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Selected Verse: Amos 1:8 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
Am 1:8	Strong Concordance	And I will cut off [03772] the inhabitant [03427] from Ashdod [0795], and him that holdeth [08551] the sceptre [07626] from Ashkelon [0831], and I will turn [07725] mine hand [03027] against Ekron [06138]: and the remnant [07611] of the Philistines [06430] shall perish [06], saith [0559] the Lord [0136] GOD [03069].
	King James	And I will cut off the inhabitant from Ashdod, and him that holdeth the sceptre from Ashkelon, and I will turn mine hand against Ekron: and the remnant of the Philistines shall perish, saith the Lord GOD.

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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]
Ashdod, &c.--Gath alone is not mentioned of the five chief Philistine cities. It had already been subdued by David; and it, as well as Ashdod, was taken by Uzziah (Ch2 26:6). Gath perhaps had lost its position as one of the five primary cities before Amos uttered this prophecy, whence arose his omission of it. So Zep 2:4-5. Compare Jer 47:4; Eze 25:16. Subsequently to the subjugation of the Philistines by Uzziah, and then by Hezekiah, they were reduced by Psammetichus of Egypt, Nebuchadnezzar, the Persians, Alexander, and lastly the Asmoneans.

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

Ashdod, &c.--Gath alone is not mentioned of the five chief Philistine cities. It had already been subdued by David; and it, as well as Ashdod, was taken by Uzziah (Ch2 26:6). Gath perhaps had lost its position as one of the five primary cities before Amos uttered this prophecy, whence arose his omission of it. So Zep 2:4-5. Compare Jer 47:4; Eze 25:16. Subsequently to the subjugation of the Philistines by Uzziah, and then by Hezekiah, they were reduced by Psammetichus of Egypt, Nebuchadnezzar, the Persians, Alexander, and lastly the Asmoneans.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
And I will cut off the inhabitant from Ashdod - Ashdod, as well as Ekron, have their names from their strength; Ashdod, "the mighty," like Valentia; Ekron, "the firm-rooted." The title of Ashdod implied that it was powerful to inflict as to resist. It may have meant, "the waster." It too was eminent in its idolatry. The ark, when taken, was first placed in its Dagon-temple Sa1 5:1-7; and, perhaps, in consequence, its lord is placed first of the five, in recounting the trespass-offerings which they sent to the Lord Sa1 6:17. Ashdod (Azotus in the New Testament now a village, Esdud or Shdood ), lay 34 or 36 miles from Gaza , on the great route from Egypt northward, on that which now too is most used even to Jerusalem. Ashkelon lay to the left of the road, near the sea, rather more than halfway. Ekron (Akir, now a village of 50 mud-houses ), lay a little to the right of the road northward from Gaza to Lydda (in the same latitude as Jamnia, Jabneel) on the road from Ramleh to Belt Jibrin (Eleutheropolis). Ekron, the furthest from the sea, lay only 15 miles from it. They were then a succession of fortresses, strong from their situation, which could molest any army, which should come along their coast. Transversely, in regard to Judah, they enclosed a space parallel to most of Judah and Benjamin. Ekron, which by God's gift was the northern line of Judah Jos 15:11, is about the same latitude as Ramah in Benjamin; Gaza, the same as Carmel (Kurmul). From Gaza lay a straight road to Jerusalem; but Ashkelon too, Ashdod, and Ekron lay near the heads of valleys, which ran up to the hill-country near Jerusalem . This system of rich valleys, in which, either by artificial irrigation or natural absorption, the streams which ran from the mountains of Judah westward fertilized the grainfields of Philistia, aforded equally a ready approach to Philistine marauders into the very heart of Judah. The Crusaders had to crown with castles the heights in a distant circle around Ashkelon , in order to restrain the incursions of the Muslims. (In such occasions doubtless, the same man-stealing was often practiced on lesser scales, which here, on a larger scale, draws down the sentence of God. Gath, much further inland, probably formed a center to which these maritime towns converged, and united their system of inroads on Judah. These five cities of Philistia had each its own petty king (Seren, our "axle"). But all formed one whole; all debated and acted together on any great occasion; as in the plot against Samson Jdg 16:5, Jdg 16:8, Jdg 16:18, the sacrifice to Dagon in triumph over him, where they perished Jdg 16:23, Jdg 16:27, Jdg 16:30; the inflictions on account of the ark Sa1 5:8, Sa1 5:11; Sa1 6:4, Sa1 6:12, Sa1 6:16, Sa1 6:18; the great attack on Israel Sa1 7:7, which God defeated the Mizpeh; the battle when Saul fell, and the dismissal of David Sa1 31:2, Sa1 31:6-7; Ch1 12:19. The cities divided their idolatry also, in a manner, between