4 When they arose early on the following morning, behold, Dagon had fallen on his face to the ground before the Lord’s ark; and the head of Dagon and both the palms of his hands were cut off on the threshold. Only Dagon’s torso was intact.
5 Therefore neither the priests of Dagon, nor any who come into Dagon’s house, step on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod, to this day.
6 But the Lord’s hand was heavy on the people of Ashdod, and he destroyed them, and struck them with tumours, even Ashdod and its borders.
7 When the men of Ashdod saw that it was so, they said, “The ark of the God of Israel shall not stay with us; for his hand is severe on us, and on Dagon our god.”
8 They sent therefore and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines, and said, “What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel?”They answered, “Let the ark of the God of Israel be carried over to Gath.” They carried the ark of the God of Israel there.
9 It was so, that after they had carried it there, the Lord’s hand was against the city with a very great confusion; and he struck the men of the city, both small and great so that tumours broke out on them.
10 So they sent God’s ark to Ekron.As God’s ark came to Ekron, the Ekronites cried out, saying, “They have brought the ark of the God of Israel here to us, to kill us and our people.”