1 Samuel 5
In 1 Samuel 5, the Ark of the Covenant is captured by the Philistines and taken to their city of Ashdod. The chapter shows how God's presence in the ark brings disaster and judgment upon the Philistines. It highlights the power of God over the pagan gods and the futility of idol worship. The Philistines quickly realize the consequences of keeping the ark and pass it from one city to another, only to experience further calamities.
1 Samuel 5:1 (NKJV)
1 Then the Philistines took the ark of God and brought it from Ebenezer to Ashdod.
The Philistines, having defeated Israel in battle, take the Ark of the Covenant as a trophy. They bring it to Ashdod, one of their major cities, symbolizing their triumph over Israel's God. However, they are unaware that the power of the ark is not in its physical form but in God's presence, which they will soon experience.
1 Samuel 5:2 (NKJV)
2 When the Philistines took the ark of God, they brought it into the house of Dagon and set it by Dagon.
The Philistines place the ark in the temple of Dagon, their primary god, as a symbol of Dagon's supremacy over Yahweh. By setting the ark next to Dagon, they believed they were demonstrating Dagon's victory. However, this act of placing God's ark in a pagan temple sets the stage for God to show His superiority.
1 Samuel 5:3 (NKJV)
3 And when the people of Ashdod arose early in the morning, there was Dagon, fallen on its face to the earth before the ark of the Lord. So they took Dagon and set it in its place again.
The next morning, the Philistines find their idol, Dagon, fallen face down before the ark, symbolizing submission. This scene is a powerful illustration of God's supremacy over false gods. Despite this, the Philistines ignore the warning and merely set the idol back in place, underestimating the significance of the event.
1 Samuel 5:4 (NKJV)
4 And when they arose early the next morning, there was Dagon, fallen on its face to the ground before the ark of the Lord. The head of Dagon and both the palms of its hands were broken off on the threshold; only Dagon’s torso was left of it.
On the second morning, Dagon is not only fallen but broken, with its head and hands severed. The idol's defeat is now more obvious, as the head symbolizes authority and the hands power. God is clearly demonstrating that Dagon is powerless before Him. The destruction of the idol signals that no false god can stand in His presence.
1 Samuel 5:5 (NKJV)
5 Therefore neither the priests of Dagon nor any who come into Dagon’s house tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod to this day.
As a result of Dagon's fall, the priests of Dagon establish a superstitious tradition, avoiding the threshold where the idol's hands and head had fallen. This reaction shows their unwillingness to acknowledge the true reason for Dagon's downfall and their continued devotion to a powerless idol.
1 Samuel 5:6-7 (NKJV)
6 But the hand of the Lord was heavy on the people of Ashdod, and He ravaged them and struck them with tumors, both Ashdod and its territory.
7 And when the men of Ashdod saw how it was, they said, “The ark of the God of Israel must not remain with us, for His hand is harsh toward us and Dagon our god.”
The people of Ashdod experience a severe plague of tumors, demonstrating God's power. This judgment extends throughout the region, affecting all the inhabitants. Realizing the connection between their suffering and the ark, they decide the ark must be removed. Their focus is still on protecting their idol, Dagon, rather than acknowledging the true God.
1 Samuel 5:8 (NKJV)
8 Therefore they sent and gathered to themselves all the lords of the Philistines, 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 away to Gath.” So they carried the ark of the God of Israel away.
The leaders of the Philistines gather to decide the ark's fate. Rather than returning it to Israel, they choose to send it to Gath, hoping the problems will cease by moving it. This decision reflects their inability to recognize the power of God and their attempt to solve the problem through relocation rather than repentance.
1 Samuel 5:9 (NKJV)
9 So it was, after they had carried it away, that the hand of the Lord was against the city with a very great destruction; and He struck the men of the city, both small and great, and tumors broke out on them.
When the ark arrives in Gath, the same judgment falls upon the city. The plague of tumors affects everyone, showing that the problem is not localized to Ashdod but is connected directly to the ark and God’s presence. The Philistines are learning that they cannot escape God's hand through mere physical relocation of the ark.
1 Samuel 5:10 (NKJV)
10 Therefore they sent the ark of God to Ekron. So it was, as the ark of God came to Ekron, that the Ekronites cried out, saying, “They have brought the ark of the God of Israel to us, to kill us and our people!”
Terrified by the destruction in Ashdod and Gath, the Philistines send the ark to Ekron. However, the people of Ekron are aware of the ark's devastating effects and cry out in fear, believing it will bring death and destruction to their city as well. This demonstrates their growing understanding of the ark's power and their desperation.
1 Samuel 5:11-12 (NKJV)
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 back to its own place, so that it does not kill us and our people.” For there was a deadly destruction throughout all the city; the hand of God was very heavy there.
12 And the men who did not die were stricken with the tumors, and the cry of the city went up to heaven.
The suffering in Ekron reaches such a critical point that the Philistine leaders decide to send the ark back to Israel, acknowledging that keeping it only brings death and suffering. The deadly destruction, combined with the widespread tumors, causes great distress. The Philistines are forced to admit that they cannot stand against the power of Israel's God and must return the ark to avoid further calamity.