The Ark in Ashdod and Ekron
1After the Philistines had captured the ark of God, they took it from Ebenezer to Ashdod. 2Then they carried the ark into Dagon’s temple and set it beside Dagon. 3When the people of Ashdod rose early the next day, there was Dagon, fallen on his face on the ground before the ark of the Lord! They took Dagon and put him back in his place. 4But the following morning when they rose, there was Dagon, fallen on his face on the ground before the ark of the Lord! His head and hands had been broken off and were lying on the threshold; only his body remained. 5That is why to this day neither the priests of Dagon nor any others who enter Dagon’s temple at Ashdod step on the threshold.
6The Lord’s hand was heavy on the people of Ashdod and its vicinity; he brought devastation on them and afflicted them with tumors.5:6 Hebrew; Septuagint and Vulgate tumors. And rats appeared in their land, and there was death and destruction throughout the city 7When the people of Ashdod saw what was happening, they said, “The ark of the god of Israel must not stay here with us, because his hand is heavy on us and on Dagon our god.” 8So they called together all the rulers of the Philistines and asked them, “What shall we do with the ark of the god of Israel?”
They answered, “Have the ark of the god of Israel moved to Gath.” So they moved the ark of the God of Israel.
9But after they had moved it, the Lord’s hand was against that city, throwing it into a great panic. He afflicted the people of the city, both young and old, with an outbreak of tumors.5:9 Or with tumors in the groin (see Septuagint) 10So they sent the ark of God to Ekron.
As the ark of God was entering Ekron, the people of Ekron cried out, “They have brought the ark of the god of Israel around to us to kill us and our people.” 11So they called together all the rulers of the Philistines and said, “Send the ark of the god of Israel away; let it go back to its own place, or it5:11 Or he will kill us and our people.” For death had filled the city with panic; God’s hand was very heavy on it. 12Those who did not die were afflicted with tumors, and the outcry of the city went up to heaven.
Apam Adaka No Wɔ Filistia
1Filistifoɔ no faa Onyankopɔn Apam Adaka no akyi, wɔmaa so firii Ebeneser akono hɔ kɔɔ kuropɔn Asdod mu. 2Wɔsoaa Onyankopɔn Apam Adaka no kɔɔ Dagon5.2 Dagon yɛ Filistifoɔ nyame kɛseɛ (ɛho nsɛm wɔ Ate 6.23). abosonnan mu. Wɔde kɔsii ohoni Dagon nkyɛn. 3Nanso, ɛberɛ a adeɛ kyeeɛ a Asdod kuro mma no kɔhwɛeɛ no, na Dagon ahwe fam wɔ Awurade Apam Adaka no anim a nʼanim butu fam. Enti, wɔmaa ohoni no so gyinaa hɔ bio. 4Nanso, adeɛ kyee anɔpa no, na asɛm korɔ no ara asi bio. Na Dagon no ahwe fam wɔ Awurade Apam Adaka no anim a nʼanim butu fam. Saa ɛberɛ yi deɛ, na ne ti ne ne nsa abubu afiri so deda ɛpono ano. Ne kuntunsini na na aka da hɔ a ammubu. 5Ɛno enti na ɛbɛsi ɛnnɛ yi, Dagon asɔfoɔ anaa obiara a ɔbɛwura abosonnan mu hɔ no ntia aponnwa no so no.
6Na Awurade maa mpɔmpɔ bobɔɔ Asdodfoɔ ne ne mpɔtam hɔfoɔ no. 7Ɛberɛ Asdodfoɔ hunuu asɛm a aba no, wɔkaa sɛ, “Yɛrentumi mma Onyankopɔn Apam Adaka no ntena yɛn nkyɛn. Ɔtia yɛn! Ɔbɛsɛe yɛn ne yɛn nyame, Dagon nyinaa.” 8Enti, wɔfrɛɛ Filistifoɔ nkuropɔn enum mu sodifoɔ nyinaa bisaa wɔn sɛ, “Ɛdeɛn na yɛnyɛ Israel Onyankopɔn Apam Adaka yi?”
Sodifoɔ no susuu asɛm no ho na wɔbuaa sɛ, “Momfa Israel Onyankopɔn Apam Adaka no nkɔ Gat.” Enti, wɔde Onyankopɔn Apam Adaka no kɔɔ Gat.
9Nanso, ɛberɛ a Onyankopɔn Apam Adaka no duruu Gat no, Awurade maa mpɔmpɔ bobɔɔ kuro no mufoɔ, mpanin ne mmɔfra, na wɔsuroo yie. 10Enti, wɔde Onyankopɔn Apam Adaka no kɔɔ Ekron kuropɔn mu, na wɔde rewura hɔ no, Ekronfoɔ no suu sɛ, “Wɔde Israel Onyankopɔn Apam Adaka no reba yɛn nkyɛn de abɛkunkum yɛn nso.” 11Enti, nnipa frɛɛ sodifoɔ no bio, srɛɛ wɔn sɛ, “Monsane mfa Onyankopɔn Apam Adaka no mfiri ha nkɔ ne ɔman mu, anyɛ saa a, ɛbɛkunkum yɛn nyinaa.” Saa ɛberɛ no na ɔyaredɔm a ɛfiri Onyankopɔn nkyɛn no ahyɛ aseɛ dada ama huboa abɛtɔ kuropɔn no so. 12Wɔn a wɔanwuwu no, wɔmaa mpɔmpɔ bobɔɔ wɔn. Na agyaadwotwa baa baabiara.
