1 Samuel 5:2
New International Version
Then they carried the ark into Dagon’s temple and set it beside Dagon.

New Living Translation
They carried the Ark of God into the temple of Dagon and placed it beside an idol of Dagon.

English Standard Version
Then the Philistines took the ark of God and brought it into the house of Dagon and set it up beside Dagon.

Berean Standard Bible
carried it into the temple of Dagon, and set it beside his statue.

King James Bible
When the Philistines took the ark of God, they brought it into the house of Dagon, and set it by Dagon.

New King James Version
When the Philistines took the ark of God, they brought it into the house of Dagon and set it by Dagon.

New American Standard Bible
Then the Philistines took the ark of God and brought it into the house of Dagon, and placed it beside Dagon.

NASB 1995
Then the Philistines took the ark of God and brought it to the house of Dagon and set it by Dagon.

NASB 1977
Then the Philistines took the ark of God and brought it to the house of Dagon, and set it by Dagon.

Legacy Standard Bible
Then the Philistines took the ark of God and brought it to the house of Dagon and set it by Dagon.

Amplified Bible
They took the ark of God and brought it into the house of Dagon and set it beside [the image of] Dagon [their chief idol].

Christian Standard Bible
brought it into the temple of Dagon and placed it next to his statue.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
brought it into the temple of Dagon and placed it next to his statue.

American Standard Version
And the Philistines took the ark of God, and brought it into the house of Dagon, and set it by Dagon.

Contemporary English Version
They brought it into the temple of their god Dagon and put it next to the statue of Dagon, which they worshiped.

English Revised Version
And the Philistines took the ark of God, and brought it into the house of Dagon, and set it by Dagon.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
They brought it into the temple of Dagon and placed it beside Dagon.

Good News Translation
took it into the temple of their god Dagon, and set it up beside his statue.

International Standard Version
Then the Philistines took the Ark of God, brought it to the temple of Dagon, and placed it beside Dagon.

Majority Standard Bible
carried it into the temple of Dagon, and set it beside his statue.

NET Bible
The Philistines took the ark of God and brought it into the temple of Dagon, where they positioned it beside Dagon.

New Heart English Bible
The Philistines took it, and brought it into the house of Dagon, and set it by Dagon.

Webster's Bible Translation
When the Philistines took the ark of God, they brought it into the house of Dagon, and set it by Dagon.

World English Bible
The Philistines took God’s ark, and brought it into the house of Dagon and set it by Dagon.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and the Philistines take the Ark of God and bring it into the house of Dagon, and set it near Dagon.

Young's Literal Translation
and the Philistines take the ark of God and bring it into the house of Dagon, and set it near Dagon.

Smith's Literal Translation
And Philisteim will take the ark of God and bring it to the house of Dagon, and they will set it up by Dagon.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And the Philistines took the ark of God, and brought it into the temple of Dagon, and set it by Dagon.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And the Philistines took the ark of God, and carried it into the temple of Dagon. And they stationed it beside Dagon.

New American Bible
They then took the ark of God and brought it into the temple of Dagon, placing it beside Dagon.

New Revised Standard Version
then the Philistines took the ark of God and brought it into the house of Dagon and placed it beside Dagon.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Then the Philistines took the ark of God, and brought it into the house of Dagon and set it by the side of Dagon.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And the Philistines took the Ark of God and they brought it to the house of Dagun, and they stood it on the side of Dagun
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And the Philistines took the ark of God, and brought it into the house of Dagon, and set it by Dagon.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And the Philistines took the ark of the Lord, and brought it into the house of Dagon, and set it by Dagon.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Ark Afflicts the Philistines
1After the Philistines had captured the ark of God, they took it from Ebenezer to Ashdod, 2 carried it into the temple of Dagon, and set it beside his statue. 3When the people of Ashdod got up early the next morning, there was Dagon, fallen on his face before the ark of the LORD. So they took Dagon and returned him to his place.…

Cross References
Isaiah 46:1-2
Bel crouches; Nebo cowers. Their idols weigh down beasts and cattle. The images you carry are burdensome, a load to the weary animal. / The gods cower; they crouch together, unable to relieve the burden; but they themselves go into captivity.

Jeremiah 50:2
“Announce and declare to the nations; lift up a banner and proclaim it; hold nothing back when you say, ‘Babylon is captured; Bel is put to shame; Marduk is shattered, her images are disgraced, her idols are broken in pieces.’

Jeremiah 51:44
I will punish Bel in Babylon. I will make him spew out what he swallowed. The nations will no longer stream to him; even the wall of Babylon will fall.

Judges 16:23-24
Now the lords of the Philistines gathered together to offer a great sacrifice to their god Dagon. They rejoiced and said, “Our god has delivered Samson our enemy into our hands.” / And when the people saw him, they praised their god, saying: “Our god has delivered into our hands our enemy who destroyed our land and multiplied our dead.”

