The Ark among the Philistines
1And the Philistinestookthe arkof God,and broughtit from Ebenezerunto Ashdod.2When the Philistinestookthe arkof God,they broughtit into the houseof Dagon,and setit byDagon.3And when they of Ashdodarose earlyon the morrow,behold, Dagon[was] fallenupon his faceto the earthbeforethe arkof the LORD.And they tookDagon,and sethim in his placeagain.4And when they arose earlyon the morrowmorning,behold, Dagon[was] fallenupon his faceto the groundbeforethe arkof the LORD;and the headof Dagonand boththe palmsof his hands[were] cut offupon the threshold;only [the stump of] Dagonwas leftto him.5Therefore neither the priestsof Dagon,nor any that comeinto Dagon'shouse,treadon the thresholdof Dagonin Ashdodunto this day.
6But the handof the LORDwas heavyupon them of Ashdod,and he destroyedthem, and smotethem with emerods,[even] Ashdodand the coaststhereof.7And when the menof Ashdodsawthat [it was] so, they said,The arkof the Godof Israelshall not abidewith us: for his handis soreupon us, and upon Dagonour god.8They senttherefore and gatheredall the lordsof the Philistinesunto them, and said,What shall we dowith the arkof the Godof Israel?And they answered,Let the arkof the Godof Israelbe carried aboutunto Gath.And they carriedthe arkof the Godof Israelabout[thither].9And it was [so], that, afterthey had carried it about,the handof the LORDwas against the citywith a verygreatdestruction:and he smotethe menof the city,both smalland great,and they had emerodsin their secret parts.10Therefore they sentthe arkof Godto Ekron.And it came to pass, as the arkof Godcameto Ekron,that the Ekronitescried out,saying,They have brought aboutthe arkof the Godof Israelto us, to slayus and our people.11So they sentand gathered togetherall the lordsof the Philistines,and said,Send awaythe arkof the Godof Israel,and let it go againto his own place,that it slayus not, and our people:for there was a deadlydestructionthroughout all the city;the handof Godwas veryheavythere.12And the menthat diednot were smittenwith the emerods:and the cryof the citywent upto heaven.
