1 Samuel 5: The Ark and Dagon

The Philistines put the ark of God in the temple of their god Dagon at Ashdod. Two mornings in a row, Dagon was found fallen on his face before the ark, and the second time he was broken. The Lord's hand was heavy on the Philistine cities, and they suffered from tumors. They sent the ark from city to city and finally asked to send it back.

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Read 1 Samuel 5

World English Bible · 12 verses

¹ Now the Philistines had taken God’s ark, and they brought it from Ebenezer to Ashdod.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
² The Philistines took God’s ark, and brought it into the house of Dagon and set it by Dagon.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
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.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
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.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
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.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
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.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
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.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
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.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
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.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
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.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
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.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹² The men who didn’t die were struck with the tumors; and the cry of the city went up to heaven.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.

Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org

Worksheets

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1 Samuel 5 · Preschool

Dagon Falls

Name Date

Color the ark of God! The pretend god Dagon fell down before it.

Can you find these in the picture? Circle each one!

Bible Verse

“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.”

1 Samuel 5:3 (WEB)

Prayer

Thank You, God, for making me!

Take It Home

Read the verse aloud. Say: The Philistines thought their idol was strong. But it fell down in front of God's ark. There is only one true God, and He is the strongest.

Open Grade 4 on its own page

1 Samuel 5 · Grade 4

The Lord Wins Alone

Name Date

Read and Think

Israel had lost the battle, and the ark was captured. To the Philistines, it looked as if Dagon had beaten the God of Israel. They placed the ark in Dagon's house in Ashdod, like a trophy beside their god.

But God needed no army to defend His honor. Dagon fell face down before the ark, as if bowing in worship. When the priests propped him up, he fell again, and his head and palms lay broken on the threshold. A lifeless idol could not even stand before the living God.

Then the Lord's hand was heavy on Ashdod, striking the people with tumors. The ark was moved to Gath and then to Ekron, and each city suffered panic and sickness. The Philistines finally admitted the hand of the God of Israel was against them, and they asked to send the ark home.

Show What You Know

Why did the Philistines put the ark in Dagon's house?
How did Dagon look when he fell the first time?
What happened to the cities that held the ark?
What did the Philistines finally admit?

Word Bank Fill-In

Use the word bank to fill in each blank.

arkcityDagonGodhand

Israel had lost the battle, and the was captured.
To the Philistines, it looked as if had beaten the God of Israel.
But needed no army to defend His honor.
The ark was moved to Gath and then to Ekron, and each suffered panic and sickness.
The Philistines finally admitted the of the God of Israel was against them, and they asked to send the ark home.

Think About It

Israel lost, but God still showed His power. How does this help when it seems like God is losing?
What idols, or things people put first, can never stand before God?

Memory Verse

“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.”

1 Samuel 5:4 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for being the only true God. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

Why do you think the writer repeats the hand of God?
What false gods do people trust today?

Open Grade 5 on its own page

1 Samuel 5 · Grade 5

No Rival to the Lord

Name Date

Read and Think

After Israel's defeat, the Philistines carried the ark to Ashdod and set it beside Dagon, their god. In the ancient world, capturing an enemy's sacred object was a way of saying our god is stronger than yours. The scene is set for a contest between the Lord and Dagon, with no Israelite soldier involved.

On the first morning Dagon lay face down before the Lord's ark. On the second, Dagon had fallen again, with his head and both palms cut off on the threshold, leaving only the torso. The picture is clear: the idol is powerless, and the Lord humbles false gods by Himself. Even the custom of not stepping on Dagon's threshold remained as a memory of that day.

The Lord's hand then pressed heavily on each city that held the ark: Ashdod, Gath, and Ekron, with tumors and deadly panic. The repeated phrase, the hand of God, shows who was truly in control. The Philistines who had celebrated their victory now begged to send the ark away. God's glory had not departed in defeat; it was on display among the nations.

Show What You Know

What did capturing an enemy's sacred object mean in the ancient world?
What does Dagon's fall show?
Which repeated phrase shows who was in control?
Where was God's glory on display?

Crossword

Across

Dagon had ____ on his face (5:3).
The city where the ark was taken first (5:1)

Down

The city that cried out when the ark came (5:10)
The Philistines' false god (5:2)
Yahweh's ____ was heavy on them (5:6).

Think About It

Israel thought the glory had departed, but God was still at work. When might God be at work even in a loss?
How does this chapter shape how you think about the idols of our culture?

Memory Verse

1 Samuel 5:4 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for being the only true God. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

How can God's glory be seen even when His people fail?
How could you tell a friend that God is the one true God?
What is one way you could live out this chapter this week?

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‹ All 1 Samuel chapters · All books

1 Samuel 5: The Ark and Dagon

Read 1 Samuel 5

Worksheets

Dagon Falls

Prayer

Take It Home

One True God

Trace the Words

Match the Pictures

Mini Maze

Draw It

Prayer

Take It Home

God Is Strong

Trace the Words

Match the Pictures

The Ark Among the Philistines

Prayer

Take It Home

The Idol Falls Down

Read the Story

Show What You Know

Word Search

Prayer

Take It Home

Fallen Before the Ark

Read the Story

Answer the Questions

The Ark Among the Philistines

Prayer

Take It Home

The Lord Wins Alone

Read and Think

Show What You Know

Word Bank Fill-In

Think About It

Copy It

Prayer

Take It Home

No Rival to the Lord

Read and Think

Show What You Know

Crossword

Think About It

Copy It

Prayer

Take It Home

More print options