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1 Samuel / The Ark Brings Judgment in Philistine Cities
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Hannah's Prayer for a Son Hannah Presents Samuel to the Lord Hannah's Song of Praise Eli's Corrupt Sons and Samuel's Childhood Prophecy of Judgment on Eli's House Samuel's Call and the Lord's Word to Eli Israel Defeated and the Ark Captured Eli's Death and the Birth of Ichabod The Ark Brings Judgment in Philistine Cities The Ark Returned to Israel Samuel Judges Israel and Delivers Them at Mizpah Israel Demands a King Saul Chosen and Given Signs Saul Proclaimed King by Lot Saul's Victory at Jabesh-Gilead Saul Confirmed as King at Gilgal Samuel's Farewell and Exhortation to Israel Saul's Unauthorized Sacrifice and Rebuke Philistine Pressure and Israel's Lack of Arms Jonathan's Bold Assault and Victory Saul's Rash Oath and Its Consequences Saul's Pursuit and Jonathan's Exploits Saul's Family and Mighty Men Saul's Disobedience and Rejection as King David Anointed by Samuel David Serves Saul and Eases His Torment David and Goliath David's Rise and Saul's Jealousy Saul's Attempts on David's Life and Jonathan's Intervention David and Jonathan's Covenant David at Nob: Bread and Goliath's Sword David Feigns Madness at Gath David Gathers Followers and Seeks Priestly Aid Massacre at Nob and Abiathar Joins David David Delivers Keilah and Inquires of God Saul's Pursuit, Ziphite Betrayal, and David's Escape David Spares Saul in a Cave Nabal's Folly and Abigail's Intervention David Again Spares Saul in His Camp David Seeks Refuge with Achish Saul and the Witch of Endor The Philistines Reject David David Recovers His Family and Defeats the Amalekites The Death of Saul and His Sons

The Ark Brings Judgment in Philistine Cities

1 Samuel 5:1-12

5
Chapter 5
1 The Philistines took the ark of the covenant of God and brought it from Ebenezer to Ashdod. 2 The Philistines took the ark of the covenant and brought it into the temple of Dagon and set it beside Dagon. 3 The Ashdodites got up early the next morning, and there was Dagon, fallen on his face to the ground before the ark of the LORD. So they took Dagon and set him back in his place. 4 They got up early the next morning, and there was Dagon, fallen on his face to the ground before the ark of the LORD. The head of Dagon and his two palms of hands were cut off on the threshold; only the torso of Dagon was left on it. 5 Therefore the priests of Dagon and all who enter the house of Dagon do not step on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod to this day. 6 And the hand of the LORD was heavy against the Ashdodites, and he devastated them and struck them with tumors, both in Ashdod and its territory. 7 And the men of Ashdod saw that it was so, and they said, "The ark of the God of Israel must not remain with us, for his hand is heavy upon us and upon Dagon our god." 8 So they sent and gathered all the lords of the Philistines to them. And they said, "What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel?" They said, "Let Gath hold the ark of the God of Israel." And they took the ark of the God of Israel there. 9 And it was after they had moved it around, and the hand of the LORD was against the city—a very great panic—and he struck the men of the city, from small to great, and tumors broke out on them. 10 And they sent the ark of God to Ekron. And as the ark of God came to Ekron, the Ekronites cried out, saying, "They have brought the ark of the God of Israel here to me, to kill me and my people!" 11 And they sent and gathered all the lords of the Philistines and said, "Send away the ark of the God of Israel and let it return to its place so that it does not kill us and our people." For there was a deadly panic in all the city; the hand of God was very heavy there. 12 And the men who did not die were struck in their hemorrhoids, and the outcry of the city went up to the heavens.