1Sa 5: The captured ark proves to be a very uncomfortable
DAGON: "Temples are reported for Dagon as a Philistine
deity (1Sa 5:1–7; Jdg 16:23; 1Ch 10:10; 1Ma 10:83,84; 11:4) in the cities
of Ashdod, Beth-shan, and perhaps Gaza. Yet, no archaeological evidence has
independently confirmed such a temple to Dagon in any of these sites. Several
place names also include Dagon's name, thus confirming the deity's importance
for the area. This importance may also be assumed from the use made of Dagon in
Biblical texts through the end of the 2nd century BC...
"Three major theories have been posited for the function of
Dagon. It was long thought the god was related to the Semitic root 'dg' or
'fish'; this understanding was supported by references in Jerome and in the
Talmudic tradition. A case was made that Dagon was related to Odakon, a fish-man
character... Though both arguments were rejected early in the 20th century, they
were later revived. The fish aspect is still argued to be a secondary attribute,
while the Odakon connection is now considered highly improbable...
"The Semitic root 'dgn', when translated as 'grain,' is also
seen as the original meaning of the name Dagon... yet the notion of Dagon as a
god of grain finds no solid evidence in the ANE. Albright, followed by several
others, argues that Semitic 'grain' may have been named after the god Dagon
rather than the other way around... [Poss} Dagon was named as a storm god on the
basis of an Arabic root dg, which he translated "be cloudy, rainy," and argued
that the fertility aspect of Dagon was related to this weather aspect. This
theory has been widely accepted" (ABD).
What happened to Dagon also happened to Goliath (1Sa 17:49) --
as though he were merely one more "god" of the Philistines!
For that matter, consider also the fate of Eli: 1Sa
HIS HEAD AND HIS HANDS HAD BEEN BROKEN OFF: Cp
Goliath's head, cut off by David; and his sword (that is, his "hands" or "arms")
confiscated by the enemy.
TUMORS: Also in vv 9,11; 1Sa 6:5. KJV has "emerods", or
hemorrhoids -- which is incorrect. Prob a species of bubonic plague (Tes
33:280). The northeast corner of the Egyptian delta was the source of many
plagues of ancient times. "High temperatures, mingled salt and fresh water...
the Philistines -- a trading people by nature -- occupied the open door by which
plague entered Syria" (HistGeo 118,119).