About 1 Samuel

1 Samuel records the transition from judges to monarchy, including Samuel's ministry, Saul's rise and fall, and David's anointing.

Author: Samuel, Nathan, GadWritten: c. 1050-900 BCReading time: ~2 minVerses: 12
TransitionKingshipObedienceRejectionGod's SovereigntyHeart

Places in This Chapter

View map →
Ashdod(Settlement)Ebenezer 1(Settlement)Ekron(Settlement)Gath 1(Settlement)

King James Version

1 Samuel 5

12 verses with commentary

The Ark in Philistine Cities

1

And the Philistines took the ark of God, and brought it from Ebenezer unto Ashdod.

View commentary
The Ark's journey into Philistine territory moves from Ebenezer (stone of help) to Ashdod - from the place that should have marked divine aid to the center of Dagon worship. The geographical movement traces the Ark's captivity but also sets the stage for God's self-vindication. What appears to be Yahweh's defeat will become His triumph. The Philistines think they have captured Israel's God; they will discover they have brought judgment into their own land.
2

When the Philistines took the ark of God, they brought it into the house of Dagon, and set it by Dagon.

View commentary
The Philistines place the Ark in Dagon's temple 'by Dagon,' positioning it as inferior tribute or captive trophy. Standard ancient practice interpreted military victory as divine victory - Dagon had defeated Yahweh. The placement 'by' (or 'beside') Dagon suggests subordination. The Philistines interpret events through their theological framework: their god has triumphed over Israel's god. This theological claim is about to be dramatically refuted.
3

And when they of Ashdod arose early on the morrow, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the earth before the ark of the LORD. And they took Dagon, and set him in his place again.

View commentary
Morning reveals Dagon's humiliation: 'fallen upon his face to the earth before the ark of the LORD.' The idol that should have been victorious lies prostrate in worship position before the Ark. The Philistines' response - setting Dagon back up - shows persistent blindness. They restore their idol rather than acknowledging what the fall signifies. Human beings persistently prop up failing ideologies and idols rather than acknowledging the true God's supremacy.
4

And when they arose early on the morrow morning, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the ground before the ark of the LORD; and the head of Dagon and both the palms of his hands were cut off upon the threshold; only the stump of Dagon was left to him. the stump: or, the fishy part

View commentary
The second morning brings intensified humiliation: Dagon falls again, now with 'head...and both the palms of his hands cut off upon the threshold.' Only 'the stump of Dagon' (literally 'only Dagon') remains - the fish-body portion if Dagon was fish-shaped, or simply a mutilated torso. The severing of head and hands represents complete incapacitation: no wisdom (head) and no power (hands). Dagon cannot think or act. The threshold - the temple's entrance point - becomes a place of permanent shame.
5

Therefore neither the priests of Dagon, nor any that come into Dagon's house, tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod unto this day.

View commentary
A cultic practice emerges: 'neither the priests of Dagon, nor any that come into Dagon's house, tread on the threshold...unto this day.' The threshold where Dagon's mutilated parts lay becomes taboo. This practice, persisting 'unto this day,' memorializes Dagon's defeat in every subsequent temple visit. Every worshipper who steps over the threshold enacts remembrance of their god's humiliation. The Philistines cannot erase what happened; they can only incorporate it into ritual practice.
6

But the hand of the LORD was heavy upon them of Ashdod, and he destroyed them, and smote them with emerods , even Ashdod and the coasts thereof.

View commentary
Divine judgment extends beyond the idol to the people: 'the hand of the LORD was heavy upon them of Ashdod.' The 'heavy hand' metaphor pictures oppressive, crushing weight. God 'destroyed them' and struck them with 'emerods' (tumors or hemorrhoids, possibly bubonic plague). The scope expands: 'Ashdod and the coasts thereof.' What began in Dagon's temple spreads throughout the territory. The Ark that could not protect disobedient Israel actively attacks its pagan captors.
7

And when the men of Ashdod saw that it was so, they said, The ark of the God of Israel shall not abide with us: for his hand is sore upon us, and upon Dagon our god.

