1 Samuel 5 7

1 Samuel 5:7 kjv

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.

1 Samuel 5:7 nkjv

And when the men of Ashdod saw how it was, they said, "The ark of the God of Israel must not remain with us, for His hand is harsh toward us and Dagon our god."

1 Samuel 5:7 niv

When the people of Ashdod saw what was happening, they said, "The ark of the god of Israel must not stay here with us, because his hand is heavy on us and on Dagon our god."

1 Samuel 5:7 esv

And when the men of Ashdod saw how things were, they said, "The ark of the God of Israel must not remain with us, for his hand is hard against us and against Dagon our god."

1 Samuel 5:7 nlt

When the people realized what was happening, they cried out, "We can't keep the Ark of the God of Israel here any longer! He is against us! We will all be destroyed along with Dagon, our god."

1 Samuel 5 verses

1 Samuel 5 7 Meaning

1 Samuel 5:7 details the response of the people of Ashdod after experiencing God's judgment. Having observed the humiliation of their god Dagon and suffering a severe plague, they recognized that the powerful "hand" causing their affliction was that of the God of Israel. Consequently, they decided that the Ark, as the vessel of His presence, could not remain among them due to His destructive power against both their people and their idol, Dagon.

1 Samuel 5 7 Context

1 Samuel chapter 5 opens with the Ark of the Covenant being captured by the Philistines in a battle (1 Sam 4), a consequence of Israel's spiritual decline and the misconduct of Eli's sons. The Ark, symbolic of God's presence, was then brought to Ashdod and placed in the temple of Dagon, the chief Philistine deity, signifying Dagon's supposed victory. However, on two successive mornings, Dagon's idol was found fallen before the Ark, first prostrate, and then utterly desecrated with its head and hands broken off, demonstrating God's supreme authority over pagan gods. Following this humiliation of their deity, the people of Ashdod were afflicted with severe tumors, a direct divine judgment that also caused panic and widespread suffering. Verse 7 specifically articulates the Ashdodites' growing comprehension and verbal admission of the true source of their woes: the powerful hand of the God of Israel. This realization prompts their urgent decision to remove the Ark from their city, marking a significant, albeit reluctant, acknowledgment of Yahweh's unparalleled might by their adversaries.

1 Samuel 5 7 Word analysis

• When the men of Ashdod saw (וַיִּרְא֞וּ אַנְשֵׁ֨י אַשְׁדּ֤וֹד - vayyiru anshei Ashdod):

  • vayyiru (saw): From ra'ah (רָאָה), meaning to see, perceive, understand. It implies more than mere looking; it denotes clear observation and comprehension of the situation's severity. Their sight led to a conclusive understanding.
  • anshei Ashdod (men of Ashdod): Refers collectively to the inhabitants or leaders, indicating a communal understanding and decision. Ashdod was one of the five major Philistine cities, known for its strong fortifications and pagan worship.

• that it was so (כֵּן ה֖וּא - ken hu):

  • ken hu: A common Hebrew expression meaning "thus it is," or "it is indeed true." It signifies confirmation and acceptance of the inescapable reality. They could no longer deny or dismiss the events as coincidence or mere misfortune.

• they said (וַיֹּאמְר֞וּ - vayyomeru):

  • From 'amar (אָמַר), meaning to say, speak, declare. This verbal declaration makes their understanding public and actionable. It wasn't just internal thought but a spoken conclusion.

• 'The ark of the God of Israel (אֲר֨וֹן אֱלֹהֵֽי יִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל - aron Elohei Yisrael):

  • aron: Ark, a sacred chest, specifically the Ark of the Covenant, representing God's throne and presence.
  • Elohei Yisrael: "God of Israel." The Philistines, though polytheists, recognized and explicitly named the specific God associated with this powerful artifact and its effects, rather than just calling Him 'a god'. This is a forced acknowledgment of YHWH's distinct identity and power.

