1 Samuel 5:1-7 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 5:1-5

Here is, I. The Philistines? triumph over the ark, which they were the more pleased, the more proud, to be now masters of, because before the battle they were possessed with a great fear of it, 1 Sam. 4:7. When they had it in their hands God restrained them, that they did not offer any violence to it, did not break it to pieces, as the Israelites were ordered to do by the idols of the heathen, but showed some respect to it, and carefully carried it to a place of safety. Whether their curiosity... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 5:6-12

The downfall of Dagon (if the people had made a good use of it, and had been brought by it to repent of their idolatries and to humble themselves before the God of Israel and seek his face) might have prevented the vengeance which God here proceeds to take upon them for the indignities done to his ark, and their obstinate adherence to their idol, in defiance of the plainest conviction. Lord, when thy hand is lifted up they will not see, but they shall see, Isa. 26:11. And, if they will not see... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 5:1

And the Philistines took the ark of God ,.... Which fell into their hands, Israel being beaten, and caused to flee, and the priests that had the care of the ark slain; and when possessed of it, they did not destroy it, nor take out of it what was in it, only took it up: and brought it from Ebenezer unto Ashdod . Ebenezer was the place where the camp of Israel was pitched, 1 Samuel 4:1 and near to which the battle was fought. Ashdod was one of the five principalities of the Philistines,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 5:2

When the Philistines took the ark of God ,.... And had brought it to Ashdod: they brought it into the house of Dagon ; a temple dedicated to that idol, and in which his image stood; of which See Gill on Judges 16:23 , and set it by Dagon ; by the side of him, either in honour to the ark, as Abarbinel, designing to give it homage and adoration, as to their own deity; for though the Gentiles did not choose to change their gods, yet they would add the gods of other nations to them;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 5:3

And when they of Ashdod arose early on the morrow , Either the people, the inhabitants of the place, who came early to pay their devotions to their idol, before they went on their business; or the priests of the idol, who came to sacrifice in the morning: and, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the earth before the ark of the Lord ; as if he was subject to it, and giving adoration to it, and owning it was above him, and had superior power over him: and they took Dagon, and set... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 5:4

And when they arose early on the morrow morning ,.... For the same purpose as before; unless they had any curiosity to indulge, to see whether the ark and Dagon agreed better together, if they had any suspicion that the former mischance was to be attributed to some variance and disagreement between them: behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the ground before the ark of the Lord : again, and in a worse condition than before: and the head of Dagon, and both the palms of his hands,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 5:5

Therefore neither the priests of Dagon, nor any that come into Dagon's house ,.... Neither the priests that continually attended the worship and service of Dagon, nor the people that came there to pay their devotions to him: tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod unto this day : but used to leap over it, either reckoning it sacred because touched by their idol, which fell upon it; or rather, as it should seem, in a way of detestation, because it had been the means of cutting off the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 5:6

But the hand of the Lord was heavy on them of Ashdod ,.... Not only on their idol, but on themselves; it had crushed him to pieces, and now it fell heavy on them to their destruction: and he destroyed them ; either by the disease after mentioned they were smitten with, or rather with some other, since that seems not to be mortal, though painful; it may be with the pestilence: and smote them with emerods ; more properly haemorrhoids, which, as Kimchi says, was the name of a disease,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 5:7

And when the men of Ashdod saw that it was so ,.... That many of their inhabitants were taken away by death, and others afflicted with a painful disease; all which they imputed to the ark being among them: they said, the ark of the God of Israel shall not abide with us ; like the Gergesenes, who besought Christ to depart their coasts, having more regard for their swine than for him: for his hand is sore upon us, and upon Dagon, our god , not the hand of the ark, unless they took it... read more

Adam Clarke

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

Brought it from Eben-ezer unto Ashdod - Ashdod or Azotus was one of the five satrapies or lordships of the Philistines. read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 5:1-5

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 5:6-12

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 5:1

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 5:2

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 5:3

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 5:4

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 5:5

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 5:6

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 5:7

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

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