1. Kad su Filistejci osvojili Kovèeg Božji, prenesoše ga iz Eben Haezera u Ašdod.
2. Nato Filistejci uzeše Kovèeg Božji, unesoše ga u hram Dagonov i smjestiše pokraj Dagona.
3. Sutradan ujutro, kad su žitelji Ašdoda došli u hram Dagonov, gle, Dagon ležaše nièice na zemlji pred Kovèegom Jahvinim. Oni digoše Dagona i metnuše ga natrag na njegovo mjesto.
4. Ali kad su ujutro uranili, gle, Dagon opet ležaše nièice na zemlji pred Kovèegom Jahvinim; glava Dagona i obje njegove ruke ležahu odsjeèene na pragu: na mjestu je stajao samo Dagonov trup.
5. Zato Dagonovi sveæenici i svi koji ulaze u Dagonov hram ne staju nogom na prag Dagonov u Ašdodu sve do današnjeg dana.
6. Tada ruka Jahvina teško pritisnu žitelje Ašdoda i natjera ih u silan strah: udari ih èirevima, Ašdod i njegovo podruèje.
7. Kad su ljudi u Ašdodu vidjeli što se dogodilo, rekoše: "Kovèeg Boga Izraelova ne smije ostati kod nas jer se ruka njegova isprijeèila protiv nas i protiv našega boga Dagona."
8. Oni sazvaše i okupiše sve knezove filistejske k sebi i rekoše: "Što da radimo s Kovèegom Boga Izraelova?" A oni odgovoriše: "U Gat neka se prenese Kovèeg Boga Izraelova." I prenesoše Kovèeg Boga Izraelova onamo.
9. Ali kad su ga prenijeli, ruka se Jahvina spusti na grad i nasta silna strava: udari graðane, od najmanjega do najveæega, tako da im se pojaviše èirevi.
10. Oni tada poslaše Kovèeg Božji u Ekron. Ali kad je Kovèeg Božji stigao u Ekron, povikaše Ekronjani: "Donesoše Kovèeg Boga Izraelova k meni da pomori mene i sav moj narod!"
11. Zato sazvaše i okupiše sve knezove filistejske i rekoše: "Pošaljite natrag Kovèeg Boga Izraelova, neka se vrati na svoje mjesto da ne pomori mene i moj narod!" Jer vladaše smrtna strava u svemu gradu, toliko ondje bijaše pritisnula ruka Božja.
12. Ljudi koji nisu pomrli bili su udareni èirevima i bolni se vapaj grada dizao do neba.
Footnotes:
5:1-4 - The Ark of the Covenant is captured by the Philistines and placed in the temple of Dagon. However, the presence of the Ark causes the statue of Dagon to fall and be destroyed, symbolizing God's superior power over idols and pagan gods (see also Exodus 20:3-5 and Isaiah 44:9-11).
5:6-7 - The Lord severely punishes the Philistines with plagues, demonstrating that His power is not limited to Israel but extends to all nations. God's judgment on the Philistines also reinforces the sanctity of the Ark (see also Numbers 14:18 and Revelation 16:9).
5:8-9 - The Philistine leaders decide to move the Ark to another city, but God's judgment follows them. This highlights human inability to escape divine justice and the respect that must be given to sacred objects (see also Jeremiah 25:15-17 and 1 Corinthians 10:21).
5:10-12 - The people of Ekron ask for the Ark to be returned to Israel after suffering devastating plagues. This response emphasizes the reverence required for God's presence and the reality that His holiness demands respect (see also 1 Samuel 6:19-20 and Hebrews 12:28-29).
Verses related to Prva knjiga o Samuelu, 5:
1 Samuel chapter 5 reports the misadventures of the Ark among the Philistines. How does God demonstrate His supremacy over false gods? This intriguing text describes the disasters that afflict the Philistines while they possess the Ark, including the fall of Dagon and the plagues. The chapter explores themes such as God's holiness, His power over pagan nations, and the consequences of desecrating the sacred. 1 Samuel 5 reveals the incapacity of idols before the true God. Reflect with us on five biblical passages that illuminate the eternal truths of this revealing chapter.
Isaiah 46:1-2: "Bel bends, Nebo bends; their idols are carried away by pack animals. The images that are carried in procession weigh a lot; they are a burden to the exhausted. Together they bow and kneel; they cannot free themselves from the burden, and they themselves go into captivity." - This verse echoes the events of 1 Samuel 5, where the idol Dagon falls before the ark, showing the powerlessness of idols.
Exodus 12:12: "That same night I will pass through Egypt and kill all the firstborn, both man and beast, and I will execute judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am the Lord!" - Just as God judged the gods of Egypt, in 1 Samuel 5 He judges Dagon, the god of the Philistines.
Psalms 115:4-7: "Their idols are silver and gold, made by human hands. They have mouths but cannot speak, eyes but cannot see; they have ears but cannot hear, noses but cannot smell; they have hands but cannot feel anything, feet but cannot walk; and they do not make any sound with their throat." - This psalm mocks idols, just as Dagon is humiliated in 1 Samuel 5.
Acts 19:26: "You see and hear how this man, not only in Ephesus, but in almost the entire province of Asia, has convinced and led astray many people, saying that gods made by human hands are not gods." - Paul in Acts echoes the lesson of 1 Samuel 5, that gods made by human hands are not true gods.
Daniel 5:23: "But you, your son Belshazzar, did not humble yourself, although you knew all this. On the contrary, you have exalted yourself above the Lord of heaven. You had the utensils brought from his temple, and you and your nobles, your wives and concubines drank wine from them. You have praised the gods of silver, of gold, of bronze, of iron, of wood, and of stone, who can neither see nor hear nor understand. But you did not honor the God who holds your life and all your ways in his hands." - This trial against Belshazzar for desecrating the sacred objects and worshiping false gods mirrors the events of 1 Samuel 5, where the Philistines are tried for desecrating the ark and worshiping Dagon.
FAQ:
What happened to the statue of Dagon when the Ark was taken to Ashdod?
When the Ark was placed in the temple of Dagon, the statue of the god fell before the Ark, symbolizing God's superiority. (1 Samuel 5:2-4)
What plagues did the Philistines suffer after capturing the Ark?
The Philistines suffered tumors and a plague of rats in every city where the Ark was taken, as punishment for capturing it. (1 Samuel 5:6-12)
Why did the Philistines return the Ark of the Covenant?
The Philistines returned the Ark because of the plagues that devastated their cities, recognizing that they were being punished by the God of Israel. (1 Samuel 5:11-12)
How did the Philistine cities react to the presence of the Ark?
Each city that received the Ark was struck by plagues, leading the Philistine leaders to decide to send the Ark back to Israel. (1 Samuel 5:8-12)
What was the impact of the Ark on the temple of Dagon?
The presence of the Ark overturned the statue of Dagon twice, breaking its head and hands, demonstrating God's supremacy. (1 Samuel 5:3-4)
