1. kai allofuloi elabon thn kibwton tou qeou kai eishnegkan authn ex abennezer eiV azwton
2. kai elabon allofuloi thn kibwton kuriou kai eishnegkan authn eiV oikon dagwn kai paresthsan authn para dagwn
3. kai wrqrisan oi azwtioi kai eishlqon eiV oikon dagwn kai eidon kai idou dagwn peptwkwV epi proswpon autou enwpion kibwtou tou qeou kai hgeiran ton dagwn kai katesthsan eiV ton topon autou kai ebarunqh ceir kuriou epi touV azwtiouV kai ebasanisen autouV kai epataxen autouV eiV taV edraV autwn thn azwton kai ta oria authV
4. kai egeneto ote wrqrisan to prwi kai idou dagwn peptwkwV epi proswpon autou enwpion kibwtou diaqhkhV kuriou kai h kefalh dagwn kai amfotera ta icnh ceirwn autou afhrhmena epi ta emprosqia amafeq ekaston kai amfoteroi oi karpoi twn ceirwn autou peptwkoteV epi to proquron plhn h raciV dagwn upeleifqh
5. dia touto ouk epibainousin oi iereiV dagwn kai paV o eisporeuomenoV eiV oikon dagwn epi baqmon oikou dagwn en azwtw ewV thV hmeraV tauthV oti uperbainonteV uperbainousin
6. kai ebarunqh ceir kuriou epi azwton kai ephgagen autoiV kai exezesen autoiV eiV taV nauV kai meson thV cwraV authV anefuhsan mueV kai egeneto sugcusiV qanatou megalh en th polei
7. kai eidon oi andreV azwtou oti outwV kai legousin oti ou kaqhsetai kibwtoV tou qeou israhl meq' hmwn oti sklhra ceir autou ef' hmaV kai epi dagwn qeon hmwn
8. kai apostellousin kai sunagousin touV satrapaV twn allofulwn proV autouV kai legousin ti poihswmen kibwtw qeou israhl kai legousin oi geqqaioi metelqetw kibwtoV tou qeou proV hmaV kai methlqen kibwtoV tou qeou eiV geqqa
9. kai egenhqh meta to metelqein authn kai ginetai ceir kuriou en th polei taracoV megaV sfodra kai epataxen touV andraV thV polewV apo mikrou ewV megalou kai epataxen autouV eiV taV edraV autwn kai epoihsan eautoiV oi geqqaioi edraV
10. kai exapostellousin thn kibwton tou qeou eiV askalwna kai egenhqh wV eishlqen kibwtoV qeou eiV askalwna kai ebohsan oi askalwnitai legonteV ti apestreyate proV hmaV thn kibwton tou qeou israhl qanatwsai hmaV kai ton laon hmwn
11. kai exapostellousin kai sunagousin touV satrapaV twn allofulwn kai eipon exaposteilate thn kibwton tou qeou israhl kai kaqisatw eiV ton topon authV kai ou mh qanatwsh hmaV kai ton laon hmwn oti egenhqh sugcusiV qanatou en olh th polei bareia sfodra wV eishlqen kibwtoV qeou israhl ekei
12. kai oi zwnteV kai ouk apoqanonteV eplhghsan eiV taV edraV kai anebh h kraugh thV polewV eiV ton ouranon
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 I Samuel, 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)
