1 Samuel 5:2 — Meaning and Application

1 Samuel 5:1

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

1 Samuel 5:3

"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."

1 Samuel 5:4

"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. {the stump...: or, the fishy part}"

1 Samuel 5:5

"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."

1 Samuel 5:6

"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."