1 Samuel 5

Now the Philistines had taken the Box of God and brought it from Ebenezer to Ashdod.

And the Philistines took the Box of God and caused it to enter the house of Dagon. And they placed it beside Dagon.

And the Ashdodites arose early on the next day, and behold, Dagon was fallen on his face to the ground to the face of the Box of God. And they took Dagon and returned him to his place. \*

And they arose early in the morning on the next day, and behold, Dagon had fallen on his face to the ground to the face of the Box of God. And the head of Dagon and the two of the palms of his hands were cut off, on the threshold. Only Dagon was left on him.

(Therefore the priests of Dagon and all of the ones entering the house of Dagon do not tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod to this day.) \*

And the hand of God was heavy on the Ashdodites, and he devastated them and struck them with tumors, Ashdod and its borders.

And the men of Ashdod saw that {it was} thus, and they said, “The Box of the God of Israel should not stay with us, for his hand is severe against us and against Dagon our god.”

So they sent and gathered all of the lords of the Philistines to them, and they said, “What shall we do with the Box of the God of Israel?” And they said, “Let the Box of the God of Israel go around {to} Gath.” So they brought around the Box of the God of Israel. \*

And it happened after they brought it around that the hand of God was on the city, a very great tumult. And he struck the men of the city from small and unto great. And tumors broke out on them.

So they sent the Box of God {to} Ekron. And it happened as the Box of God entered Ekron that the Ekronites cried out, saying, “They have brought around to me the Box of the God of Israel to kill me and my people!” \*

And they sent and gathered all of the lords of the Philistines, and they said, “Send away the Box of the God of Israel that it may return to its place, and it will not kill me and my people!” For there was a tumult of death in all of the city. The hand of God {was} very heavy there.

And the men who did not die were struck with tumors. And the cry of the city went up to the heavens. \*