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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>1 Samuel 5:1 After the Philistines had captured the ark of God, they took it from Ebenezer to Ashdod,</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/1_samuel/5-1.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/15/09_1Sa_05_01.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="1 Samuel 5:1 - The Ark Afflicts the Philistines" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="After the Philistines had captured the ark of God, they took it from Ebenezer to Ashdod," /><script type="application/javascript" 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title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/1_samuel/5.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/1_samuel/5.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />After the Philistines had captured the ark of God, they took it from Ebenezer to Ashdod.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/1_samuel/5.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />After the Philistines captured the Ark of God, they took it from the battleground at Ebenezer to the town of Ashdod.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/1_samuel/5.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />When the Philistines captured the ark of God, they brought it from Ebenezer to Ashdod.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/1_samuel/5.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />After the Philistines had captured the ark of God, they took it from Ebenezer to Ashdod,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/1_samuel/5.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />And the Philistines took the ark of God, and brought it from Ebenezer unto Ashdod.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/1_samuel/5.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />Then the Philistines took the ark of God and brought it from Ebenezer to Ashdod.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/1_samuel/5.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />Now the Philistines took the ark of God and brought it from Ebenezer to Ashdod.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/1_samuel/5.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />Now the Philistines took the ark of God and brought it from Ebenezer to Ashdod.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/1_samuel/5.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />Now the Philistines took the ark of God and brought it from Ebenezer to Ashdod.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/1_samuel/5.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />Now the Philistines took the ark of God and brought it from Ebenezer to Ashdod.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/1_samuel/5.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />Then the Philistines took the ark of God, and they brought it from Ebenezer to Ashdod.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/1_samuel/5.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />After the Philistines had captured the ark of God, they took it from Ebenezer to Ashdod,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/1_samuel/5.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />After the Philistines had captured the ark of God, they took it from Ebenezer to Ashdod,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/1_samuel/5.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />Now the Philistines had taken the ark of God, and they brought it from Eben-ezer unto Ashdod.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/1_samuel/5.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />The Philistines took the sacred chest from near Ebenezer to the town of Ashdod. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/1_samuel/5.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />Now the Philistines had taken the ark of God, and they brought it from Eben-ezer unto Ashdod.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/1_samuel/5.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />After the Philistines had captured the ark of God, they brought it from Ebenezer to Ashdod.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/1_samuel/5.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />After the Philistines captured the Covenant Box, they carried it from Ebenezer to their city of Ashdod, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/1_samuel/5.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />The Philistines took the Ark of God and brought it from Ebenezer to Ashdod. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/1_samuel/5.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />Now the Philistines had captured the ark of God and brought it from Ebenezer to Ashdod.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/1_samuel/5.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />Now the Philistines had taken the ark of God, and they brought it from Ebenezer to Ashdod.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/1_samuel/5.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />And the Philistines took the ark of God, and brought it from Eben-ezer to Ashdod.<div class="vheading2"><b>Majority Text Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/1_samuel/5.