6 Then was the hand of Yahweh heavy against them of Ashdod, and he astounded them,and smote with tumours Ashdod and her bounds.

7 And, when the men of Ashdod saw that, so, it was, then kept they saying, Let not the ark of the God of Israel abide with us, for, hard, is his hand upon us, and upon Dagon our god.

8 So they sent and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines unto them, and saidWhat shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel? And they said: To Gath, let the ark of the God of Israel go round. So they took round the ark of the God of Israel.

9 And so it was, after they had taken it round, then was the hand of Yahweh against the city, with an exceeding great consternation, and he smote the men of the city, from the least, even unto the greatest,and they brake out with tumours.

10 Then sent they the ark of God to Ekron,and so it was, when the ark of God entered Ekron, that the Ekronites made outcry, sayingThey have brought round unto me the ark of the God of Israel, to slay me, and my people!

11 So they sent and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines, and saidSend away the ark of the God of Israel, and restore it to its own place, that it slay not me, and my people. For there had come a deadly consternation, throughout all the city, heavy exceedingly, was the hand of God there.