5After the Philistines had captured the ark of God, they took it from Ebenezer to Ashdod.H6430H3947H727H430H935H72H7952Then they carried the ark into Dagon's temple and set it beside Dagon.H6430H3947H727H430H935H1004H1712H3322H681H17123When the people of Ashdod rose early the next day, there was Dagon, fallen on his face on the ground before the ark of the LORD! They took Dagon and put him back in his place.H796H7925H4283H1712H5307H6440H776H6440H727H3068H3947H1712H7725H4725H77254But the following morning when they rose, there was Dagon, fallen on his face on the ground before the ark of the LORD! His head and hands had been broken off and were lying on the threshold; only his body remained.H7925H4283H1242H1712H5307H6440H776H6440H727H3068H7218H1712H8147H3709H3027H3772H4670H1712H76045That is why to this day neither the priests of Dagon nor any others who enter Dagon's temple at Ashdod step on the threshold.H3548H1712H935H1712H1004H1869H4670H1712H795H31176The LORD'S hand was heavy upon the people of Ashdod and its vicinity; he brought devastation upon them and afflicted them with tumors.H3027H3068H3513H796H8074H5221H2914H6076H795H13667When the men of Ashdod saw what was happening, they said, "The ark of the god of Israel must not stay here with us, because his hand is heavy upon us and upon Dagon our god."H582H795H7200H559H727H430H3478H3427H3027H7185H1712H4308So they called together all the rulers of the Philistines and asked them, "What shall we do with the ark of the god of Israel?" They answered, "Have the ark of the god of Israel moved to Gath." So they moved the ark of the God of Israel.H7971H622H5633H6430H559H6213H727H430H3478H559H727H430H3478H5437H1661H5437H727H430H3478H54379But after they had moved it, the LORD'S hand was against that city, throwing it into a great panic. He afflicted the people of the city, both young and old, with an outbreak of tumors.H310H5437H3027H3068H5892H3966H1419H4103H5221H582H5892H6996H1419H2914H6076H836810So they sent the ark of God to Ekron. As the ark of God was entering Ekron, the people of Ekron cried out, "They have brought the ark of the god of Israel around to us to kill us and our people."H7971H727H430H6138H727H430H935H6138H6139H2199H559H5437H727H430H3478H4191H597111So they called together all the rulers of the Philistines and said, "Send the ark of the god of Israel away; let it go back to its own place, or it will kill us and our people." For death had filled the city with panic; God's hand was very heavy upon it.H7971H622H5633H6430H559H7971H727H430H3478H7725H4725H4191H5971H4194H4103H5892H3027H430H3966H351312Those who did not die were afflicted with tumors, and the outcry of the city went up to heaven.H582H4191H5221H2914H6076H7775H5892H5927H8064