1 After the Philistines had captured the ark of God, they took it from Ebenezer to Ashdod.2 Then they carried the ark into Dagon's temple and set it beside Dagon.3 When the people of Ashdod rose early the next day, there was Dagon, fallen on his face on the ground before the ark of the LORD! They took Dagon and put him back in his place.4 But 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 off and were lying on the threshold; only his body remained.5 That is why to this day neither the priests of Dagon nor any others who enter Dagon's temple at Ashdod step on the threshold.6 The LORD's hand was heavy on the people of Ashdod and its vicinity; he brought devastation on them and afflicted them with tumors. [^1]7 When 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."8 So they called together all the rulers 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." So they moved the ark of the God of Israel.9 But after they had moved it, the LORD's hand was against that city, throwing it into a great panic. He afflicted the people of the city, both young and old, with an outbreak of tumors. [^2]10 So they sent the ark of God to Ekron. 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."11 So they called together all the rulers of the Philistines and said, "Send the ark of the god of Israel away; let it go back to its own place, or it "will kill us and our people." For death had filled the city with panic; God's hand was very heavy on it.12 Those who did not die were afflicted with tumors, and the outcry of the city went up to heaven.

1 Philisthiim autem tulerunt arcam Dei, et asportaverunt eam a lapide Adjutorii in Azotum. 2 Tuleruntque Philisthiim arcam Dei, et intulerunt eam in templum Dagon, et statuerunt eam juxta Dagon. 3 Cumque surrexissent diluculo Azotii altera die, ecce Dagon jacebat pronus in terra ante arcam Domini : et tulerunt Dagon, et restituerunt eum in locum suum. 4 Rursumque mane die altera consurgentes, invenerunt Dagon jacentem super faciem suam in terra coram arca Domini : caput autem Dagon, et du palm manuum ejus absciss erant super limen : 5 porro Dagon solus truncus remanserat in loco suo. Propter hanc causam non calcant sacerdotes Dagon, et omnes qui ingrediuntur templum ejus, super limen Dagon in Azoto, usque in hodiernum diem. 6 Aggravata est autem manus Domini super Azotios, et demolitus est eos : et percussit in secretiori parte natium Azotum, et fines ejus. Et ebullierunt vill et agri in medio regionis illius, et nati sunt mures et facta est confusio mortis magn in civitate. 7 Videntes autem viri Azotii hujuscemodi plagam, dixerunt : Non maneat arca Dei Isral apud nos : quoniam dura est manus ejus super nos, et super Dagon deum nostrum. 8 Et mittentes congregaverunt omnes satrapas Philisthinorum ad se, et dixerunt : Quid faciemus de arca Dei Isral ? Responderuntque Gethi : Circumducatur arca Dei Isral. Et circumduxerunt arcam Dei Isral. 9 Illis autem circumducentibus eam, fiebat manus Domini per singulas civitates interfectionis magn nimis : et percutiebat viros uniuscujusque urbis, a parvo usque ad majorem, et computrescebant prominentes extales eorum. Inieruntque Gethi consilium, et fecerunt sibi sedes pelliceas. 10 Miserunt ergo arcam Dei in Accaron. Cumque venisset arca Dei in Accaron, exclamaverunt Accaronit, dicentes : Adduxerunt ad nos arcam Dei Isral ut interficiat nos et populum nostrum. 11 Miserunt itaque et congregaverunt omnes satrapas Philisthinorum : qui dixerunt : Dimittite arcam Dei Isral, et revertatur in locum suum, et non interficiat nos cum populo nostro. 12 Fiebat enim pavor mortis in singulis urbibus, et gravissima valde manus Dei. Viri quoque qui mortui non fuerant, percutiebantur in secretiori parte natium : et ascendebat ululatus uniuscujusque civitatis in clum.