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1 Samuel 5

12 verses

TL;DR

The Philistines bring Israel’s Ark to Ashdod, and God’s wrath destroys the city, while the Ark’s relocation to Gath and Ekron continues the cycle of calamity.

Summary

In 1 Samuel 5 the Philistines seize the Ark of God and transport it from Ebenezer to Ashdod. They place it in Dagon’s temple, and the next morning the statue of Dagon collapses, its head and arms severed. The Philistines refuse to touch the threshold of Dagon’s house, but the Lord’s hand falls upon Ashdod, striking its people with a disease called emerods and destroying the city and its coast. Alarmed, the Philistines move the Ark to Gath, where the Lord again brings ruin, and then to Ekron, provoking the townspeople to plead that the Ark be sent home. The narrative underscores the Ark’s power to invoke divine judgment, the vulnerability of the Philistines, and the spread of calamity across their cities.

Outline
  1. Philistines seize and relocate the Ark to Ashdod, causing Dagon’s statue to topple
  2. Lord’s wrath manifests in plague and destruction of Ashdod, Gath, and Ekron
  3. Philistines relocate the Ark in fear, yet divine judgment follows each move
Themes
Divine judgment through the ArkThe impotence of false deitiesThe spread of calamity across neighboring cities
Keywords
Ark of GodDagonemerodsPhilistinesAshdodGathEkronthresholddestruction
People
DagonPhilistines
Places
EbenezerAshdodGathEkron
Things
Ark of GodDagon’s statueemerods (disease)threshold
Key Verses
  • 1 Samuel 5:4: Dagon’s head and arms are severed, marking the Ark’s power
  • 1 Samuel 5:6: God’s hand destroys Ashdod with plague, illustrating divine judgment
  • 1 Samuel 5:9: The Ark’s move to Gath brings further destruction, demonstrating the spread of judgment
Questions
  • Why did the Philistines move the Ark through multiple cities?
  • What is the significance of Dagon’s statue being toppled and mutilated?
  • How does the narrative portray the Ark’s role in divine judgment?
  • What lessons might the Philistines and readers draw about relying on false gods?
Sentiment

negative
the chapter records plague, destruction, and lamentation