1 Samuel 5

¹ And the Philistines took the ark of God, and brought it from Ebenezer unto Ashdod.

² When the Philistines took the ark of God, they brought it into the house of Dagon, and set it by Dagon.

³ And when they of Ashdod arose early on the morrow, behold, Dagon [was] fallen upon his face to the earth before the ark of the LORD. And they took Dagon, and set him in his place again.

⁴ And when they arose early on the morrow morning, behold, Dagon [was] fallen upon his face to the ground before the ark of the LORD; and the head of Dagon and both the palms of his hands [were] cut off upon the threshold; only [the stump of] Dagon was left to him.

⁵ Therefore neither the priests of Dagon, nor any that come into Dagon’s house, tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod unto this day.

⁶ But the hand of the LORD was heavy upon them of Ashdod, and he destroyed them, and smote them with emerods, [even] Ashdod and the coasts thereof.

⁷ And when the men of Ashdod saw that [it was] so, they said, The ark of the God of Israel shall not abide with us: for his hand is sore upon us, and upon Dagon our god.

⁸ They sent therefore and gathered all the lords of the Philistines unto them, 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 about unto Gath. And they carried the ark of the God of Israel about [thither].

⁹ And it was [so], that, after they had carried it about, the hand of the LORD was against the city with a very great destruction: and he smote the men of the city, both small and great, and they had emerods in their secret parts.

¹⁰ Therefore they sent the ark of God to Ekron. And it came to pass, as the ark of God came to Ekron, that the Ekronites cried out, saying, They have brought about the ark of the God of Israel to us, to slay us and our people.

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 again to his own place, that it slay us not, 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 that died not were smitten with the emerods: and the cry of the city went up to heaven.

Summary of 1 Samuel Chapter 5

1 Samuel Chapter 5 narrates the events that transpired after the Philistines captured the Ark of the Covenant from the Israelites. This chapter highlights the consequences faced by the Philistines due to their possession of the Ark and illustrates the power of the God of Israel.

Key Events

1. The Ark in Ashdod
   • The Philistines brought the Ark to Ashdod and placed it in the temple of Dagon, their god.
   • The next day, the statue of Dagon was found fallen on the ground before the Ark, symbolizing the supremacy of the God of Israel over the Philistine deity.
   • After re-erecting Dagon, the following morning, the statue was found again fallen, this time with its head and hands broken off, further emphasizing God’s power.
2. The Plagues on the Philistines
   • As a result of having the Ark, the Philistines experienced severe afflictions, including tumors and a plague of mice.
   • The afflictions led to panic and fear among the people of Ashdod, prompting them to seek a solution.
3. The Decision to Move the Ark
   • After consulting with their leaders, the Philistines decided to move the Ark to Gath.
   • However, upon its arrival in Gath, the same plagues afflicted the city, causing further distress.
4. The Ark in Ekron
   • Despite their efforts, the Ark was sent to Ekron, where the inhabitants were terrified of the consequences of its presence.
   • The people of Ekron cried out, fearing they would suffer the same fate as Ashdod and Gath.
5. The Philistine Leaders’ Consultation
   • The Philistine leaders convened to address the calamities brought upon their cities due to the Ark.
   • They ultimately decided to return the Ark to Israel along with a guilt offering to appease the God of Israel.

Theological Implications

This chapter demonstrates several key theological themes:

• The Sovereignty of God: The events illustrate that God is not confined to the Ark but is present and active in the world, exerting His power over false gods.
• The Consequences of Disobedience: The afflictions faced by the Philistines serve as a reminder that disregarding the holiness of God leads to dire consequences.
• God’s Protection of His People: The narrative reassures the Israelites of God’s protection and supremacy, even when they are seemingly defeated.

Conclusion

1 Samuel Chapter 5 serves as a powerful account of the Philistines’ experience with the Ark of the Covenant, showcasing the futility of idolatry and the might of the God of Israel. The chapter emphasizes that God’s presence brings both judgment and the opportunity for repentance, ultimately leading to the recognition of His sovereignty among nations.