the first time, but he has performed these amazing marvels from time immemorial. It is not pertinent to enumerate them all; I shall mention what seems to resemble these events most closely. Once when the Jews waged war in Palestine with certain foreigners and the enemy was victorious and took the ark of God, they dedicated it as the choice part of the spoils to one of their local idols named Dagon; and, as soon as the ark was brought in, the statue fell down and lay on its face. Since they did not comprehend God’s mighty power from this fall but set it up and again placed it on its pedestal, when they appeared the next day at dawn they observed that it was no longer simply fallen but also quite broken. The arms, detached from the shoulders, were flung onto the threshold of the temple, with the feet; and the rest of the statue was scattered in another place in pieces.… Therefore the place, which is able to exist for a long time, receives the blow and reminds each succeeding generation that those who do such things are ordained by law to suffer such things even if they do not pay the penalty at once; which is exactly what happened in the case of this temple.
So Dagon who was adored as God by them (although he was a dumb, senseless idol) was made to fall before the ark, and God prepared to stage a spectacle for the spectators, so that the Philistines might perceive the difference between false god and true God.In their folly, they raised him up again only to see him fallen a second time and brought to his knees, so to speak. Behaving thus with singular stupidity and reluctant to recognize the difference, they were taught by experience not to run to excess. Having learned their lesson, they returned to their senses, shook off their drunken ignorance and returned the ark, as was fitting, to its proper admirers, having honored it with votive offerings. They confessed their chastisements and instructed those who received it about the manner of its return.
For this reason, the priests of Dagon do not tread, etc. For the reason that the devil is to be cast out and condemned in the end, all those who perversely follow him either by teaching or acting, prompted by him, shun considering and guarding against the time of his sentence and condemnation. Indeed, before his worshippers turn away from iniquity, he, concerned for them, suspends their understanding, almost like the advance of the mind, from foreseeing the future or their own destruction. And this continues to the present day, that is, until each of them recognizes the light of truth, which whoever follows, not walking in darkness perpetually. Nor does he fear to tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod, for with diligent mind he contemplates and dreads the punishment of the wicked, who burn with earthly desires, and their leader the devil, moreover, striving to sprinkle his own threshold with the blood of the paschal lamb, turned towards better things, that is, to secure his entrance and exit with the mystery of the Lord's passion. Therefore, the head and feet of the truncated Dagon on the threshold are deterred from contact with the same threshold. However, the blood of the immaculate lamb always renders safe those who remember it from the enemy, because the devil, whom he deceives, removes the consideration of the end that leads to impious Tartarus, both theirs and his own. But the Lord, whom he redeemed by the example of his passion and resurrection, always teaches them to hope for life after death.
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Summary
First Samuel 5:5 records a peculiar and enduring custom adopted by the priests and worshippers of Dagon in Ashdod: their deliberate avoidance of treading on the threshold of Dagon's temple. This ritualistic practice served as a permanent, tangible memorial to the dramatic and humiliating defeat of their national deity, Dagon, at the hands of the God of Israel, Yahweh, after the Ark of the Covenant was placed in Dagon's presence. It underscores the profound and lasting impact of divine judgment, transforming a site of pagan worship into an unwitting monument to Yahweh's undeniable supremacy.
Context
Literary Context
This verse concludes the narrative in 1 Samuel 5, which details the Ark of the Covenant's devastating impact on the Philistine city of Ashdod. After the Philistines captured the Ark from Israel in 1 Samuel 4:11, they brought it to Ashdod and placed it triumphantly in the temple of Dagon, their chief deity. The following morning, Dagon's idol was found prostrate before the Ark. After being set upright, Dagon was found again the next morning, utterly shattered: its head and hands were severed and lay upon the temple's threshold, a graphic depiction of its utter powerlessness before Yahweh (1 Samuel 5:4). Verse 5 explains the lasting ritualistic consequence of this divine intervention, demonstrating that the humiliation of Dagon was not a fleeting incident but a deeply ingrained cultural memory, preserved through this unique custom.
