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5:1–12 The Philistines return home from battle victorious, having captured the ark of the God of Israel. However, when they bring the ark into their temple, it desecrates their god, Dagon. When they send it throughout the Philistine cities, God afflicts the people with tumors and causes great suffering—the outcome of their irreverence.

Philistines

5:1 Ebenezer The site of the Israelite camp (4:1).

Ebenezer

Ebenezer AYBD

to Ashdod One of the five major cities of the Philistines.

5:2 Dagon A god of the Philistines. Due to their victory in battle, the Philistines believe that Israel’s God must be subservient to their god (see Jer 43:12 and note).

Dagon DDD

Dagon AYBD

Pagan Deities in the Old Testament Table

5:3 fallen with his face to the ground A posture of worship and subservience. The Philistine god, who they thought prevailed in battle, pays homage to the God of Israel.

returned him to his place Demonstrates Dagon’s true lack of power; he cannot even stand up on his own.

This phrase serves as a subtle critique of idolatry. Ancients believed their pagan gods accompanied them on the battlefield and gave them victory. The Philistines believed their god, Dagon, had triumphed over Yahweh. In reality, Dagon needed the help of his priests to simply stand up—a humorous contrast to the image of a warring deity. See also Isa 44:9–20; Jer 10:5.

The Logic of Idolatry

Idol, Idolatry AYBD

5:4 they got up early in the morning the next day This occurs on two successive days, showing it was not an accident.

were cut off The judgment against Dagon recalls Eli’s fate; see 1 Sam 4:18 and note.

5:5 do not tread on the threshold of This seems to indicate that people no longer entered this temple of Dagon. However, the text could also be alluding to some ritual that involved stepping over the threshold of the door rather than on it—showing a sign of respect upon entering the temple.

This decision reflects the ancient Near Eastern worldview that geographical regions were under the dominion of various gods (see Deut 32:8 and note). In the minds of the Philistines, the temple of Dagon was now under Yahweh’s jurisdiction, since He had conquered Dagon. The Philistines are testifying to the superiority of Yahweh over Dagon.

5:6 with tumors Many translations read “tumors” or “hemorrhoids” here based on a suggestion in the margin of the traditional Hebrew Bible—which literally refers to mounds or bulges. But the main Hebrew text refers to “swellings.”

In an attempt to alleviate this plague, the Philistines later send five gold rodents and five other gold objects back to Israel with the ark of the covenant (1 Sam 6:4–5). The reference to rodents suggests the Philistines’ crops were being ravished and that they may have been experiencing the bubonic plague; in line with this, the ancient Greek translation of the ot (the Septuagint) adds a reference to rodents here in v. 6. The later Jewish historian Josephus thought the affliction of the Philistines was dysentery (Josephus, Antiquities 6.3). However, in 6:4, the same Hebrew word used here in v. 6 refers to the shape of the second set of gold objects, making the reading of “tumors” or “hemorrhoids” odd. Archaeological discoveries at the Philistine city of Ashkelon revealed bronze vessels in the form of male phalluses, which means that the Philistines in 6:4 likely created phallic objects. This suggests that the bodily infirmity of the Philistines was some sort of genital affliction. This combined with their crops being destroyed would have been a mockery of their entire religion—Dagon was a god affiliated with grain and the harvest, and Philistine religion in general focused on fertility.

Ophel HAL

Sickness and Disease AYBD

5:8 the rulers of the Philistines The leaders of the five major Philistine cities: Ashdod, Gath, Ekron, Ashkelon, and Gaza.

Major Philistine Cities

Philistines AYBD

Philistines

5:10 the Ekronites cried out This was apparently not part of the plan formulated in v. 8; the ark is unwelcome in Ekron.

5:11 gathered A second meeting, demonstrating they do not know what do to with the powerful ark.

let it return to its place They recognize that Yahweh’s power is directed against them. The God of Israel does not need an army to fight for Him—He can handle the Philistines Himself. Consequently, they wisely advise that it be returned to its proper place before it kills all of them.

5:12 went up to heaven This does not imply that they are praying specifically to Yahweh.

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