^5:6The Lord attacked³ the residents of Ashdod severely, bringing devastation on them. He struck the people of⁴ both Ashdod and the surrounding area with sores.⁵^5:7When the people⁶ of Ashdod saw what was happening, they said, “The ark of the God of Israel should not remain with us, for he has attacked⁷ both us and our god Dagon!”

^5:8So they assembled⁸ all the leaders of the Philistines and asked, “What should we do with the ark of the God of Israel?” They replied, “The ark of the God of Israel should be moved to Gath.” So they moved the ark of the God of Israel.

^5:9But after it had been moved the Lord attacked⁹ that city as well, causing a great deal of panic. He struck all the people of that city¹⁰ with sores.¹¹^5:10So they sent the ark of God to Ekron.

But when the ark of God arrived at Ekron, the residents of Ekron cried out saying, “They have brought the ark of the God of Israel here¹² to kill our¹³ people!” ^5:11So they assembled¹⁴ all the leaders of the Philistines and said, “Get the ark of the God of Israel out of here! Let it go back to its own place so that it won’t kill us¹⁵ and our¹⁶ people!” The terror¹⁷ of death was throughout the entire city; God was attacking them very severely there.¹⁸

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Footnotes

3 Heb “the hand of the Lord was heavy upon.”
4 The words “the people of” are supplied in the translation for clarification.
5 The and add the following: “And mice multiplied in their land, and the terror of death was throughout the entire city.” Or “tumors” (so , , , , ); “growths on their skin”; “emerods”; “hemorrhoids.”
6 Heb “men.”
7 Heb “for his hand is severe upon.”
8 Heb “and they sent and gathered.”
9 Heb “the hand of the Lord was against the city.”
10 Heb “and he struck the men of the city from small and to great.”
11 See the note on this term in v. . Cf. “and they had emerods in their secret parts.”
12 Heb “to me.”
13 Heb “my.”
14 Heb “and they sent and gathered.”
15 Heb “me.”
16 Heb “my.”
17 Or “panic.”
18 Heb “the hand of God was very heavy there.”