1 Samuel 5:1-5

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 5:5

Tread on the threshold - Because the arms, etc., of Dagon were broken off by his fall on the threshold, the threshold became sacred, and neither his priests nor worshippers ever tread on the threshold. Thus it was ordered, in the Divine providence, that, by a religious custom of their own, they should perpetuate their disgrace, the insufficiency of their worship, and the superiority of the God of Israel. It is supposed that the idolatrous Israelites, in the time of Zephaniah, had... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 5:1

EXPOSITION THE ARK OF GOD IN PHILISTIA ( 1 Samuel 5:1-12 ). The Philistines took the ark of God . The silence of Scripture is often as remarkable as what it tells us. From Psalms 78:60-64 ; Jeremiah 7:12 ; Jeremiah 26:9 , we gather that from Aphek the Philistines marched upon Shiloh, and having captured it, put all whom they found there to the sword, and levelled the buildings to the ground. Especially their wrath fell upon the priests, in revenge for the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 5:1-5

Foreshadowings. The facts given are— 1 . The Philistines, acting on polytheistic principles, place the ark in their heathen temple, thus ascribing to it Divine honour, and yet indicating its inferiority to Dagon. 2 . During the night their god Dagon falls to the ground. 3 . Supposing the fall to be the result of some unaccountable accident, they replace their god, and on the next day find him even broken to pieces. 4 . The event is memorialised by the establishment of a... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 5:3

Infatuation. I. OF THE HEATHEN . Samson, calling on the name of Jehovah God, pulled down the temple of Dagon at Gaza, and showed the weakness of the idol. When the Philistines got possession of the ark of Jehovah, they placed it in another temple of Dagon at Ashdod, in order to re-establish the credit of their god. Great must have been their chagrin when they found the god of the victors prostrate before a sacred symbol connected with the God of the vanquished. But it was no easy... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 5:3-4

On the morrow, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the earth before the ark of Jehovah. I.e. he was in the attitude of adoration, and instead of triumphing over Jehovah, he was prostrate, as if compelled to worship. But his priests perhaps thought that it was an accident, and so they set the image in its place again. They also, we may be sure, took due precaution against any one entering his temple by stealth; but when early on the second morning they came with anxious minds to see... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 5:5

Henceforward, therefore, his priests and other worshippers carefully abstained from treading on the door sill, where his nobler members had lain, unto this day. Apparently the Books of Samuel were written some time after the events recorded in them took place, and we have remarkable evidence of the permanence of the custom in Zephaniah 1:9 , where the Philistines are described as "those that leap on," or more correctly over, "the threshold." The custom, so curious in itself and so long... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Samuel 5:2

They brought it into the house of Dagon (see the marginal reference) in order to enhance the triumph of the gods of the Philistines over the God of Israel. (Compare 1 Samuel 31:9; Judges 16:23; Isaiah 37:12.) read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Samuel 5:5

This custom still existed among the worshippers of Dagon so late as the reign of Josiah (see the marginal reference). read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Samuel 5:1

1 Samuel 5:1. The Philistines took the ark of God Abarbinel gives several reasons why God suffered the ark of his presence to fall into the hands of these uncircumcised heathen: 1st, The Israelites were such great sinners that they were unworthy of this symbol of the divine presence among them: 2d, The idolatry of Micah remained to this day in the land, therefore God fulfilled his threatening, Leviticus 26:19-31: 3d, The sin of the priests highly provoked him to deliver up the ark, which... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Samuel 5:2-3

1 Samuel 5:2-3. They set it by Dagon By way of reproach, as a spoil and trophy set there to the honour of Dagon, to whom, doubtless, they ascribed this victory. Behold Dagon was fallen upon his face In a posture of the most humble adoration, which was prostration; as acknowledging the God of Israel to be above all gods. They (the priests of Dagon) took Dagon and set him in his place Supposing his fall to be casual. read more

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