And the Philistinestookthe arkof God, and broughtit from Ebenezerunto Ashdod. When the Philistinestookthe arkof God, they broughtit into the houseof Dagon, and setit byDagon. And when they of Ashdodarose earlyon the morrow, behold, Dagon was fallenupon his faceto the earthbeforethe arkof the LORD. And they tookDagon, and sethim in his placeagain. And when they arose earlyon the morrowmorning, behold, Dagon was fallenupon his faceto the groundbeforethe arkof the LORD; and the headof Dagonand boththe palmsof his hands were cut offuponthe threshold; only the stump of Dagonwas lefttohim. Thereforeneitherthe priestsof Dagon, nor anythat comeinto Dagon's house, treadonthe thresholdof Dagonin Ashdoduntothisday. But the handof the LORDwas heavyuponthem of Ashdod, and he destroyedthem, and smotethem with emerods, even Ashdodand the coaststhereof. And when the menof Ashdodsawthat it was so, they said, The arkof the Godof Israelshall notabidewithus: forhis handis soreuponus, and uponDagonour god. They senttherefore and gatheredallthe lordsof the Philistinesuntothem, and said, Whatshall we dowith the arkof the Godof Israel? And they answered, Let the arkof the Godof Israelbe carried aboutunto Gath. And they carriedthe arkof the Godof Israelabout thither . And it was so , that, afterthey had carried it about, the handof the LORDwasagainst the citywith a verygreatdestruction: and he smotethe menof the city, both smalland great, and they had emerodsin their secret parts. Therefore they sentthe arkof Godto Ekron. And it came to pass, as the arkof Godcameto Ekron, that the Ekronitescried out, saying, They have brought aboutthe arkof the Godof Israeltous, to slayus and our people. So they sentand gathered togetherallthe lordsof the Philistines, and said, Send awaythe arkof the Godof Israel, and let it go againto his own place, that it slayus not, and our people: forthere wasa deadlydestructionthroughout allthe city; the handof Godwas veryheavythere. And the menthatdiednotwere smittenwith the emerods: and the cryof the citywent upto heaven.