1 Samuel 5

Capture of the Ark Provokes God

1Now the PhilistinesH6430 tookH3947 the arkH727 of GodH430 and 1broughtH935 it from EbenezerH72 to 2AshdodH795. 2Then the PhilistinesH6430 tookH3947 the arkH727 of GodH430 and broughtH935 it to 3the houseH1004 of DagonH1712 and setH3322 it by DagonH1712. 3When the AshdoditesH796 aroseH7925 earlyH7925 the nextH4283 morningH4283, beholdH2009, 4DagonH1712 had fallenH5307 on his faceH6440 to the groundH776 beforeH6440 the arkH727 of the LordH3068. So they tookH3947 DagonH1712 and 5setH7725 him in his placeH4725 againH7725. 4But when they aroseH7925 earlyH7925 the nextH4283 morningH1242, beholdH2009, 6DagonH1712 had fallenH5307 on his faceH6440 to the groundH776 beforeH6440 the arkH727 of the LordH3068. And the headH7218 of DagonH1712 and bothH8147 the palmsH3709 of his handsH3027 were cutH3772 offH3772 on the thresholdH4670; 7onlyH7534 the trunk of DagonH1712 was leftH7604 to him. 5ThereforeH5921H3651 neitherH3808 the priestsH3548 of DagonH1712 norH3808 allH3605 who enterH935 Dagon’sH1712 houseH1004 8treadH1869 on the thresholdH4670 of DagonH1712 in AshdodH795 to thisH2088 dayH3117.

6Now 9the handH3027 of the LordH3068 was heavyH3513 on the AshdoditesH796, and 10He ravagedH8074 them and smoteH5221 them with 11tumorsH6076, both AshdodH795 and its territoriesH1366. 7When the menH376 of AshdodH795 sawH7200 that it was soH3651, they saidH559, “The arkH727 of the GodH430 of IsraelH3478 must not remainH3427 with us, for His handH3027 is severeH7185 on us and on DagonH1712 our godH430.” 8So they sentH7971 and 12gatheredH622 allH3605 the lordsH5633 of the PhilistinesH6430 to them and saidH559, “WhatH4100 shall we doH6213 with the arkH727 of the GodH430 of IsraelH3478?” And they saidH559, “Let the arkH727 of the GodH430 of IsraelH3478 be broughtH5437 aroundH5437 to GathH1661.” And they broughtH5437 the arkH727 of the GodH430 of IsraelH3478 around. 9AfterH310 they had broughtH5437 it aroundH5437, 13the handH3027 of the LordH3068 was against the cityH5892 with veryH3966 greatH1419 confusionH4103; and He smoteH5221 the menH376 of the cityH5892, bothH4480 youngH6996 and oldH1419, so that 14tumorsH6076 brokeH8368 out on them. 10So they sentH7971 the arkH727 of GodH430 to EkronH6138. And as the arkH727 of GodH430 cameH935 to EkronH6138 the EkronitesH6139 criedH2199 out, sayingH559, “They have broughtH5437 the arkH727 of the GodH430 of IsraelH3478 aroundH5437 to 15us, to killH4191 16us and 17our peopleH5971.” 11They 18sentH7971 therefore and gatheredH622 allH3605 the lordsH5633 of the PhilistinesH6430 and saidH559, “SendH7971 awayH7971 the arkH727 of the GodH430 of IsraelH3478, and let it returnH7725 to its own placeH4725, soH3808 that it will not killH4191 19us and 20our peopleH5971.” For there was a deadlyH4194 confusionH4103 throughoutH3605 the cityH5892; 21the handH3027 of GodH430 was veryH3966 heavyH3513 thereH8033. 12And the menH376 whoH834 did not dieH4191 were smittenH5221 with tumorsH6076 and 22the cryH7775 of the cityH5892 wentH5927 up to heavenH8064.