them, Ashdod being the chief seat of the worship of Dagon , Ashkelon, of the corresponding worship of Derceto , the fish-goddess, the symbol of the passive principle in re-production. Ekron was the seat of the worship of Baalzebub and his oracle, from where he is called "the god of Ekron" Kg2 1:2-3, Kg2 1:16. Gaza, even after it had become an abode of Greek idolatry and had seven temples of Greek gods, still retained its worship of its god Marna ("our Lord") as the chief . It too was probably "nature" and to its worship they were devoted. All these cities were as one; all formed one state; all were one in their sin; all were to be one in their punishment. So then for greater vividness, one part of the common infliction is related of each, while in fact, according to the custom of prophetic diction, what is said of each is said of all. King and people were to be cut off from all; all were to be consumed with fire in war; on all God would, as it were, "turn" (literally, "bring back") His Hand, visiting them anew, and bringing again the same punishment upon them. In truth these destructions came upon them, again and again, through Sargon, Hezekiah, Pharaoh, Nebuchadnezzar, Alexander, the Maccabees. Ashdod - Uzziah about this time "brake down its walls and built cities about" Ch2 26:6 it, to protect his people from its inroads. It recovered, and was subsequently besieged and taken by Tartan, the Assyrian General under Sargon Isa 20:1 (about 716 b.c.). Somewhat later, it sustained the longest siege in man's knowlege, for 29 years, from Psammetichus king of Egypt (about 635 b.c.). Whence, probably Jeremiah, while he speaks of Ashkelon, Gaza, Ekron, mentions "the remnant of Ashdod" Jer 25:20 only. Yet, after the captivity, it seems to have been the first Philistine city, so that the Philistines were called Ashdodites Neh 4:7, and their dialect Ashdodite Neh 13:24. They were still hostile to the Jews Neh 4:7. The war, in which Judas Maccabaeus spoiled Ashdod and other Philistine cities (1 Macc. 5:68), was a defensive war against a war of extermination. "The nations round about" (1 Macc. 5:1, 2), it is said at the beginning of the account of that year's campaign, "thought to destroy the generation of Jacob that was among them, and thereupon they began to slay and destroy the people." Jonathan, the brother of Judas, "set fire to Azotus and the cities round about it (1 Macc. 10:82, 84), after a battle under its walls, to which his enemies had challenged him. The temple of Dagon in it was a sort of citadel (1 Macc. 10:83). Ashkelon is mentioned as a place of strength, taken by the great conqueror, Raamses II. Its resolute defense and capture are represented, with its name as a city of Canaanites, on a monument of Karnac . Its name most naturally signifies "hanging." This suits very well with the site of its present ruins, which "hang" on the side of the theater or arc of hills, whose base is the sea. This, however, probably was not its ancient site (see the note at Zep 2:4). Its name occurs in the wars of the Maccabees, but rather as submitting readily (1 Macc. 10:86; 11:60). Perhaps the inhabitants had been changed in the intervening period. Antipater, the Edomite father of Herod, courted, we are told , "the Arabs and the Ascalonites and the Gazites." "Toward the Jews their neighbors, the inhabitants of the Holy land," Philo says to the Roman emperor, "the Ascalonites have an irreconcilable aversion, which will come to no terms." This abiding hatred burst out at the beginning of the war with the Romans, in which Jerusalem perished. The Ascalonites massacred 2500 Jews dwelling among them . The Jews "fired Ascalon and utterly destroyed Gaza" . Ekron was apparently not important enough in itself to have any separate history. We hear of it only as given by Alexander Bales "with the borders thereof in possession" (1 Macc. 10:89) to Jonathan the Maccabee. The valley of Surar gave the Ekronites a readier entrance into the center of Judaea, than Ascalon or Ashdod had. In Jerome's time, it had sunk to "a very large village." The residue of the Philistines shall perish - This has been thought to mean "the rest" (as in Jer 39:3; Neh 7:72) that is, Gath, (not mentioned by name anymore as having ceased to be of any account (see the note at Amo 6:3)) and the towns, dependent on those chief cities . The common (and, with a proper name, universal ) meaning of the idiom is, "the remnant," those who remain over after a first destruction. The words then, like those just before, "I will bring again my hand against Ekron," foretell a renewal of those first judgments. The political strength which should survive one desolation should be destroyed in those which should succeed it. In tacit contrast with the promises of mercy to the remnant of Judah (see above the note at Joe 2:32), Amos foretells that judgment after judgment should fall upon Philistia, until the Philistines ceased to be anymore a people; as they did.