• must not remain with us (לֹא יֵשֵׁ֤ב הָֽאָרוֹן֙ עִמָּ֔נוּ - lo yeshev ha'aron immanu):

  • lo yeshev: "Not remain," "not sit," "not dwell." lo is a strong negation. yeshev (from yashab) conveys a sense of abiding or settling. They desired His powerful presence not to dwell among them any longer. This highlights the concept of divine presence bringing either blessing or judgment, depending on the recipient.

• for His hand is severe (כִּ֣י יָד֣וֹ קָשָׁה - ki yado qashah):

  • ki: Because, for. Connects their conclusion directly to the reason.
  • yado: "His hand." A common anthropomorphism representing God's active power, agency, or authority. In this context, it unequivocally signifies divine intervention and judgment.
  • qashah: "Severe," "hard," "difficult." It describes intense and grievous affliction. It implies God's forceful and burdensome judgment.

• on us (עָלֵ֙ינוּ֙ - alenu):

  • "On us." Directly refers to the suffering inflicted upon the people of Ashdod (tumors/plagues mentioned in verse 6).

• and on Dagon our god (וְעַל־דָּג֣וֹן אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ - ve'al-Dagon Eloheinu):

  • ve'al-Dagon: "And on Dagon." The impact on their idol, humiliated and destroyed (verse 4-5), was just as significant as the impact on the people.
  • Eloheinu: "Our god." This reveals their continued idolatry despite acknowledging YHWH's power. They had experienced YHWH's wrath on their deity, yet Dagon remained "our god." This indicates recognition of power without repentance. It underscores the profound theological point that the one true God is supreme, exposing the impotence of idols and demonstrating His absolute sovereignty over all false gods.

1 Samuel 5 7 Bonus section

The Ashdodites' use of "our god" concerning Dagon, even after Dagon was utterly defiled, emphasizes the tenacity of pagan worship and human resistance to the true God, even in the face of overwhelming evidence. They chose to manage the immediate threat by removing the Ark rather than abandoning their false worship and repenting. This prefigures the common human tendency to remove uncomfortable truths or consequences without addressing the root spiritual issues. Furthermore, the incident is ironic because while Israel lost the Ark in battle and believed God's "glory has departed" (1 Sam 4:21), God’s glory was never more evident among His enemies, fighting His own battles and proving His might independently. This demonstrates that God's presence and power are not limited to His chosen people or specific locations; His sovereignty extends universally. The judgment in Ashdod served not only as a punishment but also as a profound missiological statement to the Philistines about Yahweh’s unparalleled glory.

1 Samuel 5 7 Commentary

1 Samuel 5:7 captures the decisive turning point in the Ashdod narrative: the Philistines’ grudging recognition of Yahweh's overwhelming power. This verse isn't about their repentance or conversion; rather, it portrays their pragmatic, fear-driven desire to remove the source of their affliction. The breaking of Dagon, their national god, and the simultaneous physical plagues inflicted upon the populace of Ashdod force them to acknowledge what they could not see with human eyes: the reality of God's active, judgmental "hand." The Philistines’ reluctant admission of Yahweh's might highlights His unique supremacy over all other so-called gods, demonstrating His capability to execute judgment without the need for human armies or explicit commands, simply through His presence. This instance serves as a powerful polemic against idolatry, proving that carved images are powerless before the living God, unable to protect themselves or their worshipers from His wrath. This reluctant witness also points forward to how even non-believers, by divine action, may be forced to acknowledge aspects of God’s truth, even if they refuse to submit to His Lordship.

• Example 1: Just as a modern-day superpower demonstrates its capabilities through its arsenal, the God of Israel demonstrates His ultimate power through natural phenomena and direct action, causing His name to be known among those who would otherwise deny Him.
• Example 2: A person refusing to believe in gravity still experiences its effects when falling, illustrating how reality impacts even those in denial, much like the Ashdodites were forced to acknowledge God's hand.