# 1 Samuel 05 📖: The Ark Among the Philistines [[📚 Explore the Bible Books]] [[-1 Samuel Overview]] | [[1 Samuel 04]] | [[1 Samuel 06]] > [!info] Table of Contents > [[#📜 Scripture Text (NET)]] > [[#📖 Verse-by-Verse Commentary]] > [[#🤔 Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights]] > [[#🧠 Chapter Summary]] > [[#✝️ Christ in This Chapter]] > [[#🔎 Key Principles / 🛟 Life Application]] > [[#💬 Discussion Questions]] > [[#✍️ Key Verses to Remember]] > [[#🔗 Related Passages/Cross Reference]] > [[#🙏 Devotional Reflection]] > [[#📂 Internal Notes]] ## 📜 Scripture Text (NET) (The NET Bible: New English Translation. Biblical Studies Press, 2005) ### God Sends Trouble for the Philistines Who Have the Ark [[#Verse 01.]] Now the Philistines had captured the ark of God and brought it from Ebenezer to Ashdod.  [[#Verse 02.]] The Philistines took the ark of God and brought it into the temple of Dagon, where they positioned it beside Dagon.  [[#Verse 03.]] When the residents of Ashdod got up early the next day, Dagon was lying on the ground before the ark of the Lord. So they took Dagon and set him back in his place.  [[#Verse 04.]] But when they got up early the following day, Dagon was again lying on the ground before the ark of the Lord. The head of Dagon and his two hands were sheared off and were lying at the threshold. Only Dagon’s body was left intact.  [[#Verse 05.]] (For this reason, to this very day, neither Dagon’s priests nor anyone else who enters Dagon’s temple steps on Dagon’s threshold in Ashdod.) [[#Verse 06.]] The Lord attacked the residents of Ashdod severely, bringing devastation on them. He struck the people of both Ashdod and the surrounding area with sores. [[#Verse 07.]] When the people of Ashdod saw what was happening, they said, “The ark of the God of Israel should not remain with us, for he has attackedboth us and our god Dagon!” [[#Verse 08.]] So they assembled all the leaders of the Philistines and asked, “What should we do with the ark of the God of Israel?” They replied, “The ark of the God of Israel should be moved to Gath.” So they moved the ark of the God of Israel. [[#Verse 09.]] But after it had been moved the Lord attacked that city as well, causing a great deal of panic. He struck all the people of that city with sores. [[#Verse 10.]] So they sent the ark of God to Ekron. But when the ark of God arrived at Ekron, the residents of Ekron cried out saying, “They have brought the ark of the God of Israel here to kill our people!”  [[#Verse 11.]] So they assembled all the leaders of the Philistines and said, “Get the ark of the God of Israel out of here! Let it go back to its own place so that it won’t kill us and our people!” The terror of death was throughout the entire city; God was attacking them very severely there.  [[#Verse 12.]] The people who did not die were struck with sores; the city’s cry for help went all the way up to heaven. ## 📖 Verse-by-Verse Commentary ###### Overall. ###### Verse 01. ###### Verse 02. ###### Verse 03. ###### Verse 04. ###### Verse 05. ###### Verse 06. ###### Verse 07. ###### Verse 08. ###### Verse 09. ###### Verse 10. ###### Verse 11. ###### Verse 12. ## 🤔 Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights 1. Ashdod, Gath, and Ekron (5:1, 8, 10) were three of the five major Philistine cities, along with Gaza and Ashkelon (Joshua 13:3). 2. Dagon was worshiped widely in the ancient Near East, at places like Ebla, Mari, and Ugarit. Many scholars now link him with grain rather than with fish. 3. Ancient armies often placed captured idols in their own temples as trophies, showing their god had won. 4. Dagon fell face down before the ark (5:3), the posture of a worshiper bowing before a greater god. 5. On the second morning, Dagon's head and hands were broken off (5:4), showing he had no mind to think and no power to act. 6. The verse explains why Dagon's priests did not step on the threshold of his temple (5:5). Zephaniah 1:9 also mentions a custom of leaping over the threshold. 7. The phrase "the hand of the Lord was heavy" repeats through the chapter (5:6, 9, 11). 8. The Hebrew word for the sores is uncertain, and some think it refers to tumors. Because of the rats mentioned in 6:4-5, some scholars suggest a plague. 9. The Philistines moved the ark from Ashdod to Gath to Ekron (5:1, 8, 10), and each city suffered. 10. Earlier, the Lord had shown His power over the gods of Egypt (Exodus 12:12). Now He showed it over the gods of Philistia. ## 🧠 Chapter Summary > [!note] 🌱 Still growing. This section is on its way. ## ✝️ Christ in This Chapter Christ is the Lord before whom every false god falls. Dagon fell face down before the ark (5:3-4), and one day every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord (Philippians 2:10-11). ## 🔎 Key Principles / 🛟 Life Application > [!note] 🌱 Still growing. This section is on its way. ## 💬 Discussion Questions 1. The Philistines thought capturing the ark proved their god was stronger (5:2). How did God show otherwise? 2. Dagon had to be set back up by his worshipers (5:3). What does this say about the idols people trust in today? 3. The Philistines wanted the ark gone rather than turning to the Lord (5:8-11). Why do people sometimes try to get rid of God instead of surrendering to Him? ## ✍️ Key Verses to Remember - 📖 verse 3: Dagon is found fallen face down before the ark of the Lord. - 📖 verse 4: Dagon's head and hands are broken off on the threshold. - 📖 verse 11: The people of Ekron beg to send the ark of the God of Israel away. ## 🔗 Related Passages/Cross Reference - 🔗 [[Exodus 12#Verse 12.|Exodus 12:12]] - Judgment on all the gods of Egypt. - 🔗 [[Isaiah 46#Verse 01.|Isaiah 46:1-7]] - Idols must be carried, but God carries His people. - 🔗 [[Psalm 115#Verse 03.|Psalm 115:3-8]] - Idols have mouths but cannot speak. - 🔗 [[Colossians 02#Verse 15.|Colossians 2:15]] - Christ triumphed over the powers. - 🔗 [[Philippians 02#Verse 09.|Philippians 2:9-11]] - Every knee will bow to Jesus. ## 🙏 Devotional Reflection 📝 SOAP: [[1 Samuel 05 - SOAP|God Has Enemies but No Rivals]] ## 📂 Internal Notes