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />After the Philistines had captured the ark of God, they took it from Ebenezer to Ashdod,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/1_samuel/5.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />Now the Philistines had taken God’s ark, and they brought it from Ebenezer to Ashdod. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/1_samuel/5.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />And the Philistines have taken the Ark of God, and bring it in from Eben-Ezer to Ashdod,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/1_samuel/5.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> And the Philistines have taken the ark of God, and bring it in from Eben-Ezer to Ashdod,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/1_samuel/5.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And Philisteim took the ark of God, and they will bring it from the Stone of Help to Ashdod.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/1_samuel/5.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />And the Philistines took the ark of God, and carried it from the Stone of help into Azotus. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/1_samuel/5.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />Then the Philistines took the ark of God, and they transported it from the Stone of Assistance into Ashdod.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/1_samuel/5.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />The Philistines, having captured the ark of God, transferred it from Ebenezer to Ashdod.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/1_samuel/5.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />When the Philistines captured the ark of God, they brought it from Ebenezer to Ashdod;<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/1_samuel/5.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />AND the Philistines took the ark God, and brought it from the Rock of Help to Ashdod.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/1_samuel/5.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And the Philistines took the ark of God and they brought it from Kaypha d’Eudrana“The Rock of Help” to Ashdod<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/1_samuel/5.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />Now the Philistines had taken the ark of God, and they brought it from Eben-ezer unto Ashdod.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/1_samuel/5.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And the Philistines took the ark of God, and brought it from Abenezer to Azotus.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/1_samuel/5-1.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/H8oQfYUMRZg?start=1214" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/1_samuel/5.htm">The Ark Afflicts the Philistines</a></span><br> <span class="reftext">1</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/6430.htm" title="6430: ū·p̄ə·liš·tîm (Conj-w:: N-proper-mp) -- Inhab. of Philistia. Patrial from Plesheth; a Pelishtite or inhabitant of Pelesheth.">After the Philistines</a> <a href="/hebrew/3947.htm" title="3947: lā·qə·ḥū (V-Qal-Perf-3cp) -- To take. A primitive root; to take.">had captured</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’êṯ (DirObjM) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/727.htm" title="727: ’ă·rō·wn (N-csc) -- A chest, ark. Or laron; from 'arah; a box.">the ark</a> <a href="/hebrew/430.htm" title="430: hā·’ĕ·lō·hîm (Art:: N-mp) -- Plural of 'elowahh; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used of the supreme God">of God,</a> <a href="/hebrew/935.htm" title="935: way·ḇi·’u·hū (Conj-w:: V-Hifil-ConsecImperf-3mp:: 3ms) -- To come in, come, go in, go. A primitive root; to go or come.">they took it</a> <a href="/hebrew/72.htm" title="72: mê·’e·ḇen (Prep) -- From 'eben and ezer with the article inserted; stone of the help; Eben-ha-Ezer, a place in Palestine.">from</a> <a href="/hebrew/72.htm" title="72: hā·‘ê·zer (Prep:: N-proper-fs) -- From 'eben and ezer with the article inserted; stone of the help; Eben-ha-Ezer, a place in Palestine.">Ebenezer</a> <a href="/hebrew/795.htm" title="795: ’aš·dō·w·ḏāh (N-proper-fs:: 3fs) -- A city of the Philistines. From shadad; ravager; Ashdod, a place in Palestine.">to Ashdod,</a> </span><span class="reftext">2</span>carried it into the temple of Dagon, and set it beside his statue.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/4-11.htm">1 Samuel 4:11</a></span><br />The ark of God was captured, and Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, died.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/6-1.htm">1 Samuel 6:1-2</a></span><br />When the ark of the LORD had been in the land of the Philistines seven months, / the Philistines summoned the priests and diviners, saying, “What shall we do with the ark of the LORD? Tell us how to send it back to its place.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_samuel/6-2.htm">2 Samuel 6:2</a></span><br />And he and all his troops set out for Baale of Judah to bring up from there the ark of God, which is called by the Name—the name of the LORD of Hosts, who is enthroned between the cherubim that are on it.