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.
Abafirisuuti n’Essanduuko ya Mukama mu Asudodi ne Ekuloni
15:1 a 1Sa 4:1; 7:12 b Yos 13:3Awo Abafirisuuti bwe bawamba essanduuko ya Katonda, ne bagiggya Ebenezeri ne bagitwala mu Asudodi; 25:2 Bal 16:23ne bagisitula ne bagiteeka mu ssabo lya Dagoni5:2 Dagoni ye yali lubaale omukulu ow’Abafirisuuti (laba Bal 16. 23), okuliraana Dagoni. 35:3 Is 19:1; 46:7Awo abantu ba Asudodi bwe baagolokoka enkeera, baasanga Dagoni agudde mu maaso g’essanduuko ya Mukama. Ne basitula Dagoni ne bamuzzaawo. 45:4 Ez 6:6; Mi 1:7Era ne bwe baagolokoka enkeera ku lunaku olwaddirira, baasanga Dagoni agudde mu maaso g’essanduuko ya Mukama, ng’omutwe gwe n’emikono gye bikutuseeko nga bigudde mu mulyango, ng’ekiwuduwudu kye, kye kisigaddewo. 55:5 Zef 1:9Bakabona ba Dagoni n’abo bonna abayingira mu ssabo lya Dagoni kyebava balema okulinnya ku mulyango gw’essabo lye, ne leero.
65:6 a nny 7; Kuv 9:3; Zab 32:4; Bik 13:11 b Kuv 9:11; Zab 78:66 c Ma 28:27; 1Sa 6:5Omukono gwa Mukama ne gubonereza abantu b’e Asudodi n’emiriraano, n’abaleetako entiisa era ne bakwatibwa ebizimba. 7Awo abantu b’e Asudodi bwe baalaba ebyabatuukako ne boogera nti, “Essanduuko ya Katonda wa Isirayiri teteekwa kusigala wano naffe, kubanga omukono gwe gutuliko era guli ne ku lubaale waffe Dagoni.” 85:8 nny 11Ne bakuŋŋaanya abakungu bonna ab’Abafirisuuti ne bababuuza nti, “Tunaakola tutya essanduuko ya Katonda wa Isirayiri?” Ne baddamu nti, “Essanduuko ya Katonda wa Isirayiri etwalibwe e Gaasi.” Awo ne batwala eyo essanduuko ya Katonda wa Isirayiri.
95:9 nny 6, 11; Ma 2:15; 1Sa 7:13; Zab 78:66Naye bwe baagituusa eyo, omukono gwa Mukama ne gulwana n’ekibuga ekyo, ne waba okutya kungi nnyo nnyini mu batuuze b’ekibuga ekyo. Abakulu n’abato n’abaleetako ebizimba ku bitundu byabwe eby’ekyama. 10Kyebaava baweereza essanduuko ya Katonda mu Ekuloni.
Naye essanduuko ya Katonda bwe yali ng’eneetera okutuuka mu Ekuloni, Abaekuloni ne bakaaba nga boogera nti, “Batuleetedde essanduuko ya Katonda wa Isirayiri, okututta n’abantu baffe.” 115:11 nny 6, 8-9Awo ne bakuŋŋaanya abakungu bonna ab’Abafirisuuti, ne babagamba nti, “Muzzeeyo essanduuko ya Katonda wa Isirayiri mu kifo kyayo, ereme kututta ffe n’abantu baffe.” Omukono gwa Katonda gwali gubazitooweredde nnyo era nga bajjudde entiisa ey’okufa. 12Abo abataafa baalwala ebizimba, okukaaba mu kibuga ne kutuuka mu ggulu.
