VIN(i)
1 Now the Philistines had captured the ark of God and brought it from Ebenezer to Ashdod.
2 They took the ark of God into the house of Dagon and set it beside Dagon.
3 When the people of Ashdod arose early the next day, Dagon had fallen on his face to the ground before the ark of the LORD. They took Dagon and set him back in his place.
4 When they got up early in the morning the next day, there was Dagon fallen again with his face to the ground before the ark of the LORD! The head of Dagon and the palms of his two hands were cut off, lying at the threshold; only the body of Dagon was left.
5 This is why neither the priests of Dagon nor anyone who enters the temple of Dagon step on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod to this day.
6 But the hand of the LORD was heavy on the people of Ashdod and those nearby, and He destroyed them, afflicting them with tumours.
7 When the men of Ashdod saw what was happening they said, The ark of the God of Israel must not stay with us, for His hand is severe on us and on Dagon our god.
8 They sent messengers and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines and asked, "What shall we do with the Ark of the God of Israel?" They said, "Let the Ark of the God of Israel move to Gath." So they moved the Ark of the God of Israel.
9 After they moved it, the LORD moved against the town, causing a very great panic. He struck the men of the town, from young to old with tumors of the groin.