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_chronicles/13-5.htm">1 Chronicles 13:5-6</a></span><br />So David assembled all Israel, from the River Shihor in Egypt to Lebo-hamath, to bring the ark of God from Kiriath-jearim. / David and all Israel went up to Baalah of Judah (that is, Kiriath-jearim) to bring up from there the ark of God the LORD, who is enthroned between the cherubim—the ark that is called by the Name.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_chronicles/15-1.htm">1 Chronicles 15:1-3</a></span><br />David constructed buildings for himself in the City of David, and he prepared a place for the ark of God and pitched a tent for it. / Then David said, “No one but the Levites may carry the ark of God, because the LORD has chosen them to carry the ark of the LORD and to minister before Him forever.” / And David assembled all Israel in Jerusalem to bring up the ark of the LORD to the place he had prepared for it.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_kings/8-1.htm">1 Kings 8:1</a></span><br />At that time Solomon assembled before him in Jerusalem the elders of Israel—all the tribal heads and family leaders of the Israelites—to bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD from Zion, the City of David.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_chronicles/5-2.htm">2 Chronicles 5:2</a></span><br />At that time Solomon assembled in Jerusalem the elders of Israel—all the tribal heads and family leaders of the Israelites—to bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD from Zion, the City of David.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/78-60.htm">Psalm 78:60-61</a></span><br />He abandoned the tabernacle of Shiloh, the tent He had pitched among men. / He delivered His strength to captivity, and His splendor to the hand of the adversary.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/7-12.htm">Jeremiah 7:12</a></span><br />But go now to the place in Shiloh where I first made a dwelling for My Name, and see what I did to it because of the wickedness of My people Israel.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/26-6.htm">Jeremiah 26:6</a></span><br />then I will make this house like Shiloh, and I will make this city an object of cursing among all the nations of the earth.’”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/7-44.htm">Acts 7:44-45</a></span><br />Our fathers had the tabernacle of the Testimony with them in the wilderness. It was constructed exactly as God had directed Moses, according to the pattern he had seen. / And our fathers who received it brought it in with Joshua when they dispossessed the nations God drove out before them. It remained until the time of David,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hebrews/9-4.htm">Hebrews 9:4</a></span><br />containing the golden altar of incense and the gold-covered ark of the covenant. Inside the ark were the gold jar of manna, Aaron’s staff that had budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/revelation/11-19.htm">Revelation 11:19</a></span><br />Then the temple of God in heaven was opened, and the ark of His covenant appeared in His temple. And there were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake, and a great hailstorm.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/joshua/3-3.htm">Joshua 3:3</a></span><br />and commanded the people: “When you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God being carried by the Levitical priests, you are to set out from your positions and follow it.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/joshua/6-6.htm">Joshua 6:6</a></span><br />So Joshua son of Nun summoned the priests and said, “Take up the ark of the covenant and have seven priests carry seven rams’ horns in front of the ark of the LORD.”</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">And the Philistines took the ark of God, and brought it from Ebenezer to Ashdod.</p><p class="hdg">took</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/1_samuel/4-11.htm">1 Samuel 4:11,17,18,22</a></b></br> And the ark of God was taken; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were slain… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/78-61.htm">Psalm 78:61</a></b></br> And delivered his strength into captivity, and his glory into the enemy's hand.</p><p class="hdg">Eben-ezer</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/1_samuel/4-1.htm">1 Samuel 4:1</a></b></br> And the word of Samuel came to all Israel. Now Israel went out against the Philistines to battle, and pitched beside Ebenezer: and the Philistines pitched in Aphek.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/1_samuel/7-12.htm">1 Samuel 7:12</a></b></br> Then Samuel took a stone, and set <i>it</i> between Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it Ebenezer, saying, Hitherto hath the LORD helped us.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/joshua/11-22.htm">Joshua 11:22</a></b></br> There was none of the Anakims left in the land of the children of Israel: only in Gaza, in Gath, and in Ashdod, there remained.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/acts/8-40.htm">Acts 8:40</a></b></br> But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached in all the cities, till he came to Caesarea.