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

And I will cut off the inhabitant from Ashdod - Ashdod, as well as Ekron, have their names from their strength; Ashdod, "the mighty," like Valentia; Ekron, "the firm-rooted." The title of Ashdod implied that it was powerful to inflict as to resist. It may have meant, "the waster." It too was eminent in its idolatry. The ark, when taken, was first placed in its Dagon-temple Sa1 5:1-7; and, perhaps, in consequence, its lord is placed first of the five, in recounting the trespass-offerings which they sent to the Lord Sa1 6:17. Ashdod (Azotus in the New Testament now a village, Esdud or Shdood ), lay 34 or 36 miles from Gaza , on the great route from Egypt northward, on that which now too is most used even to Jerusalem. Ashkelon lay to the left of the road, near the sea, rather more than halfway.

Ekron (Akir, now a village of 50 mud-houses ), lay a little to the right of the road northward from Gaza to Lydda (in the same latitude as Jamnia, Jabneel) on the road from Ramleh to Belt Jibrin (Eleutheropolis). Ekron, the furthest from the sea, lay only 15 miles from it. They were then a succession of fortresses, strong from their situation, which could molest any army, which should come along their coast. Transversely, in regard to Judah, they enclosed a space parallel to most of Judah and Benjamin. Ekron, which by God's gift was the northern line of Judah Jos 15:11, is about the same latitude as Ramah in Benjamin; Gaza, the same as Carmel (Kurmul). From Gaza lay a straight road to Jerusalem; but Ashkelon too, Ashdod, and Ekron lay near the heads of valleys, which ran up to the hill-country near Jerusalem .

This system of rich valleys, in which, either by artificial irrigation or natural absorption, the streams which ran from the mountains of Judah westward fertilized the grainfields of Philistia, aforded equally a ready approach to Philistine marauders into the very heart of Judah. The Crusaders had to crown with castles the heights in a distant circle around Ashkelon , in order to restrain the incursions of the Muslims. (In such occasions doubtless, the same man-stealing was often practiced on lesser scales, which here, on a larger scale, draws down the sentence of God. Gath, much further inland, probably formed a center to which these maritime towns converged, and united their system of inroads on Judah.

These five cities of Philistia had each its own petty king (Seren, our "axle"). But all formed one whole; all debated and acted together on any great occasion; as in the plot against Samson Jdg 16:5, Jdg 16:8, Jdg 16:18, the sacrifice to Dagon in triumph over him, where they perished Jdg 16:23, Jdg 16:27, Jdg 16:30; the inflictions on account of the ark Sa1 5:8, Sa1 5:11; Sa1 6:4, Sa1 6:12, Sa1 6:16, Sa1 6:18; the great attack on Israel Sa1 7:7, which God defeated the Mizpeh; the battle when Saul fell, and the dismissal of David Sa1 31:2, Sa1 31:6-7; Ch1 12:19. The cities divided their idolatry also, in a manner, between them, Ashdod being the chief seat of the worship of Dagon , Ashkelon, of the corresponding worship of Derceto , the fish-goddess, the symbol of the passive principle in re-production. Ekron was the seat of the worship of Baalzebub and his oracle, from where he is called "the god of Ekron" Kg2 1:2-3, Kg2 1:16.

