Dual Panel1After the Philistines had captured the Ark of God, they brought it from Eben-ezer to Ashdod,
2where they carried it into the temple of Dagon and set it beside the god.
3When the people of Ashdod rose next morning, there was Dagon fallen face downwards on the ground before the Ark of the LORD. They lifted him up and put him back in his place.
4But next morning when they rose, Dagon had again fallen face downwards on the ground before the Ark of the LORD, with his head and his two hands lying broken off beside his platform; only Dagon's body remained on it.
5That is why to this day the priests of Dagon and all who enter the temple of Dagon at Ashdod do not set foot on Dagon's platform.
6The LORD's hand oppressed the people of Ashdod. He threw them into despair; he plagued them with tumours, and their territory swarmed with rats. There was death and destruction all through the city.
7Seeing this, the men of Ashdod decided, “The Ark of the God of Israel must not stay here, for his hand is pressing on us and on Dagon our god.”
8When they called together all the Philistine lords to ask what should be done with the Ark, they were told, “Let the Ark of the God of Israel be taken across to Gath.” They moved it there,
9and after its removal there the LORD caused great havoc in that city; he plagued everybody, high and low alike, with the tumours which broke out.
10So the Ark of God was sent on to Ekron, and when it arrived there, the people cried, “They have moved the Ark of the God of Israel over to us, to kill us and our families.”
11Summoning all the Philistine lords they said, “Send the Ark of the God of Israel away; let it go back to its own place, or it will be the death of us all.” There was death and destruction all through the city; for the hand of God lay heavy upon it.
12Those who did not die were plagued with tumours, and the cry of the city ascended to heaven.