_A.M. 2863. B.C. 1141._ The Philistines carry the ark into the temple of Dagon, _1Sa 5:1, 1 Samuel 5:2. Dagon is overthrown, 1 Samuel 5:3. The men of Ashdod and Gath plagued, 1 Samuel 5:6. The Philistines determine to send it back, 1 Samuel 5:10._... [ Continue Reading ]
_The Philistines took the ark of God_ Abarbinel gives several reasons why God suffered the ark of his presence to fall into the hands of these uncircumcised heathen: 1st, The Israelites were such great sinners that they were unworthy of this symbol of the divine presence among them: 2d, The idolatry... [ Continue Reading ]
_They set it by Dagon_ By way of reproach, as a spoil and trophy set there to the honour of Dagon, to whom, doubtless, they ascribed this victory. _Behold Dagon was fallen upon his face_ In a posture of the most humble adoration, which was prostration; as acknowledging the God of Israel to be above... [ Continue Reading ]
_Behold Dagon was fallen_ &c. Which showed that his former fall was not by chance, but by the power of God, before whom he could not stand. _The head of Dagon, and both his hands, were cut off_ The head is the seat of wisdom; the hands the instruments of action; both are cut off, to show that he had... [ Continue Reading ]
_The hand of the Lord was heavy upon them of Ashdod_ Since they were so blind as not to see his hand in throwing down their god, he smote them with such sore plagues in their own bodies as made them sensible of his power, by destroying great numbers of them. _With emerods _ The piles, a most painful... [ Continue Reading ]
_The ark of the God of Israel shall not abide with us_ Now their eyes were opened to see that, though they had vanquished the Israelites, they could not stand before the God of Israel. _Let the ark be carried to Gath_ They seem to have been possessed with a superstitious conceit that there was somet... [ Continue Reading ]
_They had emerods in their secret_ (or _hidden_) _parts_ That is, _internally_, in their hinder parts; which is the worst kind of emerods, as all physicians acknowledge, both because their pains are far more sharp than those of the other kind, and because the malady is more out of the reach of remed... [ Continue Reading ]
_There was a deadly destruction through all the city_ That is, in every city where the ark of God came, some were struck with the pestilence and died, and others lingered under intolerable pains, which made them cry out in an inexpressible manner. _The cry of the city went up to heaven_ A hyperbolic... [ Continue Reading ]