1 Samuel 5

The Ark Brings Nothing but Trouble

1 After the Philistines jacked the Ark of God, they hauled it from Ebenezer to Ashdod.

2 They carried the Ark into the temple of their god Dagon and set it right next to Dagon’s statue.

3 Early the next morning, the people of Ashdod rolled up and found Dagon face down on the ground in front of the Ark of the Lord! They had to pick their god up and stand him back up.

4 Next morning, Same thing, but worse. Dagon was flat on his face again, but this time his head and hands were snapped off, laying on the doorstep. Only his body was left intact.

5 That is why even today, Dagon’s priests and followers will not step on the threshold in Dagon’s temple at Ashdod.

God Turns Up on the Philistines

6 The Lord’s hand got heavy on the people of Ashdod. He tore them up with plagues and broke out tumors all over them.

7 When the people of Ashdod saw what was happening, they said, “Nah, we must get this Ark outta here. The God of Israel is straight destroying us and Dagon too!”

8 So they called a meeting with all the Philistine bosses. They asked, “What are we going to do with the Ark of Israel’s God?” They said, “Move it to Gath.” So they moved it.

Gath Gets Hit Too

9 But as soon as the Ark touched down in Gath, the Lord’s hand came down even harder. People got tumors breaking out everywhere, young and old. Chaos.

Ekron Do Not Want It Either

10 Then they sent the Ark to Ekron. But when it rolled in, the people screamed, “They bringing that death box here to kill us too!”

11 They called another meeting of all the Philistine rulers and said, “Send the Ark of Israel’s God back where it came from, we all are going to die if it stays here.” God’s hand was heavy on them, straight panic in the city.

12 Those who did not die got hit with tumors, and the cries of the city went up to heaven.