1 Samuel 5
The Ark of God Brings Terror to Philistia
Chapters 5-7 record a tumultuous time between Eli and Samuel when Israel was missing both leadership and the national symbol of the presence of God.
The Ark of God Was Moved
Vs. 1-2 - After the Philistines had captured the ark of God, they took it from Ebenezer to Ashdod,
The trip from Ebenezer to Ashdod was about 19 miles. Ashdod, along with Ashkelon, Ekron, Gaza, and Gath, was one of Philistia's five major cities. - Bryan E. Beyer
vs. 2 - brought it into the temple of Dagon and placed it next to his statue.
The Philistines worshiped many gods but had made Dagon their chief deity. Placing the ark of God in a pagan temple was likely an implication of inferiority.
The Hand of God Was Heavy
Although God used the Philistines to judge Israel, He would defend His own reputation. His people had disobeyed, but He would not be dishonored.
Dagon’s Threshold
Vs. 3 - here was Dagon, fallen with his face to the ground before the ark of the Lord.
Vs. 4 - This time, Dagon’s head and both of his hands were broken off and lying on the threshold.
Imagine the horror of the Philistine priests when they entered the temple of Dagon the next morning. They not only saw their god bowing down before the LORD, they also saw the image broken. It was hard to account for such an accident two days in a row. Had the glory of God departed? Not at all. When men and women will not glorify God, God will glorify Himself. - David Guzik
Vs. 5 - That is why, still today, the priests of Dagon and everyone who enters the temple of Dagon in Ashdod do not step on Dagon’s threshold.
After seeing the superiority of the God of Israel, these Philistine priests had a choice. They could turn from their weak, inferior god Dagon and begin serving the mighty, superior LORD of Israel. Or they could make a religious tradition instead. They chose the religious tradition.
How could they believe something so ridiculous? Because worshipping the LORD instead of Dagon meant a huge change in thinking and behavior. Setting Dagon up and gluing him together is easier than changing your life and your thinking. - David Guzik
The breaking of Dagon’s head and hands on the threshold of his temple rendered the threshold especially sacred. This is another ironical testimony to the utter folly of idolatry and to Yahweh’s sovereignty. - Thomas Constable
Tumors
Vs. 6 - He terrified the people of Ashdod and its territory and afflicted them with tumors.
What were these tumors? Older commentators often describe them as hemorrhoids, and newer commentators often describe them as signs of the bubonic plague. - David Guzik
Fear of Death
Vs. 12 - the outcry of the city went up to heaven
Obvious displays of power from the God of Israel seemed to produce only fear in the Philistines, not faith. Terror did not turn their hearts.
The people of Ashdod should have turned from worshipping Dagon and put their trust in Yahweh. Death followed because they chose to continue in unbelief in spite of their confession of Yahweh’s superiority. - Thomas Constable