Gaza, even after it had become an abode of Greek idolatry and had seven temples of Greek gods, still retained its worship of its god Marna ("our Lord") as the chief . It too was probably "nature" and to its worship they were devoted. All these cities were as one; all formed one state; all were one in their sin; all were to be one in their punishment. So then for greater vividness, one part of the common infliction is related of each, while in fact, according to the custom of prophetic diction, what is said of each is said of all. King and people were to be cut off from all; all were to be consumed with fire in war; on all God would, as it were, "turn" (literally, "bring back") His Hand, visiting them anew, and bringing again the same punishment upon them. In truth these destructions came upon them, again and again, through Sargon, Hezekiah, Pharaoh, Nebuchadnezzar, Alexander, the Maccabees.

Ashdod - Uzziah about this time "brake down its walls and built cities about" Ch2 26:6 it, to protect his people from its inroads. It recovered, and was subsequently besieged and taken by Tartan, the Assyrian General under Sargon Isa 20:1 (about 716 b.c.). Somewhat later, it sustained the longest siege in man's knowlege, for 29 years, from Psammetichus king of Egypt (about 635 b.c.). Whence, probably Jeremiah, while he speaks of Ashkelon, Gaza, Ekron, mentions "the remnant of Ashdod" Jer 25:20 only. Yet, after the captivity, it seems to have been the first Philistine city, so that the Philistines were called Ashdodites Neh 4:7, and their dialect Ashdodite Neh 13:24. They were still hostile to the Jews Neh 4:7. The war, in which Judas Maccabaeus spoiled Ashdod and other Philistine cities (1 Macc. 5:68), was a defensive war against a war of extermination. "The nations round about" (1 Macc. 5:1, 2), it is said at the beginning of the account of that year's campaign, "thought to destroy the generation of Jacob that was among them, and thereupon they began to slay and destroy the people." Jonathan, the brother of Judas, "set fire to Azotus and the cities round about it (1 Macc. 10:82, 84), after a battle under its walls, to which his enemies had challenged him. The temple of Dagon in it was a sort of citadel (1 Macc. 10:83).

Ashkelon is mentioned as a place of strength, taken by the great conqueror, Raamses II. Its resolute defense and capture are represented, with its name as a city of Canaanites, on a monument of Karnac . Its name most naturally signifies "hanging." This suits very well with the site of its present ruins, which "hang" on the side of the theater or arc of hills, whose base is the sea. This, however, probably was not its ancient site (see the note at Zep 2:4). Its name occurs in the wars of the Maccabees, but rather as submitting readily (1 Macc. 10:86; 11:60). Perhaps the inhabitants had been changed in the intervening period. Antipater, the Edomite father of Herod, courted, we are told , "the Arabs and the Ascalonites and the Gazites." "Toward the Jews their neighbors, the inhabitants of the Holy land," Philo says to the Roman emperor, "the Ascalonites have an irreconcilable aversion, which will come to no terms." This abiding hatred burst out at the beginning of the war with the Romans, in which Jerusalem perished. The Ascalonites massacred 2500 Jews dwelling among them . The Jews "fired Ascalon and utterly destroyed Gaza" .

Ekron was apparently not important enough in itself to have any separate history. We hear of it only as given by Alexander Bales "with the borders thereof in possession" (1 Macc. 10:89) to Jonathan the Maccabee. The valley of Surar gave the Ekronites a readier entrance into the center of Judaea, than Ascalon or Ashdod had. In Jerome's time, it had sunk to "a very large village."

The residue of the Philistines shall perish - This has been thought to mean "the rest" (as in Jer 39:3; Neh 7:72) that is, Gath, (not mentioned by name anymore as having ceased to be of any account (see the note at Amo 6:3)) and the towns, dependent on those chief cities . The common (and, with a proper name, universal ) meaning of the idiom is, "the remnant," those who remain over after a first destruction. The words then, like those just before, "I will bring again my hand against Ekron," foretell a renewal of those first judgments. The political strength which should survive one desolation should be destroyed in those which should succeed it. In tacit contrast with the promises of mercy to the remnant of Judah (see above the note at Joe 2:32), Amos foretells that judgment after judgment should fall upon Philistia, until the Philistines ceased to be anymore a people; as they did.

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
Ashkelon - Another city of the Philistines, and a very strong one, which shall perish with the king and the inhabitants thereof.

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¹⁶ Therefore thus saith [0559] the Lord [0136] GOD [03069]; Behold, I will stretch out [05186] mine hand [03027] upon the Philistines [06430], and I will cut off [03772] the Cherethims [03774], and destroy [06] the remnant [07611] of the sea [03220] coast [02348].