1 Kings 11:5
Solomon followed Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians and Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites.

2 Kings 19:37
One day, while he was worshiping in the temple of his god Nisroch, his sons Adrammelech and Sharezer put him to the sword and escaped to the land of Ararat. And his son Esar-haddon reigned in his place.

2 Chronicles 25:14
When Amaziah returned from the slaughter of the Edomites, he brought back the gods of the Seirites, set them up as his own gods, bowed before them, and burned sacrifices to them.

Daniel 5:2-4
Under the influence of the wine, Belshazzar gave orders to bring in the gold and silver vessels that Nebuchadnezzar his father had taken from the temple in Jerusalem, so that the king could drink from them, along with his nobles, his wives, and his concubines. / Thus they brought in the gold vessels that had been taken from the temple, the house of God in Jerusalem, and the king drank from them, along with his nobles, his wives, and his concubines. / As they drank the wine, they praised their gods of gold and silver, bronze and iron, wood and stone.

Acts 19:24-27
It began with a silversmith named Demetrius who made silver shrines of Artemis, bringing much business to the craftsmen. / Demetrius assembled the craftsmen, along with the workmen in related trades. “Men,” he said, “you know that this business is our source of prosperity. / And you can see and hear that not only in Ephesus, but in nearly the whole province of Asia, this Paul has persuaded a great number of people to turn away. He says that man-made gods are no gods at all. ...

1 Corinthians 8:4-6
So about eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that an idol is nothing at all in the world, and that there is no God but one. / For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many so-called gods and lords), / yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we exist. And there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we exist.

2 Corinthians 6:16
What agreement can exist between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be My people.”

Revelation 9:20
Now the rest of mankind who were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the works of their hands. They did not stop worshiping demons and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone, and wood, which cannot see or hear or walk.

Exodus 12:12
On that night I will pass through the land of Egypt and strike down every firstborn male, both man and beast, and I will execute judgment against all the gods of Egypt. I am the LORD.

Deuteronomy 32:37-38
He will say: “Where are their gods, the rock in which they took refuge, / which ate the fat of their sacrifices and drank the wine of their drink offerings? Let them rise up and help you; let them give you shelter!

Psalm 115:4-8
Their idols are silver and gold, made by the hands of men. / They have mouths, but cannot speak; they have eyes, but cannot see; / they have ears, but cannot hear; they have noses, but cannot smell; ...


Treasury of Scripture

When the Philistines took the ark of God, they brought it into the house of Dagon, and set it by Dagon.

of Dagon

Judges 16:23
Then the lords of the Philistines gathered them together for to offer a great sacrifice unto Dagon their god, and to rejoice: for they said, Our god hath delivered Samson our enemy into our hand.

1 Chronicles 10:10
And they put his armour in the house of their gods, and fastened his head in the temple of Dagon.

Daniel 5:2,23
Belshazzar, whiles he tasted the wine, commanded to bring the golden and silver vessels which his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the temple which was in Jerusalem; that the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, might drink therein…

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Ark Carried Dagon Dagon's House Philistines Side Temple
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Ark Carried Dagon Dagon's House Philistines Side Temple
1 Samuel 5
1. The Philistines having brought the ark into Ashdod, set it in the house Dagon
3. Dagon is smitten down and cut and cut in pieces,
5. and they of Ashdod smitten with tumors
8. So God deals with them of Gath, when it was brought thither
10. and so with them of Ekron, when it was brought thither














carried it into the temple of Dagon
The Philistines, having captured the Ark of the Covenant, brought it into the temple of their god, Dagon, in Ashdod. This act was symbolic of their belief in the superiority of Dagon over the God of Israel. Dagon was a major deity in the Philistine pantheon, often associated with fertility and grain. Archaeological findings suggest that temples dedicated to Dagon were prominent in Philistine cities, indicating his importance in their religious practices. The act of placing the Ark in Dagon's temple was intended to demonstrate the Philistines' victory and the subjugation of Israel's God to their own deity.

and set it beside his statue
Placing the Ark beside the statue of Dagon was a deliberate act to show that the God of Israel was now subservient to Dagon. In ancient Near Eastern culture, the placement of captured religious artifacts in the temple of a victor's god was a common practice, symbolizing the defeat of the captured people's deity. This act, however, sets the stage for the subsequent events where God demonstrates His power over Dagon, as described in the following verses. Theologically, this foreshadows the ultimate triumph of God over all false gods and idols, a theme echoed throughout Scripture, such as in Isaiah 42:8, where God declares His glory will not be given to another. This also prefigures the supremacy of Christ, who is exalted above all powers and authorities (Philippians 2:9-11).

Persons / Places / Events
1. Philistines
A group of people who were enemies of Israel and often at war with them. They captured the Ark of the Covenant in battle.