Historical & Cultural Context
The Philistines were a formidable "Sea Peoples" group who settled in the southern coastal plain of Canaan, establishing a pentapolis (five major cities: Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gaza, Gath, and Ekron). Dagon was their prominent grain and fertility god, often depicted with a human upper body and a fish-like lower body. Temples were central to ancient Near Eastern religious life, and the threshold often held symbolic significance, sometimes considered a sacred boundary or a place where spirits resided. The act of stepping over a threshold could be imbued with ritual meaning. For the Philistines, the Ark's presence was initially a trophy, but its subsequent actions, including the plague of tumors (1 Samuel 5:6), quickly revealed Yahweh's superior power. The custom in 1 Samuel 5:5 thus reflects a superstitious reverence or fear, born out of a traumatic encounter with a power far greater than their own god, transforming a common architectural feature into a permanent reminder of Dagon's disgrace.
Key Themes
The overarching theme is the Supremacy of Yahweh over all other gods and powers. The narrative vividly illustrates that the God of Israel is not merely one deity among many but is sovereign and incomparable. Dagon's repeated prostration and ultimate destruction before the Ark unequivocally declare Yahweh's unique power and authority, demonstrating that He does not share His glory with idols (Isaiah 42:8). Closely related is the Folly and Impotence of Idolatry. The broken idol of Dagon serves as a powerful visual sermon on the worthlessness of man-made gods, which cannot even defend themselves, let alone their worshippers (Psalm 115:4-7). This event underscores that idols are nothing but wood and stone, powerless against the living God. Finally, the phrase "unto this day" highlights the Lasting Impact of Divine Judgment and Revelation. The custom served as a perpetual, ritualistic acknowledgment by the Philistines of a divine intervention that profoundly impacted their religious practices and cultural memory, a testament to God's enduring power and the unforgettable nature of His acts.
Exposition and Analysis
Key Word Analysis
This term refers to those officiating in religious rituals, specifically the authorized functionaries of a deity. In this context, the "priests of Dagon" were the official custodians and ministers of Dagon's cult. Their participation in this custom underscores its religious significance and official endorsement within Philistine society, indicating that the humiliation of Dagon was acknowledged even by those whose livelihood depended on his veneration.
This word refers to the sill or doorstep of a doorway. In ancient cultures, thresholds often carried symbolic weight, marking the boundary between the sacred and profane, or inside and outside. In this context, the threshold of Dagon's temple became the specific, defiled spot where Dagon's severed head and hands lay. The Philistine priests' and worshippers' avoidance of treading on it suggests it was viewed as either ritually unclean due to Dagon's disgrace or supernaturally dangerous, a place imbued with the mysterious power that had shattered their god. It became a permanent, physical marker of Dagon's humiliation.
While part of the larger phrase "unto this day," the core word "day" refers to a specific period of time. In this context, its use in the phrase "unto this day" (Hebrew, 'ad hayyom hazzeh') functions as a common literary device in historical narratives. It indicates that the custom or condition described persisted from the time of the event until the time the biblical account was written or compiled. It serves to authenticate the historical accuracy and lasting impact of the event, emphasizing that the defeat of Dagon was not a forgotten incident but a deeply ingrained part of Philistine cultural memory and religious practice, a perpetual reminder of Yahweh's power.
Verse Breakdown
"Therefore neither the priests of Dagon, nor any that come into Dagon's house"
This clause identifies the specific groups of people who observed the custom. "Priests of Dagon" refers to the official religious functionaries responsible for the cult of Dagon. "Any that come into Dagon's house" broadens the scope to include all worshippers and visitors to the temple, indicating that this was not merely a priestly regulation but a widely adopted practice among the Philistine populace in Ashdod. This demonstrates the widespread impact and acknowledgment of the divine judgment.
"tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod"
This specifies the ritualistic action and its location. The verb "tread" (דָּרַךְ, darakh) implies stepping on or walking over. The avoidance of this specific act on the temple's threshold in Ashdod is the core of the custom. It directly links the practice to the spot where Dagon's broken pieces lay, making the threshold a permanent, tangible memorial to Dagon's disgrace and Yahweh's triumph.
"unto this day"
This concluding phrase emphasizes the longevity and enduring nature of the custom. It signifies that the event was so impactful and the divine judgment so undeniable that it resulted in a lasting ritualistic practice that continued for generations, serving as a constant, albeit perhaps grudging, acknowledgment of Yahweh's superiority over Dagon.
