Ashdod

Illustration of Ashdod

Ashdod housed the great temple of Dagon, the Philistine god, where the captured Ark of the Covenant was placed as a trophy of war after Israel's defeat at Ebenezer. The idol of Dagon fell face down before the ark not once but twice, breaking apart the second time, while the people of the city were struck with tumors until they begged for the ark's removal. This humiliating episode demonstrated the LORD's supremacy over the false gods of the nations even while his own people suffered defeat, making Ashdod's temple one of Scripture's most memorable scenes of divine power over idolatry.

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Details

Region
Philistia
Modern Location
Ashdod, Israel (coastal)
Strongest connections in Scripture
1 Samuel 5

Nearby Places

(within ~40 km)

Key Passages

The Ark Humiliates Dagon at Ashdod

1 Samuel 5:1-7

The idol of Dagon repeatedly falls before the captured ark in his own temple, and the city is struck with plague - a vivid demonstration that the LORD has no rival among the gods of the nations.

A1nd the Philistines took the ark of God, and brought it from Ebenezer unto Ashdod.

2 When the Philistines took the ark of God, they brought it into the house of Dagon, and set it by Dagon. 3 And when they of Ashdod arose early on the morrow, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the earth before the ark of the LORD. And they took Dagon, and set him in his place again. 4 And when they arose early on the morrow morning, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the ground before the ark of the LORD; and the head of Dagon and both the palms of his hands were cut off upon the threshold; only the stump of Dagon was left to him. 5 Therefore neither the priests of Dagon, nor any that come into Dagonโ€™s house, tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod unto this day. 6 But the hand of the LORD was heavy upon them of Ashdod, and he destroyed them, and smote them with emerods, even Ashdod and the coasts thereof. 7 And when the men of Ashdod saw that it was so, they said, The ark of the God of Israel shall not abide with us: for his hand is sore upon us, and upon Dagon our god.

Key Chapters

1 Samuel 5 The Ark Among the Philistines 3 min read