1 Samuel 5

1After the PhilistinesH6430 had capturedH3947 the arkH727 of GodH430, they took itH935 fromH72 EbenezerH72 to AshdodH795, 2carried it intoH935 the templeH1004 of DagonH1712, and setH3322 itH853 besideH681 his statue.1

3When the people of AshdodH796 got up earlyH7925 the next morningH4283, thereH2009 was DagonH1712, fallenH5307 on his faceH6440H776 beforeH6440 the arkH727 of the LORDH3068. So they tookH3947 DagonH1712 and returnedH7725 himH853 to his placeH4725.

4But when they got up earlyH7925 the nextH4283 morningH1242, thereH2009 was DagonH1712, fallenH5307 on his faceH6440H776 beforeH6440 the arkH727 of the LORDH3068, with his headH7218H1712 and his handsH3027 broken offH3772 and lying onH413 the thresholdH4670. OnlyH7535 the torso remainedH7604H5921. 5That is whyH5921H3651, toH5704 thisH2088 dayH3117, the priestsH3548 of DagonH1712 and allH3605 who enterH935 the templeH1004 of DagonH1712 in AshdodH795 do notH3808 stepH1869 onH5921 the thresholdH4670H1712.

6Now the handH3027 of the LORDH3068 was heavyH3513 onH413 the people of AshdodH796 andH853 its vicinityH1366, ravaging themH8074 and afflictingH5221 themH853 with tumorsH6076.2 7And when the menH582 of AshdodH795 sawH7200 what was happeningH3588H3651, they saidH559, “The arkH727 of the GodH430 of IsraelH3478 must notH3808 stayH3427 here with usH5973, becauseH3588 His handH3027 is heavyH7185 upon usH5921 and uponH5921 our godH430 DagonH1712.”

8

So they called togetherH622 allH3605H413 the rulersH5633 of the PhilistinesH6430 and askedH559, “WhatH4100 shall we doH6213 with the arkH727 of the God ofH430 IsraelH3478?”

“It must be movedH5437 to GathH1661,” they repliedH559. So they carried awayH5437 the arkH727 of the GodH430 of IsraelH3478.

9But afterH310 they had movedH5437 the ark to Gath, the LORD’sH3068 handH3027 was alsoH1961 against that cityH5892, throwing it into great confusionH4103H1419H3966 and afflictingH5221 the menH582 of the cityH5892, both youngH6996 andH5704 oldH1419, with an outbreakH8368 of tumorsH6076.

10So they sentH7971 the arkH727 of GodH430 to EkronH6138H1961, but as itH727H430 arrivedH935, the EkronitesH6139H559 cried outH2199, “They have broughtH5437 usH413 the arkH727 of the GodH430 of IsraelH3478 in order to kill usH4191 andH853 our peopleH5971!”

11Then the Ekronites called togetherH7971H622 allH3605 the rulersH5633 of the PhilistinesH6430 and saidH559, “Send awayH7971 the arkH727 of the GodH430 of IsraelH3478. It must returnH7725 to its placeH4725, so that it will notH38083 killH4191 usH853 and our peopleH5971!”

ForH3588 a deadlyH4194 confusionH4103 had pervadedH1961H3605 the cityH5892; the handH3027 of GodH430 was veryH3966 heavyH3513 upon itH8033. 12ThoseH582 whoH834 did notH3808 dieH4191 were afflictedH5221 with tumorsH6076, and the outcryH7775 of the cityH5892 went upH5927 to heavenH8064.