1 Samuel 5

1 Philisthim autem tulerunt arcam Dei et asportaverunt eam a lapide Adiutorii in Azotum

2 tulerunt Philisthim arcam Dei et intulerunt eam in templum Dagon et statuerunt eam iuxta Dagon

3 cumque surrexissent diluculo Azotii altera die ecce Dagon iacebat pronus in terram ante arcam Domini et tulerunt Dagon et restituerunt eum in loco suo

4 rursumque mane die alio consurgentes invenerunt Dagon iacentem super faciem suam in terram coram arca Domini caput autem Dagon et duae palmae manuum eius abscisae erant super limen

5 porro Dagon truncus solus remanserat in loco suo propter hanc causam non calcant sacerdotes Dagon et omnes qui ingrediuntur templum eius super limen Dagon in Azoto usque in hodiernum diem

6 adgravata autem est manus Domini super Azotios et demolitus est eos et percussit in secretiori parte natium Azotum et fines eius

7 videntes autem viri azotii huiuscemodi plagam dixerunt non maneat arca Dei Israhel apud nos quoniam dura est manus eius super nos et super Dagon deum nostrum

8 et mittentes congregaverunt omnes satrapas Philisthinorum ad se et dixerunt quid faciemus de arca Dei Israhel responderuntque Getthei circumducatur arca Dei Israhel et circumduxerunt arcam Dei Israhel

9 illis autem circumducentibus eam fiebat manus Dei per singulas civitates interfectionis magnae nimis et percutiebat viros uniuscuiusque urbis a parvo usque ad maiorem et conputrescebant prominentes extales eorum

10 miserunt ergo arcam Dei in Accaron cumque venisset arca Dei in Accaron exclamaverunt Accaronitae dicentes adduxerunt ad nos arcam Dei Israhel ut interficiat nos et populum nostrum

11 miserunt itaque et congregaverunt omnes satrapas Philisthinorum qui dixerunt dimittite arcam Dei Israhel et revertatur in locum suum et non interficiat nos cum populo nostro

12 fiebat enim pavor mortis in singulis urbibus et gravissima valde manus Dei viri quoque qui mortui non fuerant percutiebantur in secretiori parte natium et ascendebat ululatus uniuscuiusque civitatis in caelum

1 Samuel 5 Commentary

Chapter 5

Dagon is broken before the ark. (1-5) The Philistine smitten. (6-12)

Verses 1-5 See the ark's triumph over Dagon. Thus the kingdom of Satan will certainly fall before the kingdom of Christ, error before truth, profaneness before godliness, and corruption before grace in the hearts of the faithful. When the interests of religion seem to be ready to sink, even then we may be confident that the day of their triumph will come. When Christ, the true Ark of the covenant, really enters the heart of fallen man, which is indeed Satan's temple, all idols will fall, every endeavour to set them up again will be vain, sin will be forsaken, and unrighteous gain restored; the Lord will claim and possess the throne. But pride, self-love, and worldly lusts, though dethroned and crucified, still remain within us, like the stump of Dagon. Let us watch and pray that they may not prevail. Let us seek to have them more entirely destroyed.

Verses 6-12 The hand of the Lord was heavy upon the Philistines; he not only convinced them of their folly, but severely chastised their insolence. Yet they would not renounce Dagon; and instead of seeking God's mercy, they desired to get clear of his ark. Carnal hearts, when they smart under the judgments of God, would rather, if it were possible, put him far from them, than enter into covenant or communion with him, and seek him for their friend. But their devices to escape the Divine judgments only increase them. Those that fight against God will soon have enough of it.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO FIRST SAMUEL 5

This chapter relates how that the ark being brought by the Philistines to Ashdod, and placed in the temple of their idol, that fell down before it, 1Sa 5:1-5, that the hand of the Lord was upon the men of Ashdod, and smote them with emerods, 1Sa 5:6,7 and being carried to Gath, the men of Gath were smitten likewise with the same, 1Sa 5:8,9, and after that the men of Ekron, whither it also was carried, 1Sa 5:10-12.