⁴ Because of the day [03117] that cometh [0935] to spoil [07703] all the Philistines [06430], and to cut off [03772] from Tyrus [06865] and Zidon [06721] every helper [05826] that remaineth [08300]: for the LORD [03068] will spoil [07703] the Philistines [06430], the remnant [07611] of the country [0339] of Caphtor [03731].

⁴ For Gaza [05804] shall be forsaken [05800], and Ashkelon [0831] a desolation [08077]: they shall drive out [01644] Ashdod [0795] at the noon day [06672], and Ekron [06138] shall be rooted up [06131].
⁵ Woe [01945] unto the inhabitants [03427] of the sea [03220] coast [02256], the nation [01471] of the Cherethites [03774]! the word [01697] of the LORD [03068] is against you; O Canaan [03667], the land [0776] of the Philistines [06430], I will even destroy [06] thee, that there shall be no inhabitant [03427].

⁶ And he went forth [03318] and warred [03898] against the Philistines [06430], and brake down [06555] the wall [02346] of Gath [01661], and the wall [02346] of Jabneh [02996], and the wall [02346] of Ashdod [0795], and built [01129] cities [05892] about Ashdod [0795], and among the Philistines [06430].

³² And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call [07121] on the name [08034] of the LORD [03068] shall be delivered [04422]: for in mount [02022] Zion [06726] and in Jerusalem [03389] shall be deliverance [06413], as the LORD [03068] hath said [0559], and in the remnant [08300] whom the LORD [03068] shall call [07121].

³ Ye that put far away [05077] the evil [07451] day [03117], and cause the seat [07675] of violence [02555] to come near [05066];

⁷² And that which the rest [07611] of the people [05971] gave [05414] was twenty [08147] thousand [07239] drams [01871] of gold [02091], and two thousand [0505] pound [04488] of silver [03701], and threescore [08346] and seven [07651] priests [03548]' garments [03801].

³ And all the princes [08269] of the king [04428] of Babylon [0894] came in [0935], and sat [03427] in the middle [08432] gate [08179], even Nergalsharezer [05371], Samgarnebo [05562], Sarsechim [08310], Rabsaris [07249], Nergalsharezer [05371], Rabmag [07248], with all the residue [07611] of the princes [08269] of the king [04428] of Babylon [0894].

⁷ But it came to pass, that when Sanballat [05571], and Tobiah [02900], and the Arabians [06163], and the Ammonites [05984], and the Ashdodites [0796], heard [08085] that the walls [02346] of Jerusalem [03389] were made up [0724] [05927], and that the breaches [06555] began [02490] to be stopped [05640], then they were very [03966] wroth [02734],

²⁴ And their children [01121] spake [01696] half [02677] in the speech of Ashdod [0797], and could [05234] not speak [01696] in the Jews' language [03066], but according to the language [03956] of each [05971] people [05971].

²⁰ And all the mingled [06153] people, and all the kings [04428] of the land [0776] of Uz [05780], and all the kings [04428] of the land [0776] of the Philistines [06430], and Ashkelon [0831], and Azzah [05804], and Ekron [06138], and the remnant [07611] of Ashdod [0795],

¹ In the year [08141] that Tartan [08661] came [0935] unto Ashdod [0795], (when Sargon [05623] the king [04428] of Assyria [0804] sent [07971] him,) and fought [03898] against Ashdod [0795], and took [03920] it;

¹⁶ And he said [01696] unto him, Thus saith [0559] the LORD [03068], Forasmuch as thou hast sent [07971] messengers [04397] to enquire [01875] of Baalzebub [01176] the god [0430] of Ekron [06138], is it not because there is no God [0430] in Israel [03478] to enquire [01875] of his word [01697]? therefore thou shalt not come down [03381] off that bed [04296] on which thou art gone up [05927], but shalt surely [04191] die [04191].

² And Ahaziah [0274] fell down [05307] through a lattice [07639] in his upper chamber [05944] that was in Samaria [08111], and was sick [02470]: and he sent [07971] messengers [04397], and said [0559] unto them, Go [03212], enquire [01875] of Baalzebub [01176] the god [0430] of Ekron [06138] whether I shall recover [02421] of this disease [02483].
³ But the angel [04397] of the LORD [03068] said [01696] to Elijah [0452] the Tishbite [08664], Arise [06965], go up [05927] to meet [07125] the messengers [04397] of the king [04428] of Samaria [08111], and say [01696] unto them, Is it not because there is not a God [0430] in Israel [03478], that ye go [01980] to enquire [01875] of Baalzebub [01176] the god [0430] of Ekron [06138]?