</p><p class="hdg">Azotus </p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/1_samuel/4-22.htm">Ark</a> <a href="/joshua/15-47.htm">Ashdod</a> <a href="/1_samuel/4-22.htm">Captured</a> <a href="/1_samuel/4-4.htm">Carried</a> <a href="/1_samuel/4-1.htm">Ebenezer</a> <a href="/1_samuel/4-1.htm">Eben-Ezer</a> <a href="/1_samuel/4-1.htm">Ebene'zer</a> <a href="/1_samuel/4-17.htm">Philistines</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/1_samuel/5-2.htm">Ark</a> <a href="/1_samuel/5-3.htm">Ashdod</a> <a href="/1_samuel/7-14.htm">Captured</a> <a href="/1_samuel/5-2.htm">Carried</a> <a href="/1_samuel/7-12.htm">Ebenezer</a> <a href="/1_samuel/7-12.htm">Eben-Ezer</a> <a href="/1_samuel/7-12.htm">Ebene'zer</a> <a href="/1_samuel/5-2.htm">Philistines</a><div class="vheading2">1 Samuel 5</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/1_samuel/5-1.htm">The Philistines having brought the ark into Ashdod, set it in the house Dagon</a></span><br><span class="reftext">3. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/1_samuel/5-3.htm">Dagon is smitten down and cut and cut in pieces, </a></span><br><span class="reftext">5. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/1_samuel/5-5.htm">and they of Ashdod smitten with tumors</a></span><br><span class="reftext">8. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/1_samuel/5-8.htm">So God deals with them of Gath, when it was brought thither</a></span><br><span class="reftext">10. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/1_samuel/5-10.htm">and so with them of Ekron, when it was brought thither</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/1_samuel/5.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/1_samuel/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/1_samuel/5.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>After the Philistines had captured the ark of God</b><br>The capture of the Ark of the Covenant by the Philistines marks a significant moment in Israel's history. The Ark, representing God's presence and covenant with Israel, was taken during a battle at Ebenezer. This event highlights Israel's spiritual decline and the consequences of their disobedience. The Philistines, a seafaring people from the Aegean region, were one of Israel's main adversaries. Their capture of the Ark symbolizes a temporary triumph over Israel, but it also sets the stage for God's power to be demonstrated among the Philistines.<p><b>they took it from Ebenezer</b><br>Ebenezer, meaning "stone of help," was a site near Aphek where Israel had previously set up camp. The name itself is ironic in this context, as the Israelites experienced defeat rather than divine assistance. This location is significant in Israel's history, as it later becomes a place of victory and remembrance when Samuel sets up a stone to commemorate God's help (<a href="/1_samuel/7-12.htm">1 Samuel 7:12</a>). The movement of the Ark from Ebenezer signifies a shift in the narrative from Israel's defeat to the unfolding of God's sovereignty.<p><b>to Ashdod</b><br>Ashdod was one of the five major Philistine cities, located along the coastal plain of modern-day Israel. It was a center of worship for the Philistine god Dagon. The transfer of the Ark to Ashdod is significant because it places the symbol of Israel's God in the heart of Philistine territory, directly challenging the power of their deities. This sets the stage for the events that follow, where God's supremacy is demonstrated through the plagues and the fall of Dagon's idol (<a href="/1_samuel/5-2.htm">1 Samuel 5:2-5</a>). The presence of the Ark in Ashdod foreshadows the eventual return of the Ark to Israel, emphasizing God's control over all nations and His ability to protect His honor.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/p/philistines.htm">Philistines</a></b><br>A significant group of people in the Old Testament, often in conflict with Israel. They were known for their military prowess and were adversaries of the Israelites.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/a/ark_of_god.htm">Ark of God</a></b><br>A sacred chest that held the tablets of the Ten Commandments, representing God's presence and covenant with Israel. Its capture by the Philistines was a significant event, symbolizing a temporary loss of God's favor.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/e/ebenezer.htm">Ebenezer</a></b><br>The location where the Israelites were defeated by the Philistines, leading to the capture of the Ark. The name means "stone of help," a reminder of God's past assistance.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/a/ashdod.htm">Ashdod</a></b><br>One of the five major cities of the Philistines, where the Ark was taken. It was a center of Philistine worship and culture.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/c/capture_of_the_ark.htm">Capture of the Ark</a></b><br>A pivotal event that demonstrated the consequences of Israel's disobedience and the Philistines' temporary triumph over God's people.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/t/the_consequences_of_disobedience.htm">The Consequences of Disobedience</a></b><br>Israel's defeat and the capture of the Ark serve as a reminder of the serious consequences of turning away from God. Disobedience leads to loss and suffering.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_sovereignty.htm">God's Sovereignty</a></b><br>Despite the Philistines' temporary victory, God's sovereignty remains unchallenged. He uses even the actions of His enemies to fulfill His purposes.