1 Samuel 5:1-7 ▼

1 After the Philistines (immigrants) had captured the ark of God {Elohim}, they took it from Ebenezer (stone of help) to Ashdod (powerful),

2 (immigrants) carried it into the temple of Dagon (a fish), and set it beside his statue \set it beside Dagon/.

3 When the people of Ashdod (I will spoil) got up early the next morning, there was Dagon (a fish), fallen on his face before the ark of the LORD {YHWH}. So they took Dagon and returned him to his place.

4 But when they got up early the next morning, there was Dagon (a fish), fallen on his face before the ark of the LORD {YHWH}, with his head and his hands broken off and lying on the threshold. Only the torso remained.

5 That is why, to this day, the priests of Dagon (a fish) and all who enter the temple of Dagon in Ashdod (powerful) do not step on the threshold.

6 Now the hand of the LORD {YHWH} was heavy on the people of Ashdod (I will spoil) and its vicinity, ravaging them and afflicting them with tumors. [And rats appeared in their land, and death and destruction were throughout the city.]

7 And when the men of Ashdod (powerful) saw what was happening, they said, “The ark of the God {Elohe} of Israel (he wrestles with God) must not stay here with us, because His hand is heavy upon us and upon our god Dagon (a fish).”