1 Os filisteus tomaram a arca de Deus, e a trouxeram de Ebenézer até Asdode.

2 Tomando-a, meteram-na no templo de Dagom, e colocaram-na junto a Dagom.

3 Tendo-se levantado de madrugada no dia seguinte os de Asdode, eis que estava Dagom caído com o rosto em terra diante da arca de Jeová. Tomaram a Dagom, e tornaram a pô-lo no seu lugar.

4 Levantando-se de manhã no dia seguinte, eis que estava Dagom caído com o rosto em terra diante da arca de Jeová; e a cabeça de Dagom e ambas as palmas das suas mãos estavam cortadas sobre o limiar, somente havendo-lhe ficado o tronco.

5 Por isso os sacerdotes de Dagom e todos os que entram no seu templo, não pisam o limiar de Dagom em Asdode até o dia de hoje.

6 Mas a mão de Jeová pesou sobre os de Asdode, e os assolou, e os feriu de tumores, a saber, a Asdode e aos seus termos.

7 O que tendo visto os homens de Asdode, disseram: Não fique conosco a arca do Deus de Israel, porque a sua mão descarrega duramente sobre nós e sobre Dagom, nosso deus.

8 Enviaram e congregaram a si todos os régulos dos filisteus, e perguntaram: Que faremos nós da arca do Deus de Israel? Responderam eles: Seja levada a arca do Deus de Israel até Gate. Foi levada a arca do Deus de Israel até lá.

9 Depois de a terem levado para lá, foi a mão de Jeová contra a cidade num grande vexame; feriu aos homens, tanto pequenos como grandes, e nasceram-lhes tumores.

10 Enviaram a arca de Deus a Ecrom. Logo que chegou a arca de Deus a Ecrom, clamaram os ecronitas, dizendo: Transportaram para nós a arca do Deus de Israel para nos matar a nós e a todo o nosso povo.

11 Então enviaram e congregaram a todos os régulos dos filisteus, e disseram: Recambiai a arca do Deus de Israel, para que ela volte para o seu lugar e não nos mate a nós e ao nosso povo; pois havia um pânico mortal na cidade toda; a mão de Deus pesava sobremaneira nela.

12 Os homens que não morriam, eram feridos com os tumores; e o clamor da cidade subiu até o céu.

1 Now the Philistines had taken God’s ark, and they brought it from Ebenezer to Ashdod. 2 The Philistines took God’s ark, and brought it into the house of Dagon and set it by Dagon. 3 When the people of Ashdod arose early on the next day, behold, Dagon had fallen on his face to the ground before Yahweh’s ark. They took Dagon and set him in his place again. 4 When they arose early on the following morning, behold, Dagon had fallen on his face to the ground before Yahweh’s ark; and the head of Dagon and both the palms of his hands were cut off on the threshold. Only Dagon’s torso was intact. 5 Therefore neither the priests of Dagon nor any who come into Dagon’s house step on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod to this day. 6 But Yahweh’s hand was heavy on the people of Ashdod, and he destroyed them and struck them with tumors, even Ashdod and its borders.

7 When the men of Ashdod saw that it was so, they said, "The ark of the God of Israel shall not stay with us, for his hand is severe on us and on Dagon our god." 8 They sent therefore and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines, and said, "What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel?"

They answered, "Let the ark of the God of Israel be carried over to Gath." They carried the ark of the God of Israel there. 9 It was so, that after they had carried it there, Yahweh’s hand was against the city with a very great confusion; and he struck the men of the city, both small and great, so that tumors broke out on them. 10 So they sent God’s ark to Ekron.

As God’s ark came to Ekron, the Ekronites cried out, saying, "They have brought the ark of the God of Israel here to us, to kill us and our people." 11 They sent therefore and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines, and they said, "Send the ark of the God of Israel away, and let it go again to its own place, that it not kill us and our people." For there was a deadly panic throughout all the city. The hand of God was very heavy there. 12 The men who didn’t die were struck with the tumors; and the cry of the city went up to heaven.