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_presence_of_god.htm">The Presence of God</a></b><br>The Ark symbolized God's presence, but Israel's reliance on it as a mere talisman rather than a representation of a living relationship with God led to their downfall.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/r/repentance_and_restoration.htm">Repentance and Restoration</a></b><br>The capture of the Ark calls for introspection and repentance. It is a call to return to God with a sincere heart, seeking His guidance and favor.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/trust_in_god's_plan.htm">Trust in God's Plan</a></b><br>Even in times of apparent defeat, believers are encouraged to trust in God's ultimate plan and purpose, knowing that He works all things for good.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_1_samuel_5.htm">Top 10 Lessons from 1 Samuel 5</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/evidence_of_ark's_impact_on_philistines.htm">1 Samuel 5 – Where is the historical or archaeological evidence that the Ark’s presence caused such devastation in Philistine cities? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_did_dagon's_statue_keep_falling.htm">1 Samuel 5:3–5 – How could Dagon’s statue repeatedly fall and break without any natural explanation? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_no_philistine_records_of_dagon_event.htm">1 Samuel 5 – Why don’t contemporary Philistine records mention any catastrophe involving Dagon’s temple or widespread plagues? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_is_ashdod's_biblical_significance.htm">What is Ashdod's biblical significance?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/1_samuel/5.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(1) <span class= "bld">The Philistines took the ark of God.</span>--The sacred writer concerns himself after the battle of Aphek only with the future of the Ark of the Covenant, and says nothing of the fate of Shiloh after the rout of the Israelites and the death of the high priest. We can, however, from <a href="/context/psalms/78-60.htm" title="So that he forsook the tabernacle of Shiloh, the tent which he placed among men;">Psalm 78:60-64</a>, and two passages in Jeremiah (<a href="/jeremiah/7-12.htm" title="But go you now to my place which was in Shiloh, where I set my name at the first, and see what I did to it for the wickedness of my people Israel.">Jeremiah 7:12</a>; <a href="/jeremiah/26-9.htm" title="Why have you prophesied in the name of the LORD, saying, This house shall be like Shiloh, and this city shall be desolate without an inhabitant? And all the people were gathered against Jeremiah in the house of the LORD.">Jeremiah 26:9</a>), complete the story of the sanctuary city after the death of Eli. After the victory of Aphek, the Philistines, flushed with success, probably at once marched on Shiloh, where, from the words of the above quoted Psalm, they seem to have revenged themselves for past injuries by a terrible massacre, and then to have razed the sacred buildings of the city to the ground. The awful fate of the priestly city seems to have become a proverb in Israel. "This house shall be like Shiloh," wrote Jeremiah, hundreds of years later, and "this city shall be desolate, without inhabitant." Yet, in spite of this crushing blow, the national life of the Hebrew people was by no means exterminated; we shall soon hear of its revival under happier auspices. There were others in Israel like Samuel, who, as we have seen, with all their hearts trusted in that Lord who, "when Israel was a child, then He loved him;" others like that weak but still righteous judge Eli, who for one great weakness had paid so awful a penalty; many others, like the wife of Phinehas, the wicked priest, and Elkanah and Hannah, the pious father and mother of Samuel, who dwelt in "Ramah of the Watchers."<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/1_samuel/5.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 1.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">The Philistines took the ark of God<span class="accented">.</span> </span>The silence of Scripture is often as remarkable as what it tells us. From <a href="/psalms/78-60.htm">Psalm 78:60-64</a>; <a href="/jeremiah/7-12.htm">Jeremiah 7:12</a>; <a href="/jeremiah/26-9.htm">Jeremiah 26:9</a>, we gather that from Aphek the Philistines marched upon Shiloh, and having captured it, put all whom they found there to the sword, and levelled the buildings to the ground. Especially their wrath fell upon the priests, in revenge for the bringing of the ark to the camp, by which the war was made a religious one, and the worst feelings of fanaticism aroused. Of all this the history says nothing, nor of the measures taken by Samuel under these trying circumstances. From his previous eminence, the government would naturally devolve upon him, especially as Eli's sons were both slain; and evidently he must have managed in some way to save the sacred vessels of the sanctuary, and the numerous records of the past history of the nation laid up at Shiloh. Whatever learning there was in Israel had its seat there; it was probably the only school wherein men were initiated in the knowledge brought out of Egypt; and it is one of the worst and most barbarous results of war that it destroys so much connected with human progress and civilisation, overthrowing with its violent hand as well the means of a nation's culture as the results thereof. Samuel evidently did all that was possible to counteract these evils; and as the Philistine army withdrew into its own country immediately after the destruction of Shiloh, probably to carry homo the rich spoils obtained there, he was apparently able to ward off the worst effects of the Philistine invasion, and by rapidly reorganising the government to save the people from utter demoralisation. But upon all this Scripture is silent, because it concerns the history of Israel on its temporal side, and not as it exemplifies God's spiritual dealings with nations and men. <span class="cmt_word">From Eben-ezer</span> (see on 1 Samuel 4:1) <span class="cmt_word">unto Ashdod.