View commentary
The men of Ashdod draw the correct conclusion: 'The ark of the God of Israel shall not abide with us: for his hand is sore upon us, and upon Dagon our god.' They recognize both personal suffering and their deity's defeat. The phrase 'his hand is sore' acknowledges Yahweh's aggressive action. Remarkably, these pagans discern what Israel's leaders failed to see: the Ark represents a God who acts according to His own purposes, not one who can be manipulated. They know they cannot keep this Ark.
8

They sent therefore and gathered all the lords of the Philistines unto them, and said, What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel? And they answered, Let the ark of the God of Israel be carried about unto Gath. And they carried the ark of the God of Israel about thither.

View commentary
The Philistine lords gather to decide the Ark's fate. Their question 'What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel?' acknowledges inability to simply return or destroy it. The decision to move it to Gath suggests hope that local factors caused Ashdod's problems. The phrase 'they carried the ark...about' (Hebrew: sabab, to go around, transfer) pictures the Ark making a circuit of Philistine cities, bringing judgment to each. The Ark becomes an instrument of comprehensive Philistine affliction.
9

And it was so, that, after they had carried it about, the hand of the LORD was against the city with a very great destruction: and he smote the men of the city, both small and great, and they had emerods in their secret parts.

View commentary
Gath fares no better: 'the hand of the LORD was against the city with a very great destruction.' The affliction now includes 'small and great' - no social class escapes. The 'emerods in their secret parts' (more literally, 'tumors broke out on them') spreads through the entire population. Each Philistine city that receives the Ark experiences intensified judgment. God demonstrates His power systematically throughout Philistine territory. The Ark cannot be contained or controlled by pagan strategies.
10

Therefore they sent the ark of God to Ekron. And it came to pass, as the ark of God came to Ekron, that the Ekronites cried out, saying, They have brought about the ark of the God of Israel to us, to slay us and our people. us, to: Heb. me to slay me and my

View commentary
The Ark moves to Ekron, and the Ekronites immediately recognize the threat: 'They have brought about the ark of the God of Israel to us, to slay us and our people.' Their cry shows learned experience - they know what happened to Ashdod and Gath. The phrase 'to slay us' attributes intentional, aggressive action to the God of the Ark. The Ekronites understand better than Israel's elders that this God acts according to His own purposes, not human manipulation.
11

So they sent and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines, and said, Send away the ark of the God of Israel, and let it go again to his own place, that it slay us not, and our people: for there was a deadly destruction throughout all the city; the hand of God was very heavy there. us not: Heb. me not, and my

View commentary
The Philistine lords reconvene, now united in determination: 'Send away the ark of the God of Israel, and let it go again to his own place.' The Ark must return to prevent total destruction. The phrase 'that it slay us not' again attributes lethal intent to the Ark's God. The description 'deadly destruction throughout all the city' and 'the hand of God was very heavy there' summarizes comprehensive judgment. The Philistines have learned what Israel forgot: Yahweh cannot be controlled or manipulated.
12

And the men that died not were smitten with the emerods : and the cry of the city went up to heaven.

View commentary
The final verse captures universal suffering: 'the men that died not were smitten with the emerods: and the cry of the city went up to heaven.' The affliction is total - all are either dead or diseased. The 'cry...to heaven' echoes language used for Israel's suffering in Egypt (Exodus 2:23) and Sodom's sin (Genesis 18:21). Now pagans cry under God's heavy hand. The Ark that brought no salvation to faithless Israel brings destruction to presumptuous Philistia. Chapter 6 will show how they attempt to return it.

Test Your Knowledge

1 Samuel 5 QuizTest your knowledge of this chapter
1 Samuel Book QuizComprehensive quiz for the entire book

Continue Your Study

Read 1 Samuel 6All 1 Samuel Chapters1 Samuel 5 QuizComplete 1 Samuel QuizAll Bible QuizzesBible CharactersBible TopicsNave's Topical Bible