1 Samuel 5:6-12

6 aThe hand of the Lord was heavy against the people of Ashdod, and he terrified and afflicted them with btumors, both Ashdod and its territory. 7And 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.” 8So they sent and gathered together all cthe lords of the Philistines and said, “What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel?” They answered, “Let the ark of the God of Israel be brought around to Gath.” So they brought the ark of the God of Israel there. 9But after they had brought it around, dthe hand of the Lord was against the city, causing a very great panic, and he afflicted the men of the city, both young and old, so that etumors broke out on them. 10So they sent the ark of God to Ekron. But as soon as the ark of God came to Ekron, the people of Ekron cried out, “They have brought around to us the ark of the God of Israel to kill us and our people.” 11 fThey sent therefore and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines and said, “Send away the ark of the God of Israel, and let it return to its own place, that it may not kill us and our people.” For there was a deathly panic throughout the whole city. gThe hand of God was very heavy there. 12The men who did not die were struck with htumors, and the cry of the city went up to heaven.

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