1 Samuel5

The Philistines captured the Ark of God and brought it to Ashdod, placing it in Dagon's temple. Dagon's idol repeatedly fell and was ultimately destroyed before the Ark. The Lord's hand then afflicted Ashdod, Gath, and Ekron with a severe plague of emerods and destruction. This compelled the Philistines to seek to return the Ark to its own place.

The Ark Brought to Ashdod

1
The P'lishtim had captured the ark of God and brought it from Even-'Ezer to Ashdod. ​
2
Then the P'lishtim took the ark of God, brought it to the temple of Dagon and set it next to Dagon. ​

Dagon Humbled Before the Ark

3
But early the next morning, when the people of Ashdod got up, there was Dagon, fallen down with his face to the ground before the ark of ADONAI. They took Dagon and set him in his place again; ​
4
but early the following morning, when they got up, Dagon was again fallen down with his face to the ground before the ark of ADONAI; this time, the head of Dagon and both hands lay there, severed, on the threshold; all that was left of Dagon was his torso. ​
5
This is why, to this day, the priests of Dagon and those entering his temple never walk on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod. ​

Divine Judgment on Ashdod

6
ADONAI began oppressing the people of Ashdod; he ravaged them, striking Ashdod and its surrounding area with tumors. ​
7
When the people of Ashdod came to understand what was happening, they said, "The ark of the God of Isra'el can't remain with us, because he is oppressing us and our god Dagon." ​

The Ark Moved to Gath and Ekron

8
They summoned all the leaders of the P'lishtim and asked, "What are we to do with the ark of the God of Isra'el?" They answered, "Have the ark of the God of Isra'el carried to Gat." So they carried the ark of the God of Isra'el to Gat. ​
9
But after it arrived there, ADONAI oppressed that city, causing terrible panic. He struck the people of the city, great and small alike; tumors broke out on them. ​
10
Next they sent the ark of God to 'Ekron; but when the ark of God arrived in 'Ekron the 'Ekronim shouted, "Now they've brought the ark of the God of Isra'el to us, to kill us and our people!" ​
11
So they summoned all the leaders of the P'lishtim and said, "Send the ark of the God of Isra'el away! Let it go back to its own place, so that it won't kill us and our people!"- because death and panic pervaded the whole city; God's oppression was very heavy there. ​
12
The people who didn't die were struck with the tumors; and the city's cries for help reached the skies.

Study Notes for 1 Samuel 5

Verse 1

The Philistines believed that capturing the Ark meant capturing the power of Israel’s God, similar to how they treated captured idols of other nations. Ebenezer was the site of the battle where the Ark was seized (4:1).

Verse 2

Placing the Ark next to Dagon was a deliberate act to show Yahweh's subordination to the chief Philistine deity, Dagon, who represented fertility and grain.

Verse 3

The falling of Dagon before the Ark symbolizes the theological truth that Yahweh is supreme and all other gods are powerless idols (Ps. 115:4-7).

Verse 4

The cutting off of the head and hands signifies complete impotence; Dagon is destroyed and rendered unable to see or act, confirming his humiliation before the Ark of the LORD.

Verse 5

This verse is the origin of a specific cultic practice observed among the priests of Dagon, emphasizing the lasting memory of Yahweh’s power.

Verse 6

The term 'emerods' (Hebrew: *‘ophel*) likely refers to painful, swelling tumors (possibly bubonic plague or severe hemorrhoids), demonstrating God’s ability to judge those who disrespect His holiness.

Verse 7

The Philistines correctly attribute the disaster to the 'God of Israel' and recognize that Yahweh’s power far surpasses that of their own god, Dagon.

Verse 8

The 'lords of the Philistines' (the five rulers of the Pentapolis) gather to decide the fate of the dangerous object, illustrating the political structure of the Philistine nation.

Verse 9

The destruction follows the Ark geographically, confirming that the plague is not random but a direct consequence of possessing the sacred object.

Verse 10

The Ekronites immediately recognize the danger, having witnessed the devastation in Ashdod and Gath, highlighting the speed and intensity of God's judgment.

Verse 11

The Philistine leaders finally reach the desperate conclusion that the only way to save their people is to return the Ark to Israel, recognizing the futility of fighting God’s power.

Use ← → arrow keys to navigate
Settings

Reading Style

Typeface

Font Size 19px

Reading Width 45 chars

Options