UBF Daily Bread

THE ARK AMONG THE PHILISTINES

Passage: 1Samuel 5:1~12

Key verse: 6

The Ark in Ashdod and Ekron

5 After the Philistines had captured the ark of God, they took it from Ebenezer^(A) to Ashdod.^(B) ²Then they carried the ark into Dagon’s temple and set it beside Dagon.^(C) ³When the people of Ashdod rose early the next day, there was Dagon, fallen^(D) on his face on the ground before the ark of the Lord! They took Dagon and put him back in his place. ⁴But the following morning when they rose, there was Dagon, fallen on his face on the ground before the ark of the Lord! His head and hands had been broken^(E) off and were lying on the threshold; only his body remained. ⁵That is why to this day neither the priests of Dagon nor any others who enter Dagon’s temple at Ashdod step on the threshold.^(F)

⁶The Lord’s hand^(G) was heavy on the people of Ashdod and its vicinity; he brought devastation^(H) on them and afflicted them with tumors.^[a]^(I) ⁷When the people of Ashdod saw what was happening, they said, “The ark of the god of Israel must not stay here with us, because his hand is heavy on us and on Dagon our god.” ⁸So they called together all the rulers^(J) of the Philistines and asked them, “What shall we do with the ark of the god of Israel?”

They answered, “Have the ark of the god of Israel moved to Gath.^(K)” So they moved the ark of the God of Israel.

⁹But after they had moved it, the Lord’s hand was against that city, throwing it into a great panic.^(L) He afflicted the people of the city, both young and old, with an outbreak of tumors.^[b] ¹⁰So they sent the ark of God to Ekron.^(M)

As the ark of God was entering Ekron, the people of Ekron cried out, “They have brought the ark of the god of Israel around to us to kill us and our people.” ¹¹So they called together all the rulers^(N) of the Philistines and said, “Send the ark of the god of Israel away; let it go back to its own place, or it^[c] will kill us and our people.” For death had filled the city with panic; God’s hand was very heavy on it. ¹²Those who did not die^(O) were afflicted with tumors, and the outcry of the city went up to heaven.

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Footnotes

1 Samuel 5:6 Hebrew; Septuagint and Vulgate tumors. And rats appeared in their land, and there was death and destruction throughout the city
1 Samuel 5:9 Or with tumors in the groin (see Septuagint)
1 Samuel 5:11 Or he

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

1. Dagon falls on his face (1-5)

At first the Philistines were happy that they had captured the ark. They placed it in the temple of their god, Dagon. They treated the ark as just another one of their idols, or another good luck charm. The Lord is not an idol. Whenever the Philistines went into the temple, they found Dagon fallen before the ark of God until his head and hands were broken and only his body remained. Only the Lord is God, and he alone must be worshiped.

2. God's hand among the Philistines (6-12)

The Lord's hand was heavy among the Philistines. Wherever they took the ark, that place was afflicted with devastation and illness. Finally when they sent it to Ekron the people protested, "Send the ark of the god of Israel away." The Lord is the only God, and he is to be worshiped. His presence is a blessing for those who offer themselves to him, but his hand is heavy on those who worship idols.

Prayer: Lord, cleanse me of idol worship that I may dwell in your presence.

One Word: Worship the Lord only