1 Samuel5
New International Version
1After the Philistines had captured the ark of God, they took it from Ebenezer to Ashdod.
2Then they carried the ark into Dagon’s temple and set it beside Dagon.
3When the people of Ashdod rose early the next day, there was Dagon, fallen on his face on the ground before the ark of the Lord! They took Dagon and put him back in his place.
4But the following morning when they rose, there was Dagon, fallen on his face on the ground before the ark of the Lord! His head and hands had been broken off and were lying on the threshold; only his body remained.
5That is why to this day neither the priests of Dagon nor any others who enter Dagon’s temple at Ashdod step on the threshold.
6The Lord’s hand was heavy on the people of Ashdod and its vicinity; he brought devastation on them and afflicted them with tumors.
7When the people of Ashdod saw what was happening, they said, “The ark of the god of Israel must not stay here with us, because his hand is heavy on us and on Dagon our god.”
8So they called together all the rulers of the Philistines and asked them, “What shall we do with the ark of the god of Israel?” They answered, “Have the ark of the god of Israel moved to Gath.” So they moved the ark of the God of Israel.
9But after they had moved it, the Lord’s hand was against that city, throwing it into a great panic. He afflicted the people of the city, both young and old, with an outbreak of tumors.
10So they sent the ark of God to Ekron. As the ark of God was entering Ekron, the people of Ekron cried out, “They have brought the ark of the god of Israel around to us to kill us and our people.”
11So they called together all the rulers of the Philistines and said, “Send the ark of the god of Israel away; let it go back to its own place, or it will kill us and our people.” For death had filled the city with panic; God’s hand was very heavy on it.
12Those who did not die were afflicted with tumors, and the outcry of the city went up to heaven.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for 1 Samuel 5.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: Dagon is broken before the ark. (1–5). The Philistine smitten. (6–12).
vv1-5
See the ark's triumph over Dagon. Thus the kingdom of Satan will certainly fall before the kingdom of Christ, error before truth, profaneness before godliness, and corruption before grace in the hearts of the faithful. When the interests of religion seem to be ready to sink, even then we may be confident that the day of their triumph will come. When Christ, the true Ark of the covenant, really enters the heart of fallen man, which is indeed Satan's temple, all idols will fall, every endeavour to set them up again will be vain, sin will be forsaken, and unrighteous gain restored; the Lord will claim and possess the throne. But pride, self-love, and worldly lusts, though dethroned and crucified, still remain within us, like the stump of Dagon. Let us watch and pray that they may not prevail. Let us seek to have them more entirely destroyed.
vv6-12
The hand of the Lord was heavy upon the Philistines; he not only convinced them of their folly, but severely chastised their insolence. Yet they would not renounce Dagon; and instead of seeking God's mercy, they desired to get clear of his ark. Carnal hearts, when they smart under the judgments of God, would rather, if it were possible, put him far from them, than enter into covenant or communion with him, and seek him for their friend. But their devices to escape the Divine judgments only increase them. Those that fight against God will soon have enough of it.
Key Words
פְּלִשְׁתִּי: a Pelishtite or inhabitant of Pelesheth
לָקַח: to take (in the widest variety of applications)
אָרוֹן: a box
אֱלֹהִים: gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative
בּוֹא: to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
אֶבֶן הָעֵזֶר: Eben-ha-Ezer, a place in Palestine
אַשְׁדּוֹד: Ashdod, a place in Palestine
בַּיִת: a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
דָּגוֹן: Dagon, a Philistine deity
יָצַג: to place permanently
Cross References
1 Samuel 5Explicit fulfillment of the covenant curse of botches/emerods threatened for disobedience.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Explicitly censures those who leap or tread on the threshold, a superstition originating here.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Poetic description of God smiting His enemies in the hinder parts with emerods.
Supported by JFB
Establishes Dagon as the premier god of the Philistines, previously credited with defeating Samson.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Parallels God executing judgment against foreign gods (Dagon) just as He did in Egypt.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
The great cry going up to heaven echoes the plague of Egypt's midnight cry.
Prophetic parallel of the idols of Egypt trembling and falling before the presence of the Lord.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Prophetic parallel of Babylonia's idols (Bel and Merodach) being broken and confounded.
Mockery of helpless idols that have hands but cannot handle, mirroring Dagon's severed hands.
Geographical connection tracing the ark's journey from Eben-ezer, where Israel was defeated.
Supported by Matthew Poole