1 Samuel 5:2

Dagon] seems to have been worshipped in all the Philistine cities. His name is probably merely the Canaanite pronunciation of the word for 'corn,' and designates him as the god of agriculture. The Philistines were not a maritime people, like the Phoenicians, but depended on agriculture. Stanley writes: 'The most striking and characteristic feature of Philistia is its immense plains of cornfields... These rich fields must have been the great source alike of the power and value of Philistia.' They brought it] The Philistines considered that their god, Dagon, had shown himself stronger than Jehovah, and so they brought him the symbol of bis conquered rival.