</span> This town, the Azotus of <a href="/acts/8-40.htm">Acts 8:40</a>, was with Ekron and other Philistine cities, assigned to the tribe of Judah (<a href="/joshua/15-47.htm">Joshua 15:47</a>) but never actually conquered. It lay near the sea, about thirty-two miles north of Gaza, and is now an unimportant village, still bearing the name of Esdud. Of the five Philistine capitals Ashdod and Gaza were of the most importance, as being the keys of Egypt, and the former was also enriched by the sale of the produce of Arabia, of which it was the emporium. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/1_samuel/5-1.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">After the Philistines</span><br /><span class="heb">וּפְלִשְׁתִּים֙</span> <span class="translit">(ū·p̄ə·liš·tîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6430.htm">Strong's 6430: </a> </span><span class="str2">Philistines -- inhabitants of Philistia</span><br /><br /><span class="word">had captured</span><br /><span class="heb">לָֽקְח֔וּ</span> <span class="translit">(lā·qə·ḥū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3947.htm">Strong's 3947: </a> </span><span class="str2">To take</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the ark</span><br /><span class="heb">אֲר֣וֹן</span> <span class="translit">(’ă·rō·wn)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - common singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_727.htm">Strong's 727: </a> </span><span class="str2">A chest, ark</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of God,</span><br /><span class="heb">הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים</span> <span class="translit">(hā·’ĕ·lō·hîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_430.htm">Strong's 430: </a> </span><span class="str2">gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative</span><br /><br /><span class="word">they took it</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיְבִאֻ֛הוּ</span> <span class="translit">(way·ḇi·’u·hū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural | third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_935.htm">Strong's 935: </a> </span><span class="str2">To come in, come, go in, go</span><br /><br /><span class="word">from</span><br /><span class="heb">מֵאֶ֥בֶן</span> <span class="translit">(mê·’e·ḇen)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/.htm">Strong's Hebrew</a> </span><span class="str2"></span><br /><br /><span class="word">Ebenezer</span><br /><span class="heb">הָעֵ֖זֶר</span> <span class="translit">(hā·‘ê·zer)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition | Noun - proper - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_72.htm">Strong's 72: </a> </span><span class="str2">Ebenezer -- 'stone of the help', a place of uncertain location, also a commemorative stone</span><br /><br /><span class="word">to Ashdod,</span><br /><span class="heb">אַשְׁדּֽוֹדָה׃</span> <span class="translit">(’aš·dō·w·ḏāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - feminine singular | third person feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_795.htm">Strong's 795: </a> </span><span class="str2">Ashdod -- a city of the Philistines</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/1_samuel/5-1.htm">1 Samuel 5:1 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/1_samuel/5-1.htm">1 Samuel 5:1 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/1_samuel/5-1.htm">1 Samuel 5:1 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/1_samuel/5-1.htm">1 Samuel 5:1 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/1_samuel/5-1.htm">1 Samuel 5:1 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/1_samuel/5-1.htm">1 Samuel 5:1 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/1_samuel/5-1.htm">1 Samuel 5:1 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/1_samuel/5-1.htm">1 Samuel 5:1 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/1_samuel/5-1.htm">1 Samuel 5:1 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/1_samuel/5-1.htm">1 Samuel 5:1 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/1_samuel/5-1.htm">OT History: 1 Samuel 5:1 Now the Philistines had taken the ark (1Sa iSam 1 Sam i sa) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/1_samuel/4-22.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="1 Samuel 4:22"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="1 Samuel 4:22" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/1_samuel/5-2.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="1 Samuel 5:2"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="1 Samuel 5:2" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>