The Ark Causes Trouble for the Philistines

5:1 Now the Philistines had captured the ark of God and brought it from Ebenezer to Ashdod. 5:2 The Philistines took the ark of God and brought it into the temple of Dagon, where they positioned it beside Dagon. 5:3 When the residents of Ashdod got up early the next day,1 Dagon was lying on the ground before the ark of the Lord. So they took Dagon and set him back in his place. 5:4 But when they got up early the following day, Dagon was again lying on the ground before the ark of the Lord. The head of Dagon and his two hands were sheared off and were lying at the threshold. Only Dagon’s body was left intact.2 5:5 (For this reason, to this very day, neither Dagon’s priests nor anyone else who enters Dagon’s temple step on Dagon’s threshold in Ashdod.)

5:6 The 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 5:7 When 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!”

5:8 So 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.

5:9 But 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 5:10 So 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!” 5:11 So 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 5:12 The people19 who did not die were struck with sores; the city’s cry for help went all the way up to heaven.