1 Samuel 5:1-3

Expanded Bible

Trouble for the Philistines

5 After the Philistines [4:1] had captured the Ark of God [4:3], they took it from Ebenezer [4:1] to Ashdod [^Cone of the five chief cities of the Philistines]. ² They carried it into Dagon’s [^Ca major Philistine god, perhaps a storm god] temple and put it next to Dagon [^Cto symbolize that Israel’s god was now on the side of Dagon]. ³ When the people of Ashdod rose early the next morning, they found that Dagon had fallen on his face on the ground before the Ark of the Lord [^Cas if in worship]. So they put Dagon back in his place.