1 Now the Philistines had taken God’s ark, and they brought it from Ebenezer to Ashdod. 2 The Philistines took God’s ark, and brought it into the house of Dagon and set it by Dagon. 3 When the people of Ashdod arose early on the next day, behold, Dagon had fallen on his face to the ground before Yahweh’s ark. They took Dagon and set him in his place again. 4 When they arose early on the following morning, behold, Dagon had fallen on his face to the ground before Yahweh’s ark; and the head of Dagon and both the palms of his hands were cut off on the threshold. Only Dagon’s torso was intact. 5 Therefore neither the priests of Dagon nor any who come into Dagon’s house step on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod to this day. 6 But Yahweh’s hand was heavy on the people of Ashdod, and he destroyed them and struck them with tumors, even Ashdod and its borders.

7 When the men of Ashdod saw that it was so, they said, "The ark of the God of Israel shall not stay with us, for his hand is severe on us and on Dagon our god." 8 They sent therefore and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines, and said, "What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel?"

They answered, "Let the ark of the God of Israel be carried over to Gath." They carried the ark of the God of Israel there. 9 It was so, that after they had carried it there, Yahweh’s hand was against the city with a very great confusion; and he struck the men of the city, both small and great, so that tumors broke out on them. 10 So they sent God’s ark to Ekron.

As God’s ark came to Ekron, the Ekronites cried out, saying, "They have brought the ark of the God of Israel here to us, to kill us and our people." 11 They sent therefore and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines, and they said, "Send the ark of the God of Israel away, and let it go again to its own place, that it not kill us and our people." For there was a deadly panic throughout all the city. The hand of God was very heavy there. 12 The men who didn’t die were struck with the tumors; and the cry of the city went up to heaven.

1 Os filisteus, pois, tomaram a arca de Deus, e a levaram de Ebenézer a Asdode.

2 Então os filisteus tomaram a arca de Deus e a introduziram na casa de Dagom, e a puseram junto a Dagom.

3 Levantando-se, porém, de madrugada no dia seguinte os de Asdode, eis que Dagom estava caído com o rosto em terra diante da arca do Senhor; e tomaram a Dagom, e tornaram a pô-lo no seu lugar.

4 E, levantando-se eles de madrugada no dia seguinte, eis que Dagom estava caído com o rosto em terra diante da arca do Senhor; e a cabeça de Dagom e ambas as suas mãos estavam cortadas sobre o limiar; somente o tronco ficou a Dagom.

5 Pelo que nem os sacerdotes de Dagom, nem nenhum de todos os que entram na casa de Dagom, pisam o limiar de Dagom em Asdode, até o dia de hoje.

6 Entretanto a mão do Senhor se agravou sobre os de Asdode, e os assolou, e os feriu com tumores, a Asdode e aos seus termos.

7 O que tendo visto os homens de Asdode, disseram: Não fique conosco a arca do Deus de Israel, pois a sua mão é dura sobre nós, e sobre Dagom, nosso deus.

8 Pelo que enviaram mensageiros e congregaram a si todos os chefes dos filisteus, e disseram: Que faremos nós da arca do Deus de Israel? Responderam: Seja levada para Gate. Assim levaram para lá a arca do Deus de Israel.

9 E desde que a levaram para lá, a mão do Senhor veio contra aquela cidade, causando grande pânico; pois feriu aos homens daquela cidade, desde o pequeno até o grande, e nasceram-lhes tumores.

10 Então enviaram a arca de Deus a Ecrom. Sucedeu porém que, vindo a arca de Deus a Ecrom, os de Ecrom exclamaram, dizendo: Transportaram para nós a arca de Deus de Israel, para nos matar a nós e ao nosso povo.

11 Enviaram, pois, mensageiros, e congregaram a todos os chefes dos filisteus, e disseram: Enviai daqui a arca do Deus de Israel, e volte ela para o seu lugar, para que não nos mate a nós e ao nosso povo. Porque havia pânico mortal em toda a cidade, e a mão de Deus muito se agravara sobre ela.

12 Pois os homens que não morriam eram feridos com tumores; de modo que o clamor da cidade subia até o céu.