¹⁹ And there fell [05307] some of Manasseh [04519] to David [01732], when he came [0935] with the Philistines [06430] against Saul [07586] to battle [04421]: but they helped [05826] them not: for the lords [05633] of the Philistines [06430] upon advisement [06098] sent [07971] him away, saying [0559], He will fall [05307] to his master [0113] Saul [07586] to the jeopardy of our heads [07218].

⁶ So Saul [07586] died [04191], and his three [07969] sons [01121], and his armourbearer [05375] [03627], and all his men [0582], that same day [03117] together [03162].
⁷ And when the men [0582] of Israel [03478] that were on the other side [05676] of the valley [06010], and they that were on the other side [05676] Jordan [03383], saw [07200] that the men [0582] of Israel [03478] fled [05127], and that Saul [07586] and his sons [01121] were dead [04191], they forsook [05800] the cities [05892], and fled [05127]; and the Philistines [06430] came [0935] and dwelt [03427] in them.

² And the Philistines [06430] followed hard [01692] upon Saul [07586] and upon his sons [01121]; and the Philistines [06430] slew [05221] Jonathan [03083], and Abinadab [041], and Malchishua [04444], Saul's [07586] sons [01121].

⁷ And when the Philistines [06430] heard [08085] that the children [01121] of Israel [03478] were gathered together [06908] to Mizpeh [04708], the lords [05633] of the Philistines [06430] went up [05927] against Israel [03478]. And when the children [01121] of Israel [03478] heard [08085] it, they were afraid [03372] of [06440] the Philistines [06430].

¹⁸ And the golden [02091] mice [05909], according to the number [04557] of all the cities [05892] of the Philistines [06430] belonging to the five [02568] lords [05633], both of fenced [04013] cities [05892], and of country [06521] villages [03724], even unto the great [01419] stone of Abel [059], whereon they set down [03240] the ark [0727] of the LORD [03068]: which stone remaineth unto this day [03117] in the field [07704] of Joshua [03091], the Bethshemite [01030].

¹⁶ And when the five [02568] lords [05633] of the Philistines [06430] had seen [07200] it, they returned [07725] to Ekron [06138] the same day [03117].

¹² And the kine [06510] took the straight [03474] way [01870] to the way [01870] of Bethshemesh [01053], and went along [01980] the highway [04546] [0259], lowing [01600] as they went [01980], and turned not aside [05493] to the right hand [03225] or to the left [08040]; and the lords [05633] of the Philistines [06430] went [01980] after [0310] them unto the border [01366] of Bethshemesh [01053].

⁴ Then said [0559] they, What shall be the trespass offering [0817] which we shall return [07725] to him? They answered [0559], Five [02568] golden [02091] emerods [02914] [06076], and five [02568] golden [02091] mice [05909], according to the number [04557] of the lords [05633] of the Philistines [06430]: for one [0259] plague [04046] was on you all, and on your lords [05633].

¹¹ So they sent [07971] and gathered together [0622] all the lords [05633] of the Philistines [06430], and said [0559], Send away [07971] the ark [0727] of the God [0430] of Israel [03478], and let it go again [07725] to his own place [04725], that it slay [04191] us not, and our people [05971]: for there was a deadly [04194] destruction [04103] throughout all the city [05892]; the hand [03027] of God [0430] was very [03966] heavy [03513] there.

⁸ They sent [07971] therefore and gathered [0622] all the lords [05633] of the Philistines [06430] unto them, and said [0559], What shall we do [06213] with the ark [0727] of the God [0430] of Israel [03478]? And they answered [0559], Let the ark [0727] of the God [0430] of Israel [03478] be carried about [05437] unto Gath [01661]. And they carried [05437] the ark [0727] of the God [0430] of Israel [03478] about [05437] thither.

