1 Samuel 5:1

The Ark Causes Trouble for the Philistines

5:1 Now the Philistines had captured the ark of God and brought it from Ebenezer to Ashdod.

1 Samuel 5:5-6

5:5 (For this reason, to this very day, neither Dagon’s priests nor anyone else who enters Dagon’s temple step on Dagon’s threshold in Ashdod.)

5:6 The Lord attacked ¹  the residents of Ashdod severely, bringing devastation on them. He struck the people of ²  both Ashdod and the surrounding area with sores. ³ 

1 Samuel 6:17

6:17 These are the gold sores that the Philistines brought as a guilt offering to the Lord – one for each of the following cities: Ashdod, Gaza, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron.

1 Samuel 5:7

5:7 When the people ⁴  of Ashdod saw what was happening, they said, “The ark of the God of Israel should not remain with us, for he has attacked ⁵  both us and our god Dagon!”

[5:6]  ¹ tn Heb “the hand of the Lord was heavy upon.”

[5:6]  ² tn The words “the people of” are supplied in the translation for clarification.

[5:6]  ³ tc The LXX and Vulgate add the following: “And mice multiplied in their land, and the terror of death was throughout the entire city.”

[5:7]  ¹ tn Heb “men.”

[5:7]  ² tn Heb “for his hand is severe upon.”