1 Samuel chapter 5 The Philistines in the ark.

When the Philistines captured the ark of God, they brought it from Ebenezer to Ashdod.

Then the Philistines took the ark of God and brought it into the house of Dagan and set it

up beside Dagan.

And when the people of Ashdad rose early, the next day,

behold, Dagan had fallen face downward on the ground before the Ark of the Lord.

So they took Dagan and put him back in his place.

But when they rose early on the next morning,

Behold Dagan had fallen face downward on the ground before the Ark of the Lord.

And the head of Dagan and both his hands were lying

cut off on the threshold only the trunk of degan was left to him this is why the priests of

Dagan and all who enter the house of Dagan do not tread on the threshold of Dagan and

Ashtod to this day the hand of the lord was heavy against the people of Ashtad and he terrified

and afflicted them with tumors both Ashted, and he terrified and afflicted them with

tumors, both Ashted and its territory. And when the men of Ashted saw how things were, they said

the Ark of the God of Israel must not remain with us, for His hand is hard against us and against

Dagan, our God. So they sent and gathered together all the Lords of the Philistines and said,

What shall we do with the Ark of the God of Israel? They answered, Let the ark of the God of Israel be brought around to Gave.

So they brought the ark of the God of Israel there.

But after they brought it around, the hand of the Lord was against the city, causing a very great panic,

and he afflicted the men of the city both young and old so that tumors broke out on them. So they sent the Ark of God to Ekron. But as soon as the ark of God came to Ekron, the people of Ekron cried out, they have brought around to us the Ark of the God of Israel to kill us and our people. They sent therefore and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines and said,

send away the ark of the God of Israel, and let it return to its own place, but it may not kill

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