2. Ark of the Covenant
A sacred chest built by the Israelites under God's instructions, symbolizing God's presence and covenant with His people.

3. Temple of Dagon
A place of worship dedicated to Dagon, the chief deity of the Philistines, often associated with fertility and grain.

4. Dagon
The god of the Philistines, depicted as part man and part fish, representing their cultural and religious beliefs.

5. Ashdod
One of the five major cities of the Philistines where the temple of Dagon was located.
Teaching Points
The Sovereignty of God
Despite the Ark being captured, God remains sovereign and will demonstrate His power over false gods and idols.

The Futility of Idolatry
The placement of the Ark next to Dagon highlights the futility of idol worship and the superiority of the one true God.

God's Presence and Holiness
The Ark symbolizes God's presence, and its placement in a pagan temple serves as a reminder of God's holiness and the need for reverence.

Spiritual Warfare
The conflict between the Philistines and Israelites is a physical manifestation of the spiritual battle between God's truth and falsehood.

Cultural Influence and Compromise
The Philistines' attempt to integrate the Ark into their worship system warns against compromising faith by blending it with secular or pagan practices.(2) They brought it into the house of Dagon.--The conquerors, we are told, in the meantime, with triumph, carried the captured Ark from the battle-field to Ashdod. This was one of the capital cities of the five Philistine princes. It is built on a hill close to the Mediterranean Sea, and was in after days known as Azotus (Acts 8:40).

In Ashdod they placed it in the temple of the popular Philistine god, Dagon. This was their vengeance for the slaughter of the 3,000 Philistine worshippers in the temple of the same deity at Gaza, not many years before, by the blind Hebrew champion Samson.

The princes and Philistine people well remembered how the blind hero on that awful day, when 3,000 perished in the house of Dagon when he with his superhuman strength forced the great temple pillars down, called on the name of the God of Israel, whom they in their idol-trained hearts associated with the golden Ark.

"This only hope relieves me, that the strife

With me hath end, all the contest now

'Twixt God and Dagon; Dagon hath presumed,

Me overthrown, to enter lists with God,

His deity comparing and preferring

Before the God of Abraham. He, be sure,

Will not connive or linger thus provoked, . . .

Verse 2. - When the Philistines, etc. The words are exactly the same as those in ver. 1, viz. "And the Philistines took the ark of God, and brought it," marking the simplicity of ancient narrative. Dagon is derived by Philo from dagan, "corn," and is explained by him as an emblem of the earth's fertility; but as the shape of this national deity of the Philistines was certainly that of a man to the waist, ending in the body and tail of a fish, the true derivation is doubtless that from dag, "a fish." It represented, however, not so much the sea, on which the Philistines trafficked, as the fruitfulness of water, which in the East is looked upon as the active principle of life (comp. Genesis 1:20). In one of the sculptures brought from Khorsabad there is a representation of a battle between the Assyrians and the inhabitants of the Syrian sea coast, and in it there is a figure, the upper part of which is a bearded man with a crown, while from the waist downwards it has the shape of a fish (Layard's 'Nineveh,' 2:466). Moreover, it is swimming in the sea, and is surrounded by a multitude of marine creatures. Doubtless this figure represents Dagon, who, nevertheless, is not to be regarded as a sea god, like Neptune; but as the fish is the product of water, he is the symbol of nature's reproductive energy. Together with Dagon a female deity was commonly worshipped, called Atergatis, half woman and half fish, whose temple is mentioned in 2 Macc. 12:26. In the margin there she is explained as being Venus; but the ideas have only this in common - that Venus also, as rising out of the sea, symbolises life as springing out of water. As Dagon had a temple also at Gaza (Judges 16:23), and at the other cities of Philistia (Jerome on Isaiah 46:1), he was evidently the chief deity of the nation, and the solemn depositing of the ark in his temple, and by Dagon, - literally, "at his side," - was intended as a public demonstration that the God of the Israelites was inferior to, and had been vanquished by, the national deity of the Philistines.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
carried it into
וַיָּבִ֥יאוּ (way·yā·ḇî·’ū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

the temple
בֵּ֣ית (bêṯ)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1004: A house

of Dagon,
דָּג֑וֹן (dā·ḡō·wn)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1712: Dagon -- a god and an idol of the Philistines

and set
וַיַּצִּ֥יגוּ (way·yaṣ·ṣî·ḡū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 3322: To place permanently

it
אֹת֖וֹ (’ō·ṯōw)
Direct object marker | third person masculine singular
Strong's 853: Untranslatable mark of the accusative case

beside
אֵ֥צֶל (’ê·ṣel)
Preposition
Strong's 681: A joining together, proximity

[his statue].
דָּגֽוֹן׃ (dā·ḡō·wn)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1712: Dagon -- a god and an idol of the Philistines


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OT History: 1 Samuel 5:2 The Philistines took the ark of God (1Sa iSam 1 Sam i sa)
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