I Samuel 5 - Yahweh Versus Dagon

I Samuel 5

But when they got up early the next morning, behold, Dagon had fallen on his face to the ground before the ark of the Lord. And the head of Dagon and both palms of his hands were cut off on the threshold; only the torso of Dagon was left. - verse 4

Message: Yahweh Versus Dagon

Time: This book is a biography of Samuel's life and career up to his death. It took place over a period of about 110 years, stretching from the closing days of the judges, when Samuel was born (ca. 1120 BC) through the death of Saul (1011 BC).

What the Lord is Saying: After Eli dies and Phinehas wife and new husband give birth to new son Ichabod, the text now moves back to the ark being with the Philistines. They have taken the ark to the city of Ashdod, bringing it into the house of Dagon (a god of the city). Dagon was found falling on his face before the ark of the Lord. Then the next morning Dagon was found on his face again before the ark, but this time his head and hands were cut off and only the torso remained. No one steps on the threshold to this day in Dagon's house. 

According to Tabletak devotional, "extrabiblical sources as well as biblical accounts such as 1 Samuel 17:54, ancient Near Eastern peoples frequently cut off the heads and hands of defeated foes. For Dagon to lose his head and hands in the presence of the ark of Yahweh meant that Yahweh had conquered Dagon." 

The Ashdodites were struck by the Lord with tumors. The people recognize it is not good for them to have the ark. Bad things are happening and not good that it is in the house of their god - Dagon. All the poeple were gathered together to make a decision about the ark and it was sent to the city of Gath. But the same thing occurred in Gath and tumors arrived on the people. So the Ark was sent to Ekron. But those people knew it was bad to have the ark, but still many died or got tumors and they sent the ark away. 

Don't mess with God and don't mess with the ark of God. 

Summary: The Philistines took the ark to Dagon, their god as a sort of victory but Yahweh conquers Dagon and other cities for possessing the ark of God. 

Promise: Let us take care not to mix our faith with falsehood.

Prayer: O God, you are over all. I lean on you. You are to be revered in our world. We need to be a people that take you seriously and trust you and respect you. I think of how important respect is to me and I need to be one that respects you. You want our respect and our devotion. 

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