1 Samuel 5:2–7

2 When the Philistines took the ark of God, they brought it into the house of cDagon, and set it by Dagon. 3 And when they of Ashdod arose early on the morrow, behold, Dagon was dfallen upon his face to the earth before the ark of the Lord. And they took Dagon, and set him in his place again. 4 And when they arose early on the morrow morning, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the ground before the ark of the Lord; and ethe head of Dagon and both the palms of his hands were cut off upon the threshold; only ||the stump of Dagon was left to him. 5 Therefore neither the priests of Dagon, nor any that come into Dagon’s house, tread on the fthreshold of Dagon in Ashdod unto this day. 6 But gthe hand of the Lord was heavy upon them of Ashdod, and he hdestroyed them, and smote them with iemerods, even Ashdod and the coasts thereof. 7 And when the men of Ashdod saw that it was so, they said, The ark of the God of Israel shall not abide with us: for his hand is sore upon us, and upon Dagon our god.