Literary Devices
The passage employs several potent literary devices. Irony is prominent, as Dagon's own temple, a supposed sanctuary of power, becomes the very stage for his public humiliation and a testament to Yahweh's supremacy. The threshold, meant to be a gateway to Dagon's presence, becomes a symbol of his utter defeat and a barrier for his worshippers. Symbolism is also key: Dagon's severed head and hands lying on the threshold symbolize his complete impotence and inability to act or think, while the avoided threshold itself becomes a lasting symbol of the Philistines' enforced acknowledgment of Yahweh's power. Furthermore, this verse functions as an Aetiology or Historical Marker, explaining the origin of a specific cultural custom ("unto this day"). This literary technique lends credibility and historical depth to the narrative, suggesting that the events described had real, observable consequences in the Philistine society.
Theological and Thematic Connections
The narrative of Dagon's defeat and the resulting custom in 1 Samuel 5:5 powerfully affirms the absolute sovereignty and incomparability of Yahweh, the God of Israel. It serves as a foundational declaration that the one true God does not tolerate rivals and will assert His glory against all false deities and human constructs that seek to usurp His rightful place. This account demonstrates that God's power is not confined to Israel's borders or limited by human understanding; His presence, even when represented by the Ark, carries inherent authority that exposes the emptiness and futility of idolatry. The Philistines' superstitious custom, born of fear and awe, is an unwitting confession of Yahweh's unchallengeable might, a stark reminder that all created things, including pagan gods, are subject to the Creator.
Reflection and Application
The enduring custom of the Philistine priests avoiding Dagon's threshold in Ashdod serves as a profound and timeless lesson for believers today. It calls us to recognize and submit to God's unchallengeable authority, reminding us that He remains supreme over every earthly power, ideology, or false god that competes for allegiance in our lives or in the world. In a culture saturated with distractions and competing loyalties, this passage challenges us to examine what occupies the "threshold" of our hearts – what we prioritize, what we worship, and what we truly rely upon. While we may not bow to physical statues, anything that takes God's rightful place – whether it be wealth, career, comfort, relationships, or even self-reliance – can become a modern idol. The broken Dagon reminds us of the futility of trusting in anything other than the living God. Moreover, the Ark's presence brought judgment and transformation to Dagon's temple; similarly, the indwelling presence of God's Holy Spirit in our lives should expose and challenge all that is contrary to His will, leading to genuine repentance, spiritual growth, and a clearer, more profound understanding of His glory and sovereignty.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Why did the Philistines adopt this custom of not treading on the threshold?
The Philistines adopted this custom out of a mixture of fear, superstition, and an undeniable acknowledgment of a superior divine power. After the Ark of the Covenant was placed in Dagon's temple, Dagon's idol was twice found prostrate before it, and on the second occasion, Dagon was utterly shattered, with its head and hands severed and lying on the very threshold (1 Samuel 5:4). This was a public, undeniable humiliation of their chief deity, indicating that the God of Israel was far more powerful. The threshold became a defiled or supernaturally charged spot, a permanent reminder of Dagon's disgrace. By avoiding stepping on it, the priests and worshippers were likely attempting to appease this powerful, unseen force, avoid similar judgment, or simply ritualistically acknowledge the profound event that had occurred, preserving its memory "unto this day."
Christ-Centered Fulfillment
The dramatic humiliation of Dagon before the Ark of the Covenant in 1 Samuel 5 powerfully foreshadows the ultimate and decisive victory of Jesus Christ over all spiritual powers and the forces of evil. Just as Dagon, a prominent false god, was utterly stripped of its power and authority, so too did Christ, through His death and resurrection, disarm and triumph over the principalities and powers of darkness. The threshold, where Dagon's severed head and hands lay, symbolizes the place of ultimate defeat for the enemy. In Christ, we see the true Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world, not by merely toppling an idol, but by conquering sin and death itself. His victory on the cross was a public spectacle, where He "disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him" (Colossians 2:15). The lasting custom of avoiding Dagon's threshold points to the eternal implications of Christ's triumph: just as Dagon's defeat was a permanent marker, so too is Christ's victory an eternal reality, ensuring that the power of sin and death is forever broken for those who believe in Him (Hebrews 2:14-15). He is the true and living God, before whom every knee will one day bow (Philippians 2:10-11), demonstrating His ultimate supremacy over all that would contend for our worship.