“And therefore neither the priests of Dagon, nor any that come into Dagon’s house, tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod unto this day.”
This verse is a part of the narrative describing the Ark of the Covenant and its impact on the Philistines, specifically the events that took place after the Philistines captured the ark and placed it in the temple of their god, Dagon.
To gain a better understanding of this verse, it is essential to examine the broader context of the passage. In 1 Samuel 4, the Israelites, led by Eli’s sons, faced a defeat against the Philistines. In an attempt to secure victory in battle, the Israelites brought the Ark of the Covenant from Shiloh to the camp. However, the Philistines defeated them once again, capturing the Ark and bringing it to the city of Ashdod.
Samuel 5 narrates the consequences that befell the Philistines due to their possession of the Ark. When the Philistines placed the Ark in the temple of their god, Dagon, they discovered a remarkable turn of events. Each morning, they found the statue of Dagon lying prostrate before the Ark. Perplexed, they set the statue upright again. However, the next day, they found Dagon’s statue once more, but this time shattered, with only the stump remaining. In the midst of this phenomenon, verse 5 highlights an additional consequence: no one who entered Dagon’s temple in Ashdod would step on the threshold of the temple. This detail emphasizes the reverence or fear the people had toward the Ark and the God it represented. The threshold of a temple was typically seen as a sacred boundary and treading on it may have been viewed as disrespectful or even dangerous.
This verse indicates that even the priests of Dagon, who were presumably devoted to their deity, avoided stepping on the threshold of the temple. The mention of “unto this day” suggests that this practice had persisted until the time of the writing or compilation of the Book of Samuel.
The significance of this verse lies in the manifestation of the power and presence of the God of Israel, Yahweh, over the Philistine god, Dagon. The destruction of Dagon’s statue symbolizes the superiority of the God of Israel and demonstrates the futility of worshiping false gods.
Overall, 1 Samuel 5:5 highlights the awe-inspiring power of God and the consequences that can arise when people mishandle or disrespect His sacred objects. It serves as a reminder of the importance of reverence and worshiping the one true God.
