1
And the Pelishtim took the ark of Elohim and brought it from Even-HaEzer to Ashdod.
2
And the Pelishtim took the ark of Elohim and brought it into the house of Dagon, and set it beside Dagon.
3
And the Ashdodim rose early on the next day, and see, Dagon had fallen upon his face to the earth before the ark of Yahuah. And they took Dagon and returned him to his place.
4
And they rose early in the morning on the next day, and see, Dagon had fallen upon his face to the earth before the ark of Yahuah, and the head of Dagon and the two palms of his hands were cut off upon the threshold. Only the trunk of Dagon remained upon him.
5
Therefore the kohenim of Dagon and all who enter the house of Dagon do not tread upon the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod to this day.
6
And the hand of Yahuah became heavy upon the Ashdodim, and He devastated them and struck them with tumors, Ashdod and its borders.
7
And the men of Ashdod saw that it was so, and said, “The ark of the Elohim of Yisra’el shall not dwell with us, for His hand is hard upon us and upon Dagon our elohim.”
8
And they sent and gathered to themselves all the rulers of the Pelishtim and said, “What shall we do with the ark of the Elohim of Yisra’el?” And they said, “Let the ark of the Elohim of Yisra’el go around to Gat.” And they caused the ark of the Elohim of Yisra’el to go around there.
9
And it came to pass, after they had caused it to go around, that the hand of Yahuah was against the city with an exceedingly great confusion, and He struck the men of the city, from small even to great, and tumors broke out upon them.
10
And they sent the ark of Elohim to Eqron. And it came to pass, when the ark of Elohim came to Eqron, that the Eqronim cried out, saying, “They have caused the ark of the Elohim of Yisra’el to come around to me, to put me and my people to death!”
11
And they sent and gathered all the rulers of the Pelishtim and said, “Send away the ark of the Elohim of Yisra’el, and let it return to its place, so that it does not put me and my people to death.” For there was a deadly confusion throughout the whole city; the hand of Elohim was exceedingly heavy there.
12
And the men who did not die were struck with tumors, and the cry of the city went up to the heavens.