The Ark Returned to Israel

6 When the ark of the Lord had been in Philistine territory seven months,

¹⁰ So they sent the ark of God to Ekron.^(A)

As the ark of God was entering Ekron, the people of Ekron cried out, “They have brought the ark of the god of Israel around to us to kill us and our people.” ¹¹ So they called together all the rulers^(B) of the Philistines and said, “Send the ark of the god of Israel away; let it go back to its own place, or it^[a] will kill us and our people.” For death had filled the city with panic; God’s hand was very heavy on it.

³ When the people of Ashdod rose early the next day, there was Dagon, fallen^(A) on his face on the ground before the ark of the Lord! They took Dagon and put him back in his place.

The Ark in Ashdod and Ekron

5 After the Philistines had captured the ark of God, they took it from Ebenezer^(A) to Ashdod.^(B)