³⁰ And Samson [08123] said [0559], Let me die [04191] [05315] with the Philistines [06430]. And he bowed [05186] himself with all his might [03581]; and the house [01004] fell [05307] upon the lords [05633], and upon all the people [05971] that were therein. So the dead [04191] which he slew [04191] at his death [04194] were more [07227] than they which he slew [04191] in his life [02416].

²⁷ Now the house [01004] was full [04390] of men [0582] and women [0802]; and all the lords [05633] of the Philistines [06430] were there; and there were upon the roof [01406] about three [07969] thousand [0505] men [0376] and women [0802], that beheld [07200] while Samson [08123] made sport [07832].

²³ Then the lords [05633] of the Philistines [06430] gathered them together [0622] for to offer [02076] a great [01419] sacrifice [02077] unto Dagon [01712] their god [0430], and to rejoice [08057]: for they said [0559], Our god [0430] hath delivered [05414] Samson [08123] our enemy [0341] into our hand [03027].

¹⁸ And when Delilah [01807] saw [07200] that he had told [05046] her all his heart [03820], she sent [07971] and called [07121] for the lords [05633] of the Philistines [06430], saying [0559], Come up [05927] this once [06471], for he hath shewed [05046] me all his heart [03820]. Then the lords [05633] of the Philistines [06430] came up [05927] unto her, and brought [05927] money [03701] in their hand [03027].

⁸ Then the lords [05633] of the Philistines [06430] brought up [05927] to her seven [07651] green [03892] withs [03499] which had not been dried [02717], and she bound [0631] him with them.

⁵ And the lords [05633] of the Philistines [06430] came up [05927] unto her, and said [0559] unto her, Entice [06601] him, and see [07200] wherein his great [01419] strength [03581] lieth, and by what means we may prevail [03201] against him, that we may bind [0631] him to afflict [06031] him: and we will give [05414] thee every one [0376] of us eleven hundred [0505] [03967] pieces of silver [03701].

¹¹ And the border [01366] went out [03318] unto the side [03802] of Ekron [06138] northward [06828]: and the border [01366] was drawn [08388] to Shicron [07942], and passed along [05674] to mount [02022] Baalah [01173], and went out [03318] unto Jabneel [02995]; and the goings out [08444] of the border [01366] were at the sea [03220].

¹⁷ And these are the golden [02091] emerods [02914] which the Philistines [06430] returned [07725] for a trespass offering [0817] unto the LORD [03068]; for Ashdod [0795] one [0259], for Gaza [05804] one [0259], for Askelon [0831] one [0259], for Gath [01661] one [0259], for Ekron [06138] one [0259];

¹ And the Philistines [06430] took [03947] the ark [0727] of God [0430], and brought [0935] it from Ebenezer [072] unto Ashdod [0795].
² When the Philistines [06430] took [03947] the ark [0727] of God [0430], they brought [0935] it into the house [01004] of Dagon [01712], and set [03322] it by [0681] Dagon [01712].
³ And when they of Ashdod [0796] arose early [07925] on the morrow [04283], behold, Dagon [01712] was fallen [05307] upon his face [06440] to the earth [0776] before [06440] the ark [0727] of the LORD [03068]. And they took [03947] Dagon [01712], and set [07725] him in his place [04725] again [07725].
⁴ And when they arose early [07925] on the morrow [04283] morning [01242], behold, Dagon [01712] was fallen [05307] upon his face [06440] to the ground [0776] before [06440] the ark [0727] of the LORD [03068]; and the head [07218] of Dagon [01712] and both [08147] the palms [03709] of his hands [03027] were cut off [03772] upon the threshold [04670]; only the stump of Dagon [01712] was left [07604] to him.
⁵ Therefore neither the priests [03548] of Dagon [01712], nor any that come [0935] into Dagon's [01712] house [01004], tread [01869] on the threshold [04670] of Dagon [01712] in Ashdod [0795] unto this day [03117].
⁶ But the hand [03027] of the LORD [03068] was heavy [03513] upon them of Ashdod [0796], and he destroyed [08074] them, and smote [05221] them with emerods [02914] [06076], even Ashdod [0795] and the coasts [01366] thereof.
⁷ And when the men [0582] of Ashdod [0795] saw [07200] that it was so, they said [0559], The ark [0727] of the God [0430] of Israel [03478] shall not abide [03427] with us: for his hand [03027] is sore [07185] upon us, and upon Dagon [01712] our god [0430].