5:1 And the Philistines took the ark of God, and brought it from
Ebenezer unto a Ashdod.
(a) Which was one of the five principal cities of the
Philistines.
5:2 When the Philistines took the ark of God, they brought it
into the house of b Dagon, and set it by Dagon.
(b) Which was their chief idol, and as some write, from the
navel downward was like a fish, and upward like a man.
5:5 Therefore neither the priests of Dagon, nor any that come
into Dagon's house, c tread on the threshold of Dagon in
Ashdod unto this day.
(c) Thus instead of acknowledging the true God by this
miracle, they fall into greater superstition.
5:8 They sent therefore and gathered all the lords of the
Philistines unto them, and said, d What shall we do with
the ark of the God of Israel? And they answered, Let the ark
of the God of Israel be carried about unto Gath. And they
carried the ark of the God of Israel about [thither].
(d) Though they had felt God's power and were afraid of it,
yet they tried him even further, which God turned to
their destruction and his glory.
5:11 So they sent and gathered together all the lords of the
Philistines, and said, Send e away the ark of the God of
Israel, and let it go again to his own place, that it slay
us not, and our people: for there was a deadly destruction
throughout all the city; the hand of God was very heavy
there.
(e) The wicked when they feel the hand of God, grudge and
reject him, where the godly humble themselves, and cry
for mercy.
