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Selected Verse: 1 Samuel 5:5 - King James

Verse	Translation	Text
1Sa 5:5	King James	Therefore neither the priests of Dagon, nor any that come into Dagon's house, tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod unto this day.

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
Therefore neither the priests . . . nor any . . . tread on the threshold of Dagon--A superstitious ceremony crept in, and in the providence of God was continued, by which the Philistines contributed to publish this proof of the helplessness of their god. unto this day--The usage continued in practice at the time when this history was written--probably in the later years of Samuel's life.

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

Therefore neither the priests . . . nor any . . . tread on the threshold of Dagon--A superstitious ceremony crept in, and in the providence of God was continued, by which the Philistines contributed to publish this proof of the helplessness of their god.

unto this day--The usage continued in practice at the time when this history was written--probably in the later years of Samuel's life.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
This custom still existed among the worshippers of Dagon so late as the reign of Josiah (see the marginal reference).

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]

This custom still existed among the worshippers of Dagon so late as the reign of Josiah (see the marginal reference).

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
This day - When this history was written, which if written by Samuel towards the end of his life, was a sufficient ground for this expression.

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]

This day - When this history was written, which if written by Samuel towards the end of his life, was a sufficient ground for this expression.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
Tread on the threshold - Because the arms, etc., of Dagon were broken off by his fall on the threshold, the threshold became sacred, and neither his priests nor worshippers ever tread on the threshold. Thus it was ordered, in the Divine providence, that, by a religious custom of their own, they should perpetuate their disgrace, the insufficiency of their worship, and the superiority of the God of Israel. It is supposed that the idolatrous Israelites, in the time of Zephaniah, had adopted the worship of Dagon: and that in this sense Sa1 1:9 is to be understood: In the same day will I punish all those who leap upon the threshold. In order to go into such temples, and not tread on the threshold, the people must step or leap over them; and in this way the above passage may be understood. Indeed, the thresholds of the temples in various places were deemed so sacred that the people were accustomed to fall down and kiss them. When Christianity became corrupted, this adoration of the thresholds of the churches took place.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826

Tread on the threshold - Because the arms, etc., of Dagon were broken off by his fall on the threshold, the threshold became sacred, and neither his priests nor worshippers ever tread on the threshold. Thus it was ordered, in the Divine providence, that, by a religious custom of their own, they should perpetuate their disgrace, the insufficiency of their worship, and the superiority of the God of Israel.

It is supposed that the idolatrous Israelites, in the time of Zephaniah, had adopted the worship of Dagon: and that in this sense Sa1 1:9 is to be understood: In the same day will I punish all those who leap upon the threshold. In order to go into such temples, and not tread on the threshold, the people must step or leap over them; and in this way the above passage may be understood. Indeed, the thresholds of the temples in various places were deemed so sacred that the people were accustomed to fall down and kiss them. When Christianity became corrupted, this adoration of the thresholds of the churches took place.

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