1 Samuel 5:1–7

The Philistines and the Ark

5 Then the Philistines took the ark of God and brought it afrom Ebenezer to Ashdod. 2 When the Philistines took the ark of God, they brought it into the house of bDagon 1and set it by Dagon. 3 And when the people of Ashdod arose early in the morning, there was Dagon, cfallen on its face to the earth before the ark of the Lord. So they took Dagon and dset it in its place again. 4 And when they arose early the next morning, there was Dagon, fallen on its face to the ground before the ark of the Lord. eThe head of Dagon and both the palms of its hands were broken off on the threshold; only 2Dagon’s torso was left of it. 5 Therefore neither the priests of Dagon nor any who come into Dagon’s house ftread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod to this day.

6 But the ghand of the Lord was heavy on the people of Ashdod, and He hravaged them and struck them with itumors, 3both Ashdod and its jterritory. 7 And when the men of Ashdod saw how it was, they said, “The ark of the kGod of Israel must not remain with us, for His hand is harsh